Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Mother of Pearl Diamond 18K Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in 台東区, JP
An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra ring crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, featuring the Maison’s iconic four-leaf clover motif.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold/MOP Vintage Alhambra Necklace w/ Cert
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold/Mother of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Necklace Made In: France Year of Procudtion: 2021 Materials: Mother of pearl, 18k yellow gold Hallmarks: VCA A...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Malachite/ 18k Magic Alhambra Pendant Necklace Receipt & Cert
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 2025 Green Malachite/18k Yellow Gold Magic Alhambra Long Pendant Necklace Year of Production: 2025 Made In: France Materials: Malachite and 18k yellow gold Hallma...
Malachite, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Bracelet Guilloché 5 Motifs Diamonds Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
The Alhambra collection has, over the years, become Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic symbol of luck.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Celadon Porcelain Vintage Alhambra Holiday Pendant VCARP9RV00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A limited edition 18k white gold light green Celadon Sèvres porcelain and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2022 Holiday collection.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Mother of Pearl Vintage Alhambra Bracelet VCARP2R100
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An elevated and timeless 18k rose gold bracelet from the Vintage Alhambra collection by Van Cleef and Arpels. The bracelet is made up of 5 iconic clover motifs; three are set with gr...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Carnelian Long Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Magic Alhambra Long Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels White Gold Chalcedony Vintage Alhambra Necklace VCARD34800
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A beautiful 18k white gold chalcedony necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Vintage Alhambra collection. The necklace has 10 motifs, each set with a chalcedony inlay and complement...
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 20 Motif Alhambra Diamond Lapis Yellow Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Expertly crafted in 18K yellow gold, this exceptional necklace features twenty iconic Alhambra clover motifs, each symbolizing luck, health, and prosperity.
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Gold Blue Sèvres Porcelain Magic Alhambra Necklace VCARO2TD00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A gorgeous 18k white gold blue sèvres porcelain necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels from their Magic Alhambra collection. The necklace comprises of the iconic 4-leaf clover motif pendant ...
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Carnelian Tiger Eye 6-Motif Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection features a 6-motif design of beaded clovers crafted in 18k white gold and set with 3 carnelia...
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels vintage alhambra bracelet 5 motifs blue agate
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
Van Cleef & Arpels vintage alhambra bracelet 5 motifs in blue agate. One of the most beautiful colors with 5 bleu agate stones.
Agate, 18k Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Vintage Alhambra holiday pendant 2023 Obsidian
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra holiday pendant 2023 Obsidian and diamond.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Turquoise 18K White Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: A rare Vintage Alhambra necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K white gold.
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 18K Yellow Gold & diamond earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
These 18k gold earrings feature diamond pavé set in a quatrefoil design. Crafted by Van Cleef & Arpels in France during the 21st century, they measure approximately 1.4 cm in length ...
18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Onyx Necklace 18K Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Coral Gables, FL
Iconic and timeless, this pre-owned Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra necklace showcases the maison’s celebrated motif design with elegant black onyx and luxurious 18K yellow gold.
Onyx, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Guilloche Long Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Magic Alhambra Long Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Malachite Long Pendant Necklace.COA
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous necklace Van Cleef & Arpels from the iconic Vintage Alhambra collection features a green malachite lucky clover pendant set in 18k yellow gold completed with an adjusta...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 20- Motif Malachite Vintage Alhambra Necklace in 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 20- Motif Malachite Vintage Alhambra Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold. The necklace features 20 clover motifs crafted in 18k yellow gold, inset with malachite disc...
Malachite, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Guiloche and diamond vintage Alhambra bracelet in 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Guiloche and diamond vintage Alhambra bracelet in 18k yellow gold. The bracelet features 5 clover motifs mounted on a cable chain; 3 of the mountings set with ...
Diamond, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Vintage Alhambra White Coral Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These stunning Van Cleef & Arpels lever-back earrings from the iconic Vintage Alhambra collection feature the lucky clover design crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with natural whi...
Coral, Yellow Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Onyx Ring in Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
A beautiful vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra onyx ring set in 18k yellow gold.The ring is composed of a clover motif set with black onyx, framed by polised edge.
