Van Cleef & Arpels is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship, innovation and timeless pieces like the Alhambra collection. First designed in 1968, this collection with its distinctive four-leaf clover motif has achieved iconic status and has been worn by icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Princess Grace of Monaco. These days, many celebrities are wearing them and showing them off on social media, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon. It’s also a great investment piece that brings prestige and admiration.
If you have always dreamed of having your own, we invite you look at our choices And if you find the piece waiting for you, you too can have a piece of history.
So what is the story of Van Cleef & Arpels?
Long ago, Dutch diamond cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Solomon Arpels, founded a French luxury jewelry company. It was in Paris in 1896 that elegance, innovation, and cultural richness met to create the era that French people now call “La Belle Epoque.” This was a time of timeless elegance, when iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower were built, and the city was famous for its grand cafés, cabarets, and the rise of a modern entertainment industry, including the famous Moulin Rouge.
After his father-in-law’s death in 1906, Alfred joined his brothers-in-law Charles and Julien and gained new space in front of the Ritz on the famous Place Vendome. Today it is still the first and oldest boutique.
Success came quickly and boutiques were opened in France’s most exclusive cities, including Nice, Deauville and Monte Carlo. Their jewelery was in high demand worldwide, making them the first French jeweler to open boutiques in Japan and China. They even collaborated with foreign royals. In 1966, Empress Farah Pahlavi asked Van Cleef & Arpels to create a crown for her. Made of emerald velvet set with 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, 105 pearls, and 1,469 diamonds!
Van Cleef & Arpels has always been ahead of its time and at the forefront of today’s movements.eternal Brands and jewelers are taking inspiration from famous gemstones.Four leaf clover motif>
