VAN CLEEF & ARPELS | 'ZIP' DIAMOND NECKLACE 梵克雅寶 | 'Zip' 鑽石項鏈

The zip fastener invented in late 19^th century America as a fastening for boots and aviator jacketswas transformed into an exceptional piece of jewellery; harmoniously incorporating technical brilliance and design. Upon the adoption of zippers into Haute Couture in the 1930s, the Duchess of Windsor suggested creating the Zip necklace to Renee Puissant, the Artistic Director and daughter of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels.

After over a decade of manufacturing, the first Zip necklace came to life in 1950. The Zip necklace expanded on the seemingly basic function, elevating its versatility and glamour, into a playful yet functional jewellery piece that could be worn open as a necklace, or closed as a bracelet. Ensuring that each piece seamlessly cascaded along the neckline and the wrist required exceptional flexibility and fluidity. The ingenious and outstanding technical achievement of using precious metals and stones subtly formed and positioned to mimic fabrics demonstrates the unrivalled virtuosity of craftsmanship behind the Maison.

The juxtaposition of an ordinary object reinvented as high jewellery is a bold statement which the House mastered with sophistication, naturally giving rise to one of the most avant-garde and emblematic creations by Van Cleef& Arpels to date.

拉鏈自19世紀末期美國問世，最早用於靴扣和飛行員夾克。1930年代，拉鏈開始成為高級定制服裝中常用的配件，受其啟發的溫莎公爵夫人曾建議梵克雅寶的創意總監、Alfred Van Cleef 與Estelle Arpels的女兒Renée Puissant以拉鏈為原型創作一款項鏈，自此開啟由平凡實用之拉鏈向優雅貴重之珠寶蛻變的奇妙之旅。

經過逾10年的研究實踐，梵克雅寶終於在1950年成功製作出第一條拉鏈項鏈。除了最基礎的開合功能，設計師還巧妙的把項鏈和手鏈兩種佩戴方式合為一體，拉鏈拉開時可作項鏈，合上則可作手鏈佩戴，精妙無比而又璀璨奪目。Zip項鏈擁有流暢的線條和完美的弧度，梵克雅寶的工匠大師們用無與倫比的高超技藝將貴金屬與寶石編織成珠寶， 令世人驚歎。日用品與高級珠寶的結合如此大膽而高級，成為梵克雅寶至今為止最獨特而經典的設計之一。