Zip it open, and it's a necklace. Zip it closed, and it's a bracelet!
The Zip necklace is another famous and historical Van Cleef & Arpels transformational jewelry design. Contrary to the unique pieces of custom jewelry produced by Van Cleef & Arpels, the Zip necklace was produced in many different ornamental variations, for example as shown in the included video and image.
Granted in 1939, the French patent FR838498, titled Fermeture rapide ornementée, disclosed the staggered and interlocking female and male parts of a zipper, an already well-known type of fastener. The patent also disclosed a mobile slider that alternately brings the female and male parts together, or separates them. Finally, the patent included the envisionment of an indefinite number of ornamental designs, on each side of the zipper, partly as a way of concealing the metal tracks supporting the interlocking female and male parts.
Granted in 1939, the French patent FR838498, titled Fermeture rapide ornementée, disclosed the staggered and interlocking female and male parts of a zipper, an already well-known type of fastener. The patent also disclosed a mobile slider that alternately brings the female and male parts together, or separates them. Finally, the patent included the envisionment of an indefinite number of ornamental designs, on each side of the zipper, partly as a way of concealing the metal tracks supporting the interlocking female and male parts.
The embodiment of this invention resulted in a transformational piece of jewelry that was necklace when the zipper was open, and bracelet when the zipper was closed, with the upper part of the necklace unhinged and removed (as shown the video).
A patent figure drawing is included showing the staggered and interlocking male and female parts of the zipper. The image above shows one of the exquisite marketed embodiments of this invention.
The included video shows how the piece transforms, from necklace to bracelet.
Reference
Van Cleef & Arpels - The Zip Necklace
No comments:
Post a Comment