Luxury Jewelry and Watch Brands Make their Mark at Art Basel Miami Beach

Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates international debut of GEMS Part II by Benjamin Millepied. Photo credit: Joe Gato

Van Cleef & Arpels, Forevermark Diamonds, Roger Dubuis and IWC were among the luxury jewelry and watch brands that were hosting special events at the 13th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach, held December 3 -7. 

On December 1, Van Cleef & Arpels, celebrated the international premiere of “Gems Part II: Hearts & Arrows,” the second chapter in a three-part dance. Gems was created exclusively for the French luxury jeweler through a collaboration with Benjamin Millepied and his L.A. Dance Project. The brand has been long committed to creativity, culture, and dance. The performance presented a new interpretation of precious stones, supported by artist Liam Gillick and a score composed by Philip Glass.

Van Cleef & Arpels “Pas de Deux Nacre” clip. Diamonds, yellow sapphires and white and golden mother-of-pearl set in 18k white gold. The clip is transformable so that dancers and diamond motif can be worn together or separately.

Presented in downtown Miami at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center, the evening was held to benefit The Wolfsonian - FIU. Following the performance, the celebration continued at The Alfred I. DuPont Building, where guests were treated to dinner prepared by famed chef, Daniel Boulud. Models draped in Van Cleef & Arpels jewels appeared then vanished through a corridor of mirrors. High jewelry pieces were displayed in deconstructed galleries that played with proportion and perspective. A portal in a secret vault revealed a kaleidoscope of brilliant gems, hidden within the walls. 

Among those in attendance, Nicolas Bos, president and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, Alain Bernard, president and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, Americas, Benjamin Millepied, founder of the L.A. Dance Project, Matthew Abess, curator at the Wolfsonian - FIU, and Sergey Filin, ballet director of the Bolshoi Ballet.

Model and DJ Hannah Bronfman (right) and artist Mylinh Trieu Nguyen in Forevermark diamond jewelry.

On December 2, Forevermark, the diamond brand from The De Beers Group of Companies, hosted a VIP Preview Reception at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami’s Opening Celebration, the official museum kick-off event for Miami Art Week.

The event served to unveil the “Promise” installation. Designed by Miami resident artist Mylinh Trieu Nguyen, the installation displayed a selection of diamonds from the Forevermark Exceptional Diamond Collection. Nguyen's installation illuminated the intersection of art, design, technology, and the diamond through videos that respond to the symbolism and character of one of the most prized and valued objects on earth.

Model and DJ, Hannah Bronfman, was on hand wearing some of the pieces.

On December 3, Jean-Marc Pontroué, Roger Dubuis CEO, and supermodel Stephanie Seymour (above) hosted a private dinner at the new Thompson Miami Beach hotel. The approximate 100 persons who attended, included Russell Simmons, Jonathan Cheban, Geoff Stults and Klaus Biesenbach of MoMA.

Velvet Haute Couture Mink Fur

The event was a chance to showcase the Swiss watch brand’s new Velvet Haute Couture collection, a limited edition of three models within the brand’s Velvet ladies collection. All of the models in the collection have a big dose of glamour with distinguishable design characteristics, such as graphic split-level dials and dynamic numerals tapering toward the center. As the face of the Velvet collection, Seymour was on hand along with her husband Peter Brant.

Karolina Kurkova wears Forevermark diamond jewelry at IWC Gala.

Also on December 3, Karolina Kurkova was adorned in Forevermark diamonds while attending a gala event hosted by Swiss luxury watch brand, IWC at W South Beach Hotel. The model was wearing the Forevermark Cluster Shield Ring and Teardrop Earrings. The event was held to mark the launch of the new Portofino Midsize watch collection.

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