How the Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas Redefined the World of Women's Watches
A boldly designed bracelet offers timekeeping discretion. Every so often, a timepiece comes along that defies expectations – the Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas is one such watch.
The watch
Cadenas was conceived in 1935 as a very distinctive style intended to solve a particular social problem. By all accounts, it was indecorous for a woman to glance at her wrist to tell the time, something that could presumably cause offence among her companions. Cadenas offered a delicate solution – its unconventional design made it as much a bracelet as a watch and the discreet placement of the dial on the side of the central section meant it was easy for the wearer to subtly check the time without offending anyone’s sensibilities.
The details
Since its debut 90 years ago, Cadenas has become a staple in Van Cleef & Arpels’ line-up and one of the most distinctive women’s watches ever made. The secret of success is its remarkable design. Cadenas is French for “padlock” and once you know that the genesis for the timepiece becomes clear – the heart of the creation is the strong geometry of the padlock-like body paired with the curvy shank, linked by a snake-chain double bracelet. Not only does this set-up allow for a hidden watch dial, it also allows for some bold jewellery interpretations. For example, this highly polished yellow-gold model presents the wearer with a single solid face of snow-set diamonds, accentuating the mother-of-pearl dial.
The takeaway
A lot has changed since Van Cleef & Arpels debuted Cadenas – for one, we thankfully need not worry about the impropriety of checking the time. What has remained constant, though, is the relevance of this padlock-inspired design. The combination of strong geometric shapes with elegant, flowing lines has proven to be a statement powerful enough to stand the test of time, while still serving as a compelling platform for the house’s creativity.
