Op Art pendant brooch (1974)

Since its beginnings, Van Cleef & Arpels has been influenced by the many leading artistic movements of the 20th century, and has expressed their aesthetic principles in its jewelry.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Maison designed modern, imaginative pieces characterized by curves and counter-curves. These abstract geometric compositions of discs, lozenges and rectilinear motifs drew inspiration from Cubism, Constructivism and Abstraction.

More recently, in 1974, Van Cleef & Arpels created the Op Art pendant brooch inspired by the optical and kinetic movements of the 1960s and 1970s. These movements used abstract patterns to produce stark contrasts between foreground and background – often in radically different colors. The aim was to generate effects that would confuse and excite the eye, giving the viewer the impression that the images were moving, flashing, or even vibrating. This clip, uniting different materials (yellow gold, malachite, onyx, and diamonds), creates a strong color combination and plays with perspective.