My journey to the bay of Nai Thon in Phuket did not start with a map marked with an X, but with a winding drive through the lush hills of the island, passing intermittent glimpses of the Andaman Sea.
In Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, buried gold lured sailors into peril. The spoils in Van Cleef & Arpels’ new high jewellery collection, named after Stevenson’s novel, are far more elegant. It premiered in Miami, where almost three-fourths of the pieces were snapped up, before making its way to Phuket—where even more spellbinding creations were revealed.
Transformable necklaces, secret watches, intricate rings and luminous brooches—set with sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and beyond—evoked imagined lands, mythical creatures, and the kind of beauty that’s hard to find these days.
Treasure Island consists of three parts. The first celebrates the ocean with nautical knots and navigation motifs shimmering in gradients of blue and green. The second turns to nature’s bounty—vivid seashells, delicate flowers, and majestic trees. The final chapter takes you on a global treasure hunt using pre-Colombian symbolism and Asian wonders to bring faraway worlds within reach.
“The most captivating aspect of the story for me is that it evokes beautiful childhood memories of pirates, feelings of courage, and exploration. I like the main character, who is extremely young and is leaving his family. It must have been an emotional journey for him. There’s also a great sense of adventure and remarkable descriptions of nature,” says Dorothée Henrio, Managing Director of Van Cleef & Arpels (Southeast Asia). Treasure Island marks her first high jewellery activation since taking on the role last June.
The Palmeraie Merveilleuse transformable necklace stands out with an articulated crown of palm leaves ruffling down the neckline. Its captivating centrepiece is a 47.93-ct emerald cabochon that can be detached and used as a clip. A vibrant green cornerstone, it was the first gemstone sourced for the collection, kicking off a four-year creative journey.
Another highlight is the Récif Corallien necklace, showcasing a 5.33-ct Thai ruby—a nod to local waters. “The design mimics the natural beauty of coral, despite being made of gold,” describes Henrio. A parrot brooch inspired by a 1950s archive piece also debuted in Phuket. With coloured sapphires and diamonds, the bird appears mid-flight, its golden wings catching an invisible breeze and its claws clasping a yellow sapphire framed in twisted gold. “You can almost feel the wind behind it,” says Henrio. “There’s real life to this bird.”
Other highlights include include two Coquilles Mystérieuses bracelet that channel the ornate spirit of Rococo with their curved, seashell-like forms set with buff-topped Traditional Mystery Set rubies or sapphires bordered by scalloped white gold.
Just as fascinating is the Carte au Tresor clip with a playful golden map, rose gold cords, and fluttering tassels. The engraved treasure map reveals a fantasy landscape under its folds—Cape Tourmaline, Pearl Islands, Emerald Lagoon—with a ruby marking where the riches lie.
My day concluded with a dinner under the stars while models sauntered down a wooden boardwalk showcasing Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest creations. Just as the evening was reaching its climax, a motley crew of pirates emerged from the waves like beings summoned by an ancient map. They cartwheeled, danced, and performed acrobatic feats before fireworks filled the night sky with a riot of colour.
In the end, there wasn’t a treasure chest, but for one enchanting evening, the island came to life with all the magic, mischief, and marvels Stevenson imagined.
