The Van Cleef & Arpels Brassée de Lavande is a unique, approximately 30-centimeter-tall automaton that pairs a lavender bouquet’s unfolding display with mechanical timekeeping. At the press of an activation, the bouquet opens to reveal a jeweled butterfly, which rises and turns before returning as the flowers close around it. The Maison places it in its Extraordinary Objects collection and says it was assembled at its Art Mechanics workshop in Sainte-Croix.
What is the Brassée de Lavande?
Brassée de Lavande is a tabletop automaton and mechanical time display, rather than a conventional wristwatch or a standard production clock. Van Cleef & Arpels presents it as a unique creation in its Extraordinary Objects collection, which the Maison describes as continuing a tradition of precious objects dating to 1906. The company says the design and development took several years and brought together movement and music.
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Independent coverage of Dubai Watch Week 2025 also identifies it as a tabletop automaton with a lavender bouquet, butterfly and integrated carillon. The technical details below are those published by Van Cleef & Arpels.
How does the automaton work?
When activated, the lavender corolla gradually opens. A butterfly appears inside, flutters its wings and turns as it rises above golden beads set with amethysts. It then returns to the bouquet’s center, and the bouquet gently closes around it. The Maison describes the animation as on demand and accompanied by a melody; it does not publish a duration or identify the tune.
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- Product Size: Diameter 12.3 x 1.9 inches (31.2 x 4.9 cm)
- Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
- Material: Plastic frame (light gold pearl coating), front glass
- Country of Origin: Thailand
- Movement: Radio correction function (40 kHz/60 kHz automatic selection), radio wave off; Accessories: batteries (6 AA manganese batteries); Full dial illumination light; Switch brightness; Sweep hand/sleep second hand/light on light
The scene is built around a dome of lacquered rose-gold sprigs. The bouquet has 36 stems arranged in two rows, with green leaves and blue flowers. The butterfly combines orange plique-à-jour enamel on its wings with an outline of opaque black enamel and diamonds. Its body is tiger’s eye, its eyes are amethyst cabochons, and its antennae are tipped with diamonds.
What timekeeping and sound functions are specified?
| Feature | What Van Cleef & Arpels states |
|---|---|
| Time display | Hours on a 12-hour scale and minutes, shown on a 360-degree rotating ring |
| Power reserve | Eight days |
| Automaton | On-demand animation accompanied by a melody |
| Sound mechanism | A carillon with five bells and hammers |
| Movement | Automaton and mechanical movements |
The published description does not specify a movement caliber, winding method, accuracy, service interval or sound duration, so those details cannot be inferred from the stated functions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What materials and crafts go into the piece?
The Maison lists rose, yellow and white gold; pink sapphires, amethysts, tiger’s eye, verdite, howlite and diamonds; enamel and lacquer; and ebony, leather, aluminium and steel. The butterfly and flower scene brings several of those materials together in small, highly detailed components.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ workshop imagery shows pigment preparation and lacquer application, plique-à-jour enameling, adjustment of the bouquet’s opening, positioning of the stems and butterfly, and assembly of the rotating time ring. The Maison says the piece was assembled at its Art Mechanics workshop in Sainte-Croix and that its development took several years; it does not attribute the work to a named craftsperson.
Is the Brassée de Lavande for sale, and what does it cost?
The official product page calls the automaton unique but does not state a public price, current sale status or purchase channel. A price, resale value or verified route to buy it therefore cannot be established from the published information.
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