Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons Watch

Three butterflies appear in turn amidst the clouds on the dial to indicate the passing minutes, resembling a relay race in the sky; as one butterfly slips into the clouds, the next emerges elsewhere to take over the task of timekeeping. Meanwhile, the swallow assumes the role of indicating the hours, sweeping across the dial from 12 to 12 and using its wings to mark the hour indices; upon reaching the end of the 12 o’clock marker, it performs a retrograde jump back to the start at the 1 o’clock marker??a continuous cycle that embodies the aesthetic beauty of time.
To infuse the dial with added liveliness, a gentle press of the button at the 7 o’clock position triggers a ten-second “aerial ballet” performed by the three butterflies amidst the clouds. Upon completion, they return to their original paths, catching up on the time elapsed during the performance to resume precise timekeeping, thereby adding a unique and playful charm to the watch. The round blue mother-of-pearl dial features three specialized butterflies serving as variable-speed minute hands and a swallow acting as a retrograde hour hand. Clouds serve as both decorative and concealing elements, creating a natural and harmonious composition that reflects an elegant, classic design philosophy??a truly breathtaking sight.
The design of the case back perfectly complements the dial’s theme; the exhibition case back is adorned with three lacquered butterflies, while the inner surface of the sapphire crystal features an engraving of delicate floating clouds, making it appear as though the butterflies are dancing gracefully amidst colorful clouds.