Van Cleef & Arpels L’Arche de Noé Licorne Unicorn brooch

Van Cleef & Arpels presents this brooch in its new 2016 High Jewellery collection ‘L’Arche de Noé’, featuring a ‘unicorn’ striding back in an elegant pose. The designer’s clever combination of diamond pavement and sapphire concealment creates a vivid and three-dimensional unicorn shape.

“The ‘unicorn’ motif first appeared in Van Cleef & Arpels’ jewellery in the 1940s, in the form of a unicorn leaping up and down in gold, with small rubies adorning its back.

In this year’s new piece, the unicorn’s back and mane are made up of sapphires set in a hidden setting, creating a naturally undulating curved silhouette, with each sapphire cut individually tailored to the position of the setting to ensure a close fit between the stones. track.

The unicorn’s eye is a brilliant teardrop emerald, the hoof is set with curved turquoise and the most unusual feature is the ponytail – each strand of hair is alternately set with diamonds and sapphires to create a richer layer.