Paris has always been a stage for grand romances ‒ both real and imagined. From the passionate love story between Napoleon and Josephine to the theatrical opulence of Moulin Rouge, and even the modern-day fantasies of Emily in Paris, the city is a living canvas for charm and enchantment. Across the Pont des Arts, beneath the glow of the Eiffel Tower, lovers from around the world arrive to fulfil their vision of a Parisian fairy tale, sealing their emotions in time just as they once fastened locks to bridges.
But not all amorous stories exist in grand gestures ‒ some unfold in quiet moments, in the stolen glances between two figures meeting on a bridge. This is the tale told by Van Cleef & Arpels’ Pont des Amoureux watch, with four new variations presented at Watches and Wonders in Geneva this year.
As the hands of the watch move forward, so do the lovers, drawn together by time itself. Slowly, they inch closer, their journey dictated by the intricate mechanism within. At noon and midnight, they meet ‒ a fleeting embrace before parting once more. Their movements, delicate yet precise, reflect the nature of love itself ‒ always evolving, always in motion.
“The first Pont des Amoureux was created in 2010; the two lovers met and kissed at night, on a bridge, in Paris,” says Rainer Bernard, head of research and development for watchmaking at Van Cleef & Arpels. “Later, the maison extended their romantic story: the lovers now had a rendezvous at other locations in Paris, not only at night, but also during daytime and throughout the different seasons of the year,” he explains.
The four new variations introduced by the Parisian house include Aube (Dawn), Matinée (Morning), Soirée (Evening) and Clair de Lune (Moonlight). Each scene, crafted in grisaille enamel, captures a different moment of the day, mirroring the way love changes with time. The gold-etched bridge remains the constant, a symbol of connection despite life’s ever-shifting backdrop….
