Van Cleef & Arpels, a brand renowned for its stunning releases, has turned to the Koi fish, an ornamental fish especially popular in Japan, for inspiration in creating its latest masterpiece. Featuring one of the most alluring and intricate bracelets we’ve seen in quite some time, the Carpe Koï watch is a magnificent piece doesn’t just depict an image of its namesake, it becomes one, in glittering gemstones and yellow gold.
The watch comprises in incredible 8,000 colored stones, including yellow sapphires and spessartite garnets set into the yellow scales, in addition to the white diamonds and blue tourmalines illustrating a stylized wave. And yes, this is a watch, although you wouldn’t think so at first glance. That’s because the timekeeping part, with diamonds for indices surrounded by yellow sapphires and spessartine garnets, is hidden within the koi fish’s mouth!
Unveiled during last month’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the Carpe Koi is another absolute marvel from Van Cleef & Arpels. Given what we have seen in the past from the French luxury brand, we can’t say it was a surprise.
