Van Cleef and Arpels is no stranger to creating exquisite jewellery collections, featuring extreme detail and precision only achievable by years of perfecting their craftsmanship techniques. This time, their inspiration came from the greatest love story ever told, Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life (1) — A tribute to the lovers from William Shakespeare’s play, the duo of Romeo & Juliet clips is one of the most figurative pieces in the collection.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life (2) — Thanks to remarkable three-dimensional craftsmanship, the two figures seem to come to life in this romantic scene.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life — To create effects of volume, perspective and relief, the pieces combine different stone cuts, setting techniques and shades.

Based on acclaimed Los Angeles-based French choreographer Benjamin Millepied’s dance interpretation of the Shakespearean play, the jewellery collection features more than 100 distinct pieces ranging from the figurative to the abstract while offering a modern version of the epic love story based on Shakespeare’s 1597 tragedy.

While Van Cleef and Arpels‘ jewellery version was unveiled in Paris in 2019, Millepied’s production premiered this spring.

Van Cleef and Arpels offer a bravado jewellery collection where the interplay of different stone cuts, setting techniques, and colour gradations offers a masterful play on volume. The dominant colour palette: red and blue denoting the two warring families; mauve the colour of the united love of the young, fated heroes; while green, quite simply and essentially, symbolizes hope.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life (6) — Maiolica necklace. Nastro ring. Fiore bracelet.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life (7) — Galliard earrings. Romeo & Juliet clip.

Van Cleef and Arpels High Jewellery Collection Brings Shakespeare To Life (9) — Eleonora necklace. Balletti earrings. Specchio ring.

“Shakespeare’s masterpiece acts as the starting point for a new thematic collection, but also for a dialogue between disciplines involving High Jewellery, dance, music and the visual arts,” said Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef and Arpels.