Jewerly for Real Ladies: Van Cleef & Arpels
Famous Jewellers – Van Cleef & Arpels
By John Tidball
In the world of high-class jewellery, they don’t come much classier than Van Cleef & Arpels, a name which is synonymous with haute joallerie and an inimitable style that gives the brand its coveted status.
In 1896, Estelle Arpels married Alfred Van Cleef, and so began the story of this world-famous jewellery house. Estelle was the daughter of a precious stone dealer and Alfred was the son of a diamond merchant from Amsterdam.
In 1906, Alfred joined forces with his brother-in-law Charles Arpels to establish Van Cleef & Arpels at 22 Place Vendôme in Paris, which has been the company’s home for over a century.
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8k Gold Diamond and Ruby VAN CLEEF & ARPELS NecklaceOne of the most famous jewelry brand in the world Van Cleef & Arpels! This beautiful necklace designed as a flexible band with three magnificent cabochon rubies, each within round-shaped diamond surround, to the leaves motif chain with the front, enhanced by round-shaped white diamonds, mounted in 18kt yellow gold. Signed VCA. Length of necklace approximately 15 inches. Become a part of Van Cleef & Arpels VIP clientele! |
Among the company’s early creations are the Chatelaine, a jewel that is worn at the waist with a watch fastened to it, and the Minaudière, a small ‘handbag’ with a central clasp highlighted with single-cut diamonds, opening to reveal a mirror and compartments containing a mirrored make-up case, powder compact, lighter, lipstick and tortoiseshell comb.
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Platinum and 18k Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace VAN CLEEF & ARPELSThis beautiful necklace with detachable pendant-brooch designed with round and pave-set white diamonds, weighing approximately 55.00 ct, mounted in 18kt yellow gold and platinum. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels. There is nothing which is could be look more perfect, than diamonds in perfect combination with gold and platinum. Become a part of Van Cleef & Arpels VIP clientele! Platinum and 18k Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace VAN CLEEF & ARPELS |
Other early patented design were the Mystery Setting, truly a masterpiece of the jeweller’s craft, the Ludo bracelet, which had a central domed plaque, set with four rows of oval or round-cut sapphires or rubies, spaced by single or brilliant-cut diamonds, and the famous gold Cadenas (padlock) watch, which was sometimes adorned with diamonds, sapphires or rubies. As with the Ludo bracelet, the Cadenas watch was sometimes detachable, so that the bracelet could be worn on its own. Versatility was, and still is today, one of the hallmarks of the company brand.
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Platinum Diamond and Ruby VAN CLEEF & ARPELS NecklaceOne of the most famous jewelry brand in the world Van Cleef & Arpels! This beautiful necklace designed as a flexible band of nine pave-set diamond plagues, seven of them centering oval-shaped rubies, weighing approximately 18.00 ct, spaced by baguette-cut diamond plagues, to the two-row round-shaped diamond backchain with baguette and round-shaped diamond clusp, mounted in (900) platinum. Total weighing of white diamonds approximately 45.00 ct. Signed VCA. Length of necklace approximately 17 inches. Become a part of Van Cleef & Arpels VIP clientele! |
Later in the 20th century, the Alhambra design was introduced. The Alhambra motif is the legendary quatrefoil design which brings fortune and happiness to all who wear it. It became popular in the 1970s when it was less fashionable to wear ornate pieces. The answer to intricacy was this modern quatrefoil motif. The classic Alhambra motif has lent itself to a variety of designs in precious metals. Designs exist in white gold, yellow gold, platinum and precious gemstones.
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18k White Gold Diamond “Flower” Set VAN CLEEF & ARPELSThis beautiful set including necklace and earrings. Necklace and matching earrings designed with flower motifs set all around with white diamonds, total weighing approximately 88.00 ct, mounted in 18kt white gold. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels. There is nothing which is could be look more perfect, than diamonds in perfect combination with gold. Become a part of Van Cleef & Arpels VIP clientele! |
The company first made jewellery based on the design of a Zip for the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, in the 1930’s. The latest version is the Diamond Zip, which is made of white gold accentuated with diamonds. The Diamond Zip can be worn as a necklace when opened and when closed can be worn as a bracelet.
Such is the unmistakable cachet of a Van Cleef & Arpels piece that the company has been much patronised by royalty, film stars, and wealthy socialites. Royal patrons of have included the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace of Monaco, and the Empress Farah. Marlene Dietrich, Romy Schneider, Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Stone, Scarlet Johanssen and Julia Roberts have all worn jewellery by Van Cleef & Arpels.
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Platinum Sapphire and Diamond Necklace VAN CLEEF & ARPELSThis gorgeous magnificent necklace by VAN CLEEF & ARPELS suspending a detachable pendant set with a cushion-cut sapphire within a two-tiered circular-cut diamond surround, to the circular and pear-shaped diamond cluster top, from a necklace of oval and cushion-cut sapphires, each within a circular-cut diamond surround, spaced by circular and pear-shaped diamond foliate clusters, mounted in platinum. Necklace coming with similar design brooch by VAN CLEEF & ARPELS set with a pear-shaped sapphire, weighing approximately 7.08 ct, within a circular, marquise and pear-shaped diamond three-tiered surround, mounted in platinum, with pendant hoop for suspension. So, this brooch could be placed instead of small pendant or could be worn separately. Detachable cluster top from necklace also could be worn separately as a bracelet. So, this unic piece have about 6 different ways to wear it – as a set, separately in different variations, longer or shorter necklace etc. Total weight of sapphires approximately 100.00 ct. Total weight of white diamonds approximately 300.00 ct. Necklace coming with report 12003010 from AGTA. Sapphires indicates as natural, Sri-Lanka with NO indications of heating. Signed VCA. Also coming with original letters from VCA company. Become a part of Van Cleef & Arpels VIP clientele! |
In recent years, many of the aforementioned designs have been revamped and updated , and the reputation of Van Cleef and Arpels as a benchmark for the finest expression of the jeweller’s art remains unabated. In 2006 the house celebrated its centennial and created a timepiece of exception: the Lady Arpels Centenaire Watch, a white gold and diamond set wristwatch with a mother-of-pearl and enamel face.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ contemporary watch creations are the finest expression of a successful union of exceptional watch making and high fashion jewellery. Audaciously innovative and stylish, the watches feature classic forms enhanced with rare and original new features. By reinterpreting its own great classics, applying the jeweller’s art to watch cases and dials, and creating features that surprise and delight, Van Cleef & Arpels confirms its talent as a master jeweller in the world of fine watches.
My websites are offline at present and links will be restored as soon as possible. John Tidball
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