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 18K White Gold Diamond Ring VC26-011326
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
Set in white gold, this ring features a single Alhambra clover motif with the signature beaded edge.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Arno Alhambra Diamond 18k White Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in University Place, WA
The Arno Alhambra is a less commonly encountered design within Van Cleef & Arpels' broader Alhambra family, distinguished by its dense diamond pavé and softly four-lobed silhouette.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 5P 18K Yellow Gold diamond Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
This is an authentic Van Cleef & Arpels 18K yellow gold bracelet from the Vintage Alhambra collection, crafted in France in 2020. The bracelet features five textured clover motif...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra White Coral Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Vintage Alhambra White Coral Earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Coral, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Rose Gold Obsidian Alhambra Bracelet And Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A striking Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra suite crafted in 18K rose gold, comprised of a Five Motif Obsidian bracelet and matching Twenty Motif Obsidian necklace.
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2023 Holiday Alhambra Silver Obsidian Rose Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Alhambra Silver Obsidian Rose Gold Pendant Necklace – 18K Rose Gold (Au750) Total Weight: 6.5 grams Silver Obsidian Gemstone Clover Silver obsidian ...
Quartz, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Diamond Alhambra 10 Motif Necklace & Bracelet Set
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Set Of Vintage Alhambra Ten-Motif Diamond Necklaces and 5 Motif Vintage Alhambra Diamond Bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, 18k Gold
Collier Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Mother of Pearl Or et Nacre
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in SÈVRES, FR
Créée en 1968, la collection Alhambra est devenue l’une des signatures les plus emblématiques de Van Cleef & Arpels.
Pearl, 18k Gold
18 Karat White Gold VCA Mother of Pearl & Diamond Alhambra
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels Material: 18k white gold Serial #: JE636XXX Diamond: 1 Round Brilliant Diamond: 0.06cttw Color: G Clarity: VS1 Colored Stone: Mother of Pearl Ring Si...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Carnelian Pendant Long Rose Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Rose Gold Magic Alhambra Carnelian Pendant Long Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Gold Carnelian & Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring 53 VCARD40800
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A beautiful 18k yellow gold Van Cleef & Arpels ring from the Vintage Alhambra collection. The ring features a four-leaf clover motif with a carnelian inlay, complemented by a beaded ...
Carnelian, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Sweet Alhambra Six Motif Diamond White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Lisboa, PT
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra six-motif bracelet, crafted in 18 kt white gold and set with diamonds.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Vintage Alhambra Yellow Gold Tie Clip
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Diamond Vintage Alhambra Tie Lapel Pin by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 1 round brilliant cut diamond VVS1 clarity, E color total weight .06ct Details: Measurements: Tie ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Sweet Alhambra Diamond Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Sweet Alhambra Diamond Mini Ring. Size 47. American 4. With VCA Certificate.
Diamond, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limited Edition Vintage Alhambra Penda
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limited Edition Vintage Alhambra Penda PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: T147002 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Rose Gold Diamond 2017 Limite...
Rose Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Pure Alhambra Grey Mother-of-Pearl Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This elegant Van Cleef & Arpels ring from the iconic Pure Alhambra collection features a 2 lucky clover design crafted in 18k white gold and set with iridescent gray mother-of-pearl.
18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Blue Agate Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet VCARP34900
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k yellow gold blue agate bracelet from the Vintage Alhambra collection by Van Cleef and Arpels. The bracelet is made up of 5 of the iconic clover motifs, each set with a beaded ...
Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Malachite Magic Alhambra Long Necklace VCARO3MG00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A gorgeous 18k yellow gold malachite long necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels from their Magic Alhambra collection. The necklace comprises of the iconic 4-leaf clover motif pendant set wi...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Turquoise 18K White Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
A refined and highly collectible Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace, crafted in solid 18K white gold (Au750) and set with a vibrant natural turquoise motif.
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White 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.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Malachite Vintage Alhambra Earrings VCARO3QL00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An elegant pair of 18k yellow gold malachite Van Cleef & Arpels earrings from the Vintage Alhambra collection. The earrings feature the iconic 4-leaf clover motif, with a malachite i...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Vintage Ten-Motifs Alhambra Necklace In 18Kt Yellow Gold &
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
A ten-motifs Alhambra necklace designed by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Carnelian Magic Alhambra Long Necklace VCARO49N00
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A gorgeous 18k yellow gold carnelian long necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels from their Magic Alhambra collection. The necklace comprises of the iconic 4-leaf clover motif pendant set wi...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Long Necklace 20 Motifs 18K Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Faithful to the very first Alhambra jewel created in 1968, the Vintage Alhambra creations by Van Cleef & Arpels are distinguished by their unique, timeless elegance.
