Could you imagine using an all-gold pillbox, pen, or champagne swizzle?

To many modern consumers, Van Cleef & Arpels is a luxury Parisian maison famed for its exquisite jewels and poetic watches. What’s little-known is that since its inception in 1906 in Place Vendome, it has elevated everyday life with elegance and innovation — through not just jewellery and timepieces, but precious objects and accessories.

At the house’s latest retrospective exhibition from now until March 23, curious souls with a penchant for the past are invited to an exploration of its storied heritage of crafting the most intimate bejewelled creations that accompany their owners in daily life.

Held at a hidden space within its Raffles Hotel boutique called Les Jardins Secrets, A Glimpse of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Art de Vivre is also complemented by archival documents from the brand’s patrimony collection.

Among the treasures on display is a striking lapel watch from the 1920s, which is a dual-purpose masterpiece that blends functionality with aesthetic brilliance. This hybrid creation, doubling as a brooch and a concealed timepiece, epitomises the Art Deco era’s penchant for geometric precision.

The watch’s black-and-white palette, achieved through a harmonious interplay of platinum, diamonds, and onyx, reflects Van Cleef & Arpels’ enduring affinity for refined duo-tones — a hallmark of its early 20th-century designs.

The exhibition also highlights the house’s ingenuity in crafting vanity cases during the Roaring 20s. One standout piece from 1932 features a powder compact shaped like an envelope, with its sleek folding design revealing a mirror and compartments for powder and lipstick.

The red enamel surface, accentuated by black enamel lines and a diamond-studded triangular motif, exemplifies the maison’s mastery of colour and detail, merging utility with artistry.

From the 1950s onwards, Van Cleef & Arpels’ creations in mirror-polished yellow gold became synonymous with timeless sophistication. A 60s shell-shaped powder case on display reflects centuries-old metalworking traditions, showcasing a gadrooned surface echoing techniques once reserved for fine tableware.

This marriage of form and function extended into Van Cleef & Arpels’ jewels, inspiring the sculpted curves seen on rings, earrings, and watches throughout the mid-20th century. The bold red-and-black colour palette of its carnelian and onyx creations is also a rare sight in contemporary times.

Adding an element of whimsy, the exhibition also features a retractable champagne swizzle stick from the 60s. Unheard of today, it is a beverage accessory crafted entirely of gold, designed to remove bubbles for those who preferred still champagne.

The 1970s section features woven yellow gold evening bags, including a minaudiere (small evening bag) from 1971 that illustrates the interplay between high jewellery and haute couture. These sumptuous items, inspired by textured fabrics, were often paired with matching necklaces and bracelets, cementing Van Cleef & Arpels’ reputation as a purveyor of elegance.

It is little wonder that people often say things from the past were made to last. When exceptional beauty, craftsmanship, and ingenuity define such marvels, big and small, the creations no longer just represent a celebration of life’s every moment, but truly endure for posterity as testaments to what it means to have lived.