Four Brothers Grimm fairy tales inspired Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest haute joaillerie collection. The Clair de Lune necklace, a stunning feat of ornate craftsmanship, is designed to evoke the night sky in “The Golden Bird,” a story of a gardener’s pursuit of, well, a golden bird. Nicolas Bos, global president and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, says the venerable atelier “has always been imbued with poetry and dreams—legends and fairy tales have been a powerful source of inspiration for the maison.”

Rare Bird

“The Brothers Grimm universe is very different from the previous tales the maison has explored,” Bos says. (Among the house’s varied inspirations: Noah’s Ark and the French fairy tale Peau d’Âne.) Despite this, he adds, the collection as a whole ably “reflects Van Cleef & Arpels’ legacy and themes of enchanted nature, fantastical journeys, and magical characters.”

Fairy Light

Bos says one of the challenges in fabricating the Clair de Lune was creating a clip that was truly lightweight—a hurdle the atelier toppled by deploying an openwork metal technique. And to ensure that the smoky-hued pearls moved beautifully, the workshop utilized atypical threading methods. “The necklace must remain flexible and fluid,” says the CEO. “It must be sturdy but not heavy.”

Clair Supply

The convertible long necklace—it can be broken into two shorter necklaces, and its bejeweled pendant can be worn as a brooch—features a 29.63 ct. sugarloaf-cut Sri Lankan purple sapphire center stone, 344 round blue sapphires (16.79 cts. t.w.), 28 gray cultured pearls, and 1,121 round diamonds (19.56 cts. t.w.). It’s crafted in 18k white, yellow, and pink gold.