Watches and Wonders 2025: Van Cleef & Arpels presents new iterations of Poetic Complication

The iconic double retrograde movement from Van Cleef & Arpels sees new artistic expressions with new dial designs 

Van Cleef & Arpels expands the Poetic Complication collection to include four bejewelled iterations of the Pont des Amoureux and an all-new expression of the mechanism that captures a romantic moment shared between lovers in a Parisian guinguette. 

Van Cleef Arpels’ award-winning poetic complication has been at the heart of the maison’s women's watch collection since it was first launched in 2010. The double retrograde movement whimsically brings a couple together on a bridge at midnight and noon, with the two figurines each pointing to the hours and minutes. The automaton can also be triggered via a pusher to bring the kissing couple together. This romantic take on timekeeping has become a symbol of Van Cleef & Arpels’ artistry as these Poetic Complication timepieces are often beautifully adorned with diamonds, gemstones, and various decorative arts. 

Van Cleef & Arpels brings the lovers to a new setting this year with the Lady Arpels Bal des Amoureux Automate. The design sees a couple dancing in a Parisian open-air cafe. The same double retrograde movement brings the dancing couple closer and closer together every hour until they meet at noon and midnight. The two then retreat back to their starting position, and their romantic rendezvous begins once again. 

At any moment, the couple can come together for a tender embrace, and the automaton is activated with the push of a button. 

The scene is imagined in enamel, with the cobblestone recreated in white gold. A rendition featuring a diamond bezel is paired with a leather strap, while a high-jewellery version completes the design with a full-pave diamond bracelet. 

The Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux, the design that started it all, sees sparkling iterations featuring bejewelled bracelets. Four new versions with precious bracelets are added to the collection, each paired with new dials that capture the romantic bridge scene at different moments of the day. 

The dials take on the colours of dawn, morning, dusk, and moonlight, each meticulously depicted in enamel. Dawn and dusk are presented in rose gold cases and paired with bracelets fully paved in a mix of pink sapphires and diamonds, while the morning and moonlight are in white gold with blue sapphires and diamonds. These pieces come with interchangeable leather straps in matching hues. 

The manual-winding double retrograde movement has a power reserve of 36 hours.

Also see: Watches and Wonders 2025: Jaeger-LeCoultre shines spotlight on the Reverso