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 18K Gold Coral 20-Motif Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
From the Alhambra Collection, this vintage necklace gathers twenty Alhambra motifs, set along a 32-inch-long yellow gold chain.
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Bracelet 5 Motifs Onyx &Diamonds 18KWG Set
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Faithful to the iconic Alhambra design first introduced in 1968, this bracelet features five clover-shaped motifs framed by the collection's signature beaded borders.
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Onyx MOP Yellow Gold 3-Motif Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels earrings from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection feature a 3-motif design of beaded clovers crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with onyx and ...
Onyx, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Lucky Alhambra 4 Motif Bracelet VCARD79600
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A lovely 18k yellow gold, Lucky Alhambra bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels. The bracelet features a malachite leaf motif, a mother-of-pearl clover motif, a tiger's eye butterfly mot...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels White Gold Turquoise Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A beautiful 18k white gold turquoise ring from the Lucky Alhambra collection by Van Cleef & Arpels. The ring is set with an off-centre butterfly motif and a turquoise inlay that is f...
Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra Carnelian Pendant Necklace 18K Box & Paper
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Baltimore, MD
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Magic Alhambra 1 Motif Carnelian Pendant Necklace 18 Karat Yellow Gold Box & Papers Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 15.9 grams Length: 35.5 inches Pendant: 26m...
Carnelian, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Byzantine Alhambra 18k Yellow Gold Long Chain Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This classic long necklace from the iconic Byzantine Alhambra collection by Van Cleef & Arpels is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features a series of polished gold openwork Alhambra ...
Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Guilloche 5 Motif 18K White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K white gold.
18k Gold, White Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra 16 Motif Yellow Gold Green Malachite Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This rare stunning long necklace from the Magic Alhambra collection by Van Cleef & Arpels is crafted in 18k yellow gold and features 16 lucky clover motifs with round bead settin...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra 3-Motif Chalcedony MOP White Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels earrings from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection feature a 3-motif design of beaded clovers crafted in 18k yellow gold and set with chalcedon...
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Twenty Motif Rock Crystal Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Alhambra Twenty-Motif Rock Crystal. Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 16 Motif Mother of Pearl Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra long necklace features 16 iconic clover motifs crafted from mother-of-pearl, each stone unique with its own natural color and characteristics.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra long necklace, 16 motifs Box & Papers
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Sweet Alhambra long necklace featuring 16 motifs crafted in 18K yellow gold.
Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Vintage Alhambra earrings gold and Mother-of-pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in London, England
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra earrings in 18K yellow gold with white mother-of-pearl.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
From the moment the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra collection launched, it was a sensation.
During the late 1960s, fine jewelry changed. Even the most haute of haute French houses expanded their inventories to include more daytime jewels to match the increasingly casual look of women’s fashion and to suit the 9-to-5 schedule of many who were joining the workforce. In 1969, Cartier launched its diamond-free gold Love bracelet. One year before that, Jacques Arpels came up with the all-gold Alhambra necklace.
Jacques — the nephew of Estelle Arpels, who founded Van Cleef & Arpels with her husband, Alfred, in 1906 — liked to say, “To be lucky, you must believe in luck.” This mantra is embodied in the four-leaf clover motif, which can be found in sketches in the house’s archives dating to the 1910s. The quatrefoil shape also has architectural resonance, found in Gothic and Renaissance structures and, of course, in such Moorish buildings as the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, which gave its name to the Van Cleef & Arpels line.
The first Alhambra jewel was a long gold chain with 20 gold clovers, the surface of each creased and edged in gold beads. In 1971, the house began making the motif in colorful opaque hard stones, including malachite, lapis lazuli, onyx, coral, tiger’s-eye and turquoise. Today, pieces incorporating these stones and a beaded border are referred to as Vintage Alhambra.
The easy-to-wear necklaces were exactly what women wanted to elevate their button-down blouses and wrap dresses. The jewels’ appeal spanned decades and generations. In April 1969, the 26-year-old Swedish actress Britt Ekland donned the original Alhambra gold style for the cover of Vogue. French actress Romy Schneider was around 36 when she sported an onyx and gold version in the provocative 1974 French film Le mouton enragé (Love at the Top), depicting relationships during the sexual revolution. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, stepped onto the red carpet at the BAFTA Film Awards in 2020 wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace and matching earrings. The iconic designs were immediately recognizable to serious jewelry lovers and casual fans alike.
Find Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra jewelry for sale on 1stDibs.
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.