Van Cleef & Arpels Two-Row Diamond Riviera Necklace, 37.41 cts in Platinum
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A museum-worthy take on the classic Riviera, this signed Van Cleef & Arpels necklace drapes in two luminous rows of diamonds set in rich platinum.
Diamond, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels Fleurette Diamond Cluster Ring in 18K Yellow Gold~1.6ctw
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfield, CT
Ring size 8, weighing 6.0 grams. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels. In excellent condition with minimal signs of wear.
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Romance in Paris Charm Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Authentic Van Cleef & Arpels Romance à Paris bracelet crafted in 18 karat white gold.
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Yellow Gold Diamond + Emerald Tiger Brooch 58.6 grams
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
A diamond, emerald, enamel and 18k gold tiger clip Brand: Van Cleef & Arpels, Italian Signed VCA Italy, no.1K58-2 Gross weight approximately: 58 grams Dimensions: 4in x 2in.
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Arno Alhambra Flower Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Arno Alhambra Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Lapis Lazuli Diamond Anchor 18K Yellow Gold Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Rare and highly collectible vintage Van Cleef & Arpels pendant medallion crafted in 18K yellow gold, featuring a rich blue lapis lazuli center decorated with a finely detailed na...
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant Scorpio Zodiac Gold Disc Pendant.
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
Scorpios are born leaders and live to experience and express emotions, and this Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant Scorpio zodiac 18 karat yellow gold disc pendant will le...
Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Georges L'Enfant Libra Zodiac Gold Vintage Medium Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
Tip the scale in your favor when wearing this Van Cleef & Arpels Georges L'Enfant libra zodiac 18 karat yellow gold vintage medium size pendant disc.
Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Ring Wave Eternity Band French 18K Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfield, CT
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Ring Wave Eternity Band French 18K Yellow Gold This Van Cleef & Arpels band ring is made in 18K yellow gold and features approximately 1.37 carat...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Coral Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Bow Design Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS A Van Cleef & Arpels Coral Bow and Diamond Ring made in 18 Karat Yellow Gold.
Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
GRS Certified Van Cleef and Arpels 8.85 Carat No Heat Oval Ruby 18K Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
From the famed house of Van Cleef and Arpels, this ring centers an 8.85 carat oval-cut unheated Ruby and is flanked by an additional 2.00 carats of marquis-cut diamonds.
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$41,600Sale Price|20% Off
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Ruby Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Leaf Clip Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
Their sculptural silhouette sits beautifully on the ear, making them equally suitable for daytime sophistication or evening elegance. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, these remarkable...
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Butterfly MOP Diamond 18K Yellow & White Gold Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
This exquisite piece is shaped like a butterfly. The wings are crafted from delicately carved mother-of-pearl, showcasing a beautiful iridescent effect. The butterfly's body is adorn...
18k Gold
Georges Lenfant for Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Gold "Waves" Link Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This is a rare, collectible model from the "optical" series manufactured ca. 1970 by the Georges Lenfant workshops for Van Cleef & Arpels. Signed examples of these bracelets are almo...
Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Mini Cross Diamond 18k White Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Mini Diamond Cross 18k White Gold Pendant Necklace.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Onyx Flower 18k Yellow Gold Stud Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Onyx 18 Karat Yellow Gold Stud Earrings.
Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Sapphire & Diamond GIA Certified 18k Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
The ring is signed Van Cleef & Arpels New York with serial number and carat weight of sapphire hand engraved.
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Onyx Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ribbon Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Onyx And Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ribbon Bow Pendant Necklace.
Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Diamond Pave 18 Karat Rose Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra earrings crafted in luxurious 18K rose gold and accented with brilliant pavé-set natural diamonds.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Rare Vintage 2.24ct Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Sapphire Diamond Cocktail Band Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
A rare and unique vintage Van Cleef & Arpels ring. Comes with a beautiful Van Cleef & Arpels ring box and outer box.
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Georges L'Enfant Vintage Taurus Zodiac Large Gold Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Greenwich, CT
Waiting for those born a Taurus (April 20th-May 20th) this large size coveted Van Cleef & Arpels Paris Georges L'Enfant vintage pendant zodiac charm will always feature your sign fro...
Gold, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS 1970 Retro Modern Textured Cufflinks In 18Kt Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of retro modernist cufflinks designed by Van Cleef & Arpels This is a beautiful pair of retro modernist cufflinks created by the French jewelry house of Van Cleef & Arp...
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels French 1960's Sapphire 18K Gold Vintage Barrel Cufflinks
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bar-style cufflinks feature fluted barrel terminals with channel set french cut sapphire Weighing approximately 3.84 carat total - transparent medium blue in color Barrels twist out ...
