Biennale des Antiquaires 2014: Van Cleef and Arpels narrates a magical fairytale through a spellbinding collection of high jewellery

The beautiful princess, the magical castle, an enchanted forest, a kind fairy godmother and, of course, the dashing prince and a happily-ever-after ending. All the essential ingredients of a spellbinding fairytale are brought to life in the most luxurious and opulent way imaginable thanks to Van Cleef & Arpels' Peau d'Âne high jewellery collection.

Inspired by the classic French fairytale of the same name, the storyline is recounted through a glittering array of jewels. Written by Charles Perrault, Peau d'Âne was first published in 1694 and tells the story of a princess who runs away from the castle after the death of her mother sends the king mad. She hides her regal dresses and jewellery in a chest and conceals herself in a donkey hide before seeking refuge in an enchanted forest, where she is found by the prince, who instantly falls in love with her. One of France's most popular fairytales, it was adapted by several authors, including the Brothers Grimm, and also made into a film starring Jean Marais and Catherine Deneuve in 1970.

Using the very finest gems in a rhapsody of colours, Van Cleef & Arpels' gemmologists have worked hard to ensure that each piece reverberates with the emotions contained in the story. Rubies, sapphires, tourmalines, turquoise, garnets and spinels in vivid combinations come to symbolise the different chapters of the story.

A sparkling Van Cleef & Arpels brooch in the shape of the Lilac Fairy's magic wand casts a spell with pink, purple and blue sapphires. The vivid colours are further emphasised by white diamonds in a star-shaped setting.

The Van Cleef & Arpels rings in this high jewellery collection are nothing short of spectacular. The Cadeau d'Orient ring marries a daring but stunning combination of gems, from turquoise and purple sapphire to coral and emeralds. The bold chromaticism was a hallmark of 1960s Van Cleef & Arpels in pieces inspired by the Near East.

A closer look at the Forêt Merveilleuse brooch reveals a tiny diamond encrusted house representing the farm where the princess hides after escaping from the castle. Hidden by the dense forest foliage of yellow diamonds, emeralds and pink and purple sapphires, the brooch narrates a key chapter of the fairytale in the most luxurious way.

The Peau d'Âne collection was launched with great fanfare at an extravagant party at the Château de Chambord earlier this month, and the jewels are bound to be one of the highlights at the Biennale des Antiquaries in September. The Paris showcase is all about fantasy and will see the most exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery displayed in a stunning setting, so what could be more fitting than a collection that conjures up the enchanting magic of our childhood fairytales?

Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection Ruby Butterfly ring in rose gold with a central 5.76ct pear-shaped ruby, round diamonds and square and baguette-cut rubies.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection Solar ring in yellow gold with a central 16ct cushion-cut yellow sapphire, round and trillion-cut diamands and round yellow sapphires.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection Red Prince clip in white and pink gold with a central emerald cut emerald, pink and purple sapphires, red coral and white and pink diamonds.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Enchanted Forest collection Forêt merveilleuse clip in white and yellow gold with round, pear-shaped and princess-cut diamonds, yellow diamonds, pink and purple sapphires and emeralds.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane The Enchanted Forest collection Flower Night ring in white gold with a central 10.45ct purple cushion cut spinel, diamonds and oval and round-cut emeralds.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Childhood Castle collection Love, Love ring in white gold with a 28ct central emerald cabochon, round, pear and trillion-cut diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines and purple spinels.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Enchanted Forest collection wand in white and pink gold with a central purple sapphire, round diamonds, baguette-cut pink, purple and blue sapphires and onyx.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Enchanted Forest collection Fairy clip in white gold with a central 11ct blue cabochon tanzanite, round, baguette and pear-cut diamonds, round and baguette-cut sapphires, blue spinel and blue and violet tanzanites.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Enchanted Forest collection necklace in white gold with 188 emerald beads totalling 555.37ct, round diamonds, round and pear-cut sapphires, emeralds, malachite and turquoise.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection across-the-finger ring in white gold with round and baguette-cut diamonds, baguette-cut sapphires and one pear-shaped sapphire.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection Heavenly Beauty ring in white and yellow gold with a central Vivid yellow emerald-cut diamond, white trillion-cut diamonds and round and fancy-cut yellow diamonds.
Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d'Ane Happy Marriage collection East Gift ring in white and pink gold with a 5.67ct oval spessartite garnet, round and pear-cut diamonds, onyx, coral and two cabochon emeralds.