The new Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons is a ravishing timepiece, and we’re not just talking about the white gold case and a bezel set with glittering diamonds; this watch is not just just about bling. One of the most technically advanced watches unveiled at SIHH 2016, this exquisite timepiece comes sans traditional hands, but instead impresses with three little butterflies and a bird.
The main dial is a beauty, to say the least, with four fan-form dials on top. Three white gold clouds layered above the dial feature yellow, red and pink butterflies, moving around in an effort to tell time. The official description of the movement is complicated, but things become clear once you see it in action: it’s stunning.
A complex animation feature allows the birds to move every time the wearer presses the activation button. Once a 10 second mind-blowing flurry of movement comes to an end, the butterfly “hands” return to indicate the correct time.
The complex movement behind this animation is miles ahead of traditional quartz movements, which only proves that every single creation from Van Cleef & Arpels is worthy of our full and undivided attention.
This new model is part of the watchmaker’s new collection, which means that more interesting variations of the movement might actually be on the way and some people reading this article might actually enjoy this statement around their wrists. Anything can happen, and this watch is proof of that.