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Rare Van Cleef & Arpels Four-Row Brick Link Diamond Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
For size reference, the necklace measures approximately 36 centimetres in length and 0.9 centimetres in thickness, with a gross weight of 52.8 grams. The necklace is signed and hallm...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Rare Van Cleef & Arpels Four-Row Brick Link Diamond Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
The bracelet is signed and hallmarked Van Cleef & Arpels, 750 (for 18k gold), French mark, with the serial number B4303A2.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Gold Toi-et-Moi Ring with Diamonds, 1980s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A Van Cleef and Arpels Yellow and White Diamond Toi-et-Moi Ring from the 1980's, in 18 carat gold.
White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Perlee Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Perlee Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet Superb Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet with signature Perlee Alhambra style.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Lapis Lazuli & Diamond 18k Gold & Platinum Dome Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Very Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Oval Lapis Lazuli & Diamond 18k Gold & Platinum Dome Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow...
Van Cleef & Arpels Ludo Swann Watch in Gold, Diamonds & Mother-of-Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A luminous marriage of horology and high jewelry, this rare Van Cleef & Arpels Ludo Swann watch transforms timekeeping into an art form.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Diamond 18k White Gold Ring Certified
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Five Row Ladies Watch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
The bracelet weighs approximately 169 grams and is designed to fit wrists measuring approximately 6 to 6.75 inches. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels with serial numbers and appropriate ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 30cts Diamond Ceylon Sapphire Necklace in 18 Karat Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Dallas, TX
- Enchanting lace-like feminine design from iconic Van Cleef & Arpels - Featuring 18.44 carats of fine white (F to G color, VVS to VS clarity) brilliant-cut round diamonds - Pr...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Go...
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Arno Alhambra Flower Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Arno Alhambra Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Rose Gold Constellation Enamel Cufflinks 23.6g 18mm
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Addison, TX
Details: • Van Cleef & Arpels Cufflinks • Solid 18K Rose Gold • Gold Purity: 750 • Black Enamel Constellation Motif • White Star Design • Round Double-Faced Cufflinks • Wh...
18k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Van Cleef & Arpels Folie Des Pres Diamond & Sapphire Flower Necklace in 18kyg
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Van CLeef & Arpels Folie Des Pres diamond & multi-color sapphire flower necklace in 18k yellow gold.
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Green Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Fleurette 18k White Gold Flower Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Fleurette Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 14.83 Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Three-Stone Engagement Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Size 6.5 US, resizable upon request. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels NY.
Diamond, Platinum
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS NY 18k Yellow Gold & Diamond Tartelette Cocktail Ring 1960s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The ring is made by Van Cleef & Arpels NY in the 1960s vintage period.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Flower Onbell Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Fine Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Onbell Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Flower Onbell Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Onbell Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS FRANCE 18k Yellow Gold & Diamond Taurus Ring Vintage 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The ring is made in France by Van Cleef & Arpels in the 1970s. It is a size 5, it weighs 4,1 grams and it has 0.41 points of diamonds.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels French 1950s Diamond 18K Gold Platinum Vintage Woven Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as multiple strands of meshed wheat chain gathered in center via twisting knot motif Knot features a row of graduated transitional cut diamonds prong set in platinum Weighin...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
$132,000Sale Price|20% Off
Van Cleef & Arpels 8 Carat Diamond Folie des Prés Floral Dangle Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
These exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels Folie des Prés flower dangle earrings are masterfully crafted in 18k white gold, featuring a total of 8 carats of brilliant natural diamonds.
Diamond
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PARIS 18k Hammered Yellow Gold & Diamond Ring Vintage 1970s
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
The ring was made by Van Cleef & Arpels Paris in the 1970s. It is a size 5.5 and is fully hallmarked.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
$16,691Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby & Diamond Fleurette Flower 18k Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Pinkish Ruby And Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Fleurette Flower Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Yellow Gold Paperclip Link Chain Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Yellow Gold Paperclip Cable Link Bracelet .
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Vintage Alhambra Diamond Pave Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These Vintage Alhambra earrings are a refined expression of timeless elegance, combining exceptional diamond quality with thoughtful, versatile craftsmanship. Crafted in 18K white go...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels French 1994 18K Gold Vintage Puffy Wheat Collar Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a puffy style braided wheat link collar With domed high polish gold links Completed by concealed press release closure With hinged figure eight safety Stamped with French...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Necklace in 18K Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Chevy Chase, MD
An impossible to find Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Necklace! This necklace features 120 round brilliant Diamonds, DEF color, and VVS clarity with a total weight of 4.83 carat...
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18kt Yellow Gold Twist Ring, 1980s, Size 5-5.25
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
Executed in polished 18 karat yellow gold. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, reference no. 2502**, serial no.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Sapphire & Diamond Ribbon Bow 18k Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Rare Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Sapphire And Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ribbon Bow Celeste Pendant Necklace.
