"Enchanting Time", the Van Cleef & Arpels watch exhibition not to be missed

From January 16 to June 1, 2026, at 20 Place Vendôme, more than 50 exceptional pieces retrace a century of jewelry and mechanical expertise from the Maison French Van Cleef & Arpels at a free watch exhibition in Paris that transforms your hours into pure poetry. 

A poetic journey through a century of watchmaking

"Enchanting Time" brings together more than 50 watch creations, produced between the 1920s and the 2000s, accompanied by original archives from the Van Cleef & Arpels heritage collection.

Among the exhibited pieces are... pocket watches, also called round pocket watches for vest, born in the 16th century and characterized by a closed case protecting the dial from shocks via a cover (soap), often attached by a chain. VCA feminizes it as a poetic, jeweled sautoir necklace from the 1920s, making a precious mechanism, otherwise masculine and static, portable and ornamental. 

There Maison is also known for its table clocks typical of 1920s-1930sThey transform desk clocks into portable jewelry sculptures: geometric volumes Art Deco in rock crystal, lapis lazuli or chiseled gold, often multifunctional (alarm clock, lighter), combining mechanical precision with delicate animal or floral motifs.

Another key innovation of the Maison in the 1930s : the secret watch, which conceals the dial beneath a jeweled decoration and opens to reveal a hidden mechanism, transforming time into a playful surprise ; VCA excels in these intimate mysteries, perfect for elegant women desiring discretion and ingenuity. 

The Padlock Watch is also THE characteristic watch of the Maison, which could also be mistaken for a secret watch with its small, secure gold padlock, invented in 1938 such as a miniature anti-theft device for handbags, pioneer of discreet and multifunctional women's nomadic watchmaking. 

Finally, the Maison reveals its most beautiful skeleton watches, where the case and movement are finely openworked to reveal decorated gears, blending technical transparency and aesthetics. From 1940 onwards, VCA enhances its skeletons with engraved floral motifs, making The feminine and jewel-like mechanical complexity, rather than the raw one. 

Each object retraces a century of creativity, where mechanical precision and jewelry craftsmanship are in constant dialogue. The exhibition highlights the capacity of the Maison has transforming the reading of the hours into a sensory experience, between the poetry of motifs, technical prowess and feminine elegance.

A free exhibition in the heart of Place Vendôme

Two hours from Besançon, Paris is hosting an exceptional watch exhibition with "Van Cleef & Arpels: Enchanting Time", presented to the Heritage Gallery, at 20, Place Vendôme, in the 1st arrondissement. Open from January 16 to June 1, 2026, This free exhibition invites visitors to discover the poetic vision of the time of the Maison, Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 7pm, in Free entry, no reservation requiredAn ideal address to combine Parisian strolls, watchmaking heritage and exceptional jewelry expertise, just steps away from the most beautiful luxury houses in the capital. 

Expertise, heritage and innovation at the heart of the journey

The scenography of the Heritage Gallery emphasizes the crafts and the attention to detail for which Van Cleef & Arpels is renowned, offering different levels of interpretation for both novices and enthusiasts. Each piece on display demonstrates a balance between tradition and innovation, whether in horological complications, poetic mechanisms, or meticulously crafted decorations. By celebrating nearly a century of creation, the exhibition reveals how the Maison continues to "enchant time" in Paris, while reinforcing the cultural influence of Place Vendôme as a hub for exceptional watchmaking and jewelry.