Van Cleef & Arpels presented their breathtaking new Lady Arpels Papillon Automate at the Salon International de la haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2017—a watch that doesn’t just spell ethereal beauty but also mechanical ingenuity. The watch features a butterfly in motion which is a feat accomplished by an outstandingly complicated mechanical calibre. With the help of the watchmakers at Valfleurier – the Richemont group’s top development people – the brand has used the minute repeater to bring a mechanical butterfly on the dial to life. Interestingly, the butterfly’s movement is ‘en passant’ as well as on-demand, so the wings will move automatically even when the watch is not on one’s wrist, as long as power remains in the system. The breathtaking dial features miniature painting as well, and multiple kinds of enamelling— champlevé, paillonné, plique-à-jour and curved plique-à-jour. The watch with an automatic movement which has 4 patents pending, comes in a 40mm case of white gold, studded with diamonds in serti-neige style. The strap is Blue alligator with white gold pin buckle set with diamonds. But of course the most fascinating thing about it is the animated butterfly. You can just not take your eyes off it, can you?