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Natural Diamond Platinum Band Etoile Ring 5.25 EU50
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Van Cleef & Arpels Platinum Diamond Band Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Mother-Of-Pearl 18K Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as an open band terminating with butterfly and alhambra quatrefoil shaped motifs Butterfly is inlaid with turqouise tablet measuring 18.0 x 18.0 mm - opaque robin's egg blue...
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Cocktail Ring 18Kt Gold With 2.87 Ctw Diamonds Sapphire
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Cocktail ring designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. This is an fabulous ring created in Paris France by the iconic jewelry house of Van Cleef & Arpels, back in the 1980.
Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k ...
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels NY Natural Diamond Platinum Solitaire Band Ring 49
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
Van Cleef & Arpels New York Platinum Diamond Band Ring.
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k Gold 38mm Charms Watch 2572115 With Box & Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Quartz movement, round diamonds, guilloché dial, 18k rose gold (Swiss marks), signed Van Cleef & Arpels, Swiss Made, maker's mark, accompanied by a Van Cleef & Arpels 18k ros...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Folie Des Pres Diamond & Sapphire Flower Earrings in 18kwg
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These whimsical Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) earrings feature a dazzling diamond pavé sphere at the top, from which dangle alternating floral motifs crafted from vibrant purple and pink ...
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels 1.14 Carat Diamond Honeycomb Trio Yellow Gold Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Three diamond-set hexagons cluster like a honeycomb of light. This signed Van Cleef & Arpels trilogy pendant is a beautiful example of the Maison's mid-century geometric period, ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Paris 18k Yellow Gold & Malachite Cocktail Ring 1980s Vintage
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Van Cleef & Arpels Paris 18k Yellow Gold & Malachite Cocktail Ring 1980s Vintage Here is your chance to purchase a beautiful and highly collectible designer cocktail ring.
Malachite, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef Arpels Aquamarine Ring. 1.50ct Square Aquamarine Pearl Ring 18K Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional ring is signed "Van Cleef & Arpels" and bears French import marks, attesting to its authenticity and refined heritage.
Aquamarine, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
One of the world’s foremost jewelry houses, Van Cleef & Arpels is particularly noted for a focus on technical virtuosity, craftsmanship and artistry, evident since its beginning. Rather than create earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other adornments primarily for the aim of displaying of wealth and opulence, Van Cleef & Arpels sought to produce jewelry that projected the wearer’s taste and style.
The company was formed a year after the 1895 marriage of Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a gem cutter, to Estelle Arpels, daughter of precious-stones dealer Salomon Arpels. Ten years later, Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique on the Place Vendôme in Paris, setting the march on a square now crowded with dealers in bijouterie. (The company still occupies the New York flagship store opened in 1939 at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.)
Born from a union of expertise in both jewelry making and gem selection, Van Cleef & Arpels distinguished itself with both the consistency of the color and clarity of its stones and the creativity of its designs. In doing so, the house would win a roster of dedicated, fashion-conscious clients that included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Hutton, Jacqueline Onassis and Elizabeth Taylor. In 1933, Van Cleef & Arpels patented its trademark Mystery Setting — a technique by which gems are fitted into an intricate matrix of slots and “drawers” that keep the setting hidden. Another signal innovation was the Zip necklace, introduced in 1951, which can be worn either around the neck or, with the zipper closed, as a bracelet.
But as much as to the firm’s craftsmanship, clients have been drawn by the insouciance and playfulness of Van Cleef & Arpels designers, as well as their attunement to the cultural climate. After the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the company produced several lavish pieces featuring hieroglyphics and other Egyptian motifs to go along with the geometric Art Deco jewelry of that decade and the next. Following World War II, as symbols of freedom and rebirth, the firm focused on naturalistic forms such as birds, flowers, fruit and flying insects. High society’s 1960s fascination with the Near East and India prompted such pieces as the best-selling Alhambra necklace, popularized by Princess Grace.
Lately, attention among collectors and connoisseurs has centered on Van Cleef & Arpels’s quality of workmanship as much as its glamour. The firm was the subject of a 2012 show at the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, as well as exhibitions at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, in 2013 and at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2014.
Find an exquisite collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on 1stDibs.
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
These flowers will never wilt.
The classic ’60s design has become particularly popular among sporty types.
Day or night, the vintage jewels make a statement.
You know the French maison’s famous motif well. But why is this particular piece so in demand?
The tiny lovers inch closer together by the hour and minute until they finally embrace on a world-famous bridge.
Watchmakers have tucked their movements into all manner of precious baubles, from lapel pins to cocktail rings. The result is dazzling, wearable art that will get you to the party on time.
With more than 100 carats of diamonds, this vintage stunner converts into different styles, making it as versatile as it is breathtaking.
The lucky-charm style has been around for more than 50 years, and British royals are still drawn to it.