Like many of the most renowned high jewelry makers in the world, the story of Van Cleef & Arpels is a story of a family. Fathers, brothers, and daughters have at various points owned and helped to manage the company, and it is likely due in no small part to this that we can attribute the continuation of their signature, utterly delightful and distinctive style.
Their high jewelry in particular contains an indisputable magic aura, often whimsical yet never exorbitant. They are playful and elegant all at once, and many of them evoke memories of childhood fantasies and carefree, jubilant summer days.
They are known for collections like Le Secret, for example, which features a lovely assortment of items including the Papillon Secret Watch. A butterfly covered in diamonds, emeralds, and black spinels. When you open its wings, the secret you discover is a mother-of-pearl dial. There is surely no more delightful way to tell the time.
The lustrous and opulent beauty that sets Van Cleef & Arpels apart from the rest is evident in pieces such as their 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Sapphire Flower Ring. Just wearing it beckons the warmth and infinite small pleasures of a spring or summer day.
Many of their pieces feature similar floral motifs, from the absolutely stunning Rose Gold Alhambra Porcelain "Limited Edition" Diamond Necklace to the 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Ruby Floral Ring. It makes perfect sense for a brand so joyful and so clearly compelled by the beauty, splendor, and richness of the natural world to create floral pieces that instantaneously give the wearer a sense of warmth and pleasure.
Their special collections of high jewelry and their slightly more conventional pieces both bear all of the distinctive traits of Van Cleef & Arpels. All of them include small signature innovations, like their amazing Between the Finger rings, which can grace several fingers thanks to their magnificently designed flowers and branches that allow them to cover the entire hand.
Their Alhambra collection features a symbol of harmony that is edged with golden pearls. On some of the necklaces, there are variations in the number of floral symbols, and this is a nod to the Maison’s profound respect for luck and chance. These variations also make the entire collection very dynamic and versatile; the pieces can accompany just about any conceivable outfit, and they can also be worn in a variety of ways.
At ShopLuxury, we also believe in noticing and appreciating the beautiful small details of everyday life. Of all the jewelers we know, Van Cleef & Arpels emulates this exact sentiment best. To buy one of their pieces is to acknowledge and luxuriate in the very beauty and playfulness of life itself.
See our entire collection of pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels.