This November, luxury Phillips auction house will be auctioning a rare diamond, sapphire and lapis lazuli ‘Zip’ necklace created by Van Cleef & Arpels.
This legendary ‘Zip’ necklace is the most iconic and truly original jewel created with an intriguing and storied history. Legend has it that in 1938 the Duchess of Windsor suggested to Renée Puissant – the Maison’s artistic director and daughter of Alfred Van Cleef – to create a jewellery piece based on the zip fastener. The idea to translate a zipper into an elegant piece of jewellery was technically challenging, and took more than a decade to create.
The first-ever ‘Zip’ necklace made its debut in the 1950s, with a design that allows it to be zipped open as a necklace and zipped together into a bracelet. Still today, this is know as a brilliant example of craftsmanship, design and artisanal skill.
This ‘Zip’ necklace on offer at Phillips’ Hong Kong Fall Sale is studded with an elegant palette of blue gemstones and diamonds, and honors the original idea of a convertible piece. The white gold set with ultramarine gemstones is a perfect mix of sophistication and glamorous modernity.
The ‘Zip’ necklace is so limited in production that it is rarely seen on red carpet events. The most recent appearance was in 2015, when Australian actress Margot Robbie was graced by a vintage example set with sapphires that was of a similar design to the one being offered in this auction. The necklace is estimated to fetch between 3.5 & 4.5 HKD
