Van Cleef & Arpels updates one of its most iconic watches, the Cadenas

At the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (January 19-23), the master jeweler has revived a timepiece created in 1935, the Cadenas, which is said to have been inspired by the Duchess of Windsor.

This exceptional watch by Van Cleef & Arpels is to be worn as an item of high-end jewelry. The bracelet alone is enough to show that the Cadenas is truly a work of art, designed to encircle the wrist as "a strong symbol of union and alliance," according to the brand. Cadenas is French for "lock."

For this 2015 edition of the Cadenas, Van Cleef & Arpels decided to give more prominence to the timekeeping function, enlarging the dial and including indices for all twelve hours. The clasp has also been improved to better ensure that the bracelet remains in place over time. This is thanks to the use of ceramic micro-beads, which are placed inside the clasp to provide a more secure grip.

A total of nine new models, all equipped with quartz movements, have joined the original Cadenas collection. These include watches in white, yellow and rose gold, with or without diamonds or pink sapphires and worn on an alligator strap or a gold bracelet.

To make one of these romantic watches even more meaningful, the watchmaker even offers to engrave a personal message on the hidden part of the clasp.