No, this wasn’t just another art exhibit at Art Dubai decorated with display cases and red rope. This was the exclusive Van Cleef & Arpels: The Poetry of Time. Perhaps the most coveted exhibition present, it offered a luxurious tribute celebrating nearly one hundred years of superior watchmaking and jewelry design.

Women gazed as Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly famously did in front of Tiffany’s, allowing the pieces to seduce them into a dreamlike state of endless possibilities. Each specimen demanded its own attention and warranted a curiosity that is not commonplace for watches, but rather for miniature works of art.

The exhibit offered a magical journey through the rich history and superior mastery of Van Cleef  & Arpel’s timepieces.  Starting with the Heritage section, which showcased its iconic “gems that tell time” from the of the 1930s to the iconic PA 49. The Poetic Complications eloquently demonstrated the beautiful harmony between artistic ingenuity and technical wizardry. “Inspired by beauty and dreams, it conjures up an intense vision of nature and a world filled with real and imaginary creatures,” elaborated the exhibitors. The ballerinas of the frolicked around time, as the fairies of dictated it with their wands. The lovers of finally met and lovingly embraced at the stroke of twelve.  The Midnight in Dubai is an ode to its host, illustrating the city’s lustrous starry night sky. Through whimsical craftsmanship and technical magic, its time is linked to the Cosmos, making this timepiece ethereal and unworldly.

The Father of Time, Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, who is the genius behind the creations that compose the Poetic Complications, was present to reveal the secret mechanisms of watches. Also at the Workshop section was Enamel Queen, Dominique Baron, who unveiled the dexterous craftsmanship required to produce her miniature masterpieces.

The High Jewelry section was devoted to the Middle East wedding tradition, and presented a series of gorgeous sets with watches. They highlighted the distinctive craftsmanship that has become synonymous with Van Cleef & Arpels. From its spectacular stone-setting work to its selection of superior gems, each set appeared fit for a princess. “The timepiece encircles the wrist with a genuine bracelet of diamond flowers; the prefers a bracelet of blue sapphires inspired by the movement of waves, while the secret watches conceal time away from sight in a miniscule stone-set drawer.”

The fantastical design and mythical narrative embedded in each piece was mesmerizing. The contemporary items introduced were a must-have for any lady of exquisite taste, while the vintage pieces made one wish they were of another time when such magnum opuses were readily available. The journey left viewers in a trance of welcomed indulgence and with the happy reassurance that time and Van Cleef & Arpels would live happily ever after.