With billions of views for videos with the #horoscope hashtag on TikTok, there is no doubt that the age-old practice of astrology continues to play a significant role in many people’s lives today. With its new Zodiaque collection, Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest launch continues the house’s tradition of precious lucky symbols.

It was in the 1950s that the zodiac theme first appeared at Van Cleef & Arpels, beginning with coin-like gold medals decorated with astrological motifs. Available in different sizes, and created as charms or cufflinks, these medals were part of a collection of everyday jewellery called La Boutique.

Through the years, the brand’s astrology-themed creations became ever more flamboyant. In the 1970s, these designs grew in size as well as variety – including openworked pendants as well as voluminous, engraved bangles. Also of note was the house’s Zodiaque Lumineux mechanical watch collection in 2018, where dials featured constellations that could light up.

The new Zodiaque collection of yellow-gold bracelets picks up from Van Cleef & Arpels’ 2021 collection of pendants and necklaces. A nod to the original medals from the 1950s, the 12 new bracelets feature stamped motifs depicting the various zodiac symbols. While the pendants were 21mm in diameter, the bracelets feature smaller medals (17mm), in proportion with wrist sizes.

Plenty of care and detail that goes into these creations, evinced, for instance, by the fact that each small medal has edges that are intentionally irregular. After stamping, each medal is shaped, and the gold is then reworked to give it a light patina. As a final touch, the motif, which stands out in relief, is polished so that it shines even more brilliantly.

What truly makes these creations stand out for us, though, are Van Cleef’s stylish depictions of each symbol, on medals that are charmingly irregularly edged: Virgo, for instance, is depicted by a young woman with a unicorn; while the scales of Libra are askew and artistically cropped, almost like a photo one might see on a hip Instagram account. Add us to the #horoscope-loving crowd.