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
$30,880Sale Price|20% Off
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 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 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
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 & Arpels VCA Alhambra 5 Motif Diamond Bracelet 18k Yellow 17900
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Northbrook, IL
This Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 5 motif diamond bracelet is crafted in 18k yellow gold, featuring a series of clover-shaped motifs.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Diamond Pave 18K White Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An exquisite Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, expertly crafted in solid 18K white gold.
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Black Onyx 18K Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: A striking Magic Alhambra Long Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, expertly crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Diamond Pave 1 Motif Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra 1 motif pendant necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K gold.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian 18K Rose Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33301481 Comes With Box Only Date 2014 RRP £2,550 Incl. Taxes / €3,000 Incl. Taxes / $2,800 Excl. Taxes Model VCARN6BO00 Serial Number JE****** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Carneli...
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 6 Motifs Necklace Carnelian Tiger Eye
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302199 Comes With Full Set (Pouch + Card) Date 2013 RRP £10,700 Incl. Taxes / €12,600 Incl. Taxes / $12,800 Excl. Taxes Model VCARN5JP00 Serial Number JB0328** Metal 18k Yellow...
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 2025 Holiday Pendant Pink Mother of Pearl
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33302214 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2025 Model VCARPMOP00 Serial Number JG7158** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Mother of Pearl, Diamond Weight 6.37 g Length 42 cm Width 1...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Turquoise 18K White Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33301959 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2009 Model VCARB87000 Serial Number BL2135** Metal 18k White Gold Stones Turquoise Weight 5 g Length 42 cm Width 1.5 cm Condition E...
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx Diamond Pave White Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An exquisite Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, expertly crafted in solid 18K white gold.
Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2016 Holiday Vintage Alhambra Diamond Black Onyx 18K Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: A highly collectible 2016 Holiday Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K rose gold.
Onyx, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2018 Holiday Edition Vintage Alhambra Mother of Pearl Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: A highly collectible 2018 Holiday Limited Edition Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Mother of Pearl 18K Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Tysons, VA
Description: An elegant Lucky Alhambra Butterfly pendant necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, beautifully crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Mother Of Pearl Bracelet Earrings 18K Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra earrings, 18K yellow gold, onyx. Faithful to the very first Alhambra jewel created in 1968, the Vintage Alhambra creations by Van Cleef & ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Chalcedony Pendant Necklace in 18k White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Vintage Alhambra pendant, rhodium-plated 18K white gold, chalcedony.
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Mother Of Pearl Yellow Gold Cufflinks
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl Pure Alhambra Cufflinks by Van Cleef & Arpels. These rare cufflinks from Van Cleef & Arpels are part of the prestigious Pure Alhambra collection.
Pearl, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Vintage Alhambra Bracelet In 18k Yellow Gold. T
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Vintage Alhambra Bracelet In 18k Yellow Gold. The bracelet features 5 clover motifs, each encrusted with diamonds, evenly spaced on the cable chain, eq...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Carnelian Tiger Eye Yellow Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
These gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels 2-motif drop earrings from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection are crafted in 18k yellow gold and feature lucky clover motifs set with tiger's eye ...
Carnelian, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpel Blue Agate 20-Motif Vintage Alhambra Necklace In 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Agate 20-Motif Vintage Alhambra Necklace In 18k Yellow Gold. The necklace consist of 20 classic clover motif blue agate segments framed in 18k yellow gold, ...
Agate, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels "Lucky" Alhambra Multi Gemstone Long Chain Necklace In 18k
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Multi Gemstone Long Chain Necklace In 18k Yellow Gold.
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold
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 Pure Alhambra Onyx Flower 18k Yellow Gold Stud Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
These are from the 'Pure Alhambra' range, set with cabochon onyx pieces with flower Alhambra motif, measuring 9.5mm wide.
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
Van Cleef Arpels Sweet Heart Alhambra Necklace Genuine VCA 18k Shell Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Rare Van Cleef and Arpels Necklace Alhambra Collection Pendant. Sweet Heart 18k Yellow Gold with Mother of Pearl.
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Fourteen Motifs Diamond Yellow Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Pure Alhambra 14 Motifs Diamond Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Diamond 18K White Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33301469 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2019 RRP £5,650 Incl. Taxes/ €6,500 Incl. Taxes / $5,650 Excl. Taxes Model VCARO85500 Serial Number JA****** Metal 18k White Gold S...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Long Necklace Silver Obsidian & 18K
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in West Chester, PA
Purchased December 2025 directly from a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, this Vintage Alhambra 20-Motif Necklace features mesmerizing silver obsidian motifs perfectly complemented by 18k...
Other, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian Heart 18K Rose Gold Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Banbury, GB
SKU 33301520 Comes With Full Set (Box + Card) Date 2015 Model VCARN6BP00 Serial Number JE4341** Metal 18k Rose Gold Stones Carnelian Weight 2.38 g Width 0.9 cm Condition Excellent __...
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond 18k White Gold Arno Alhambra Flower Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Birmingham, GB
A rare and top grade Van Cleef & Arpels Arno Alhambra ring. Comes with Van Cleef & Arpels ring box and outer box.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Mother of Pearl White Gold Special Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Magic Alhambra Special Edition necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K white gold.
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels 6 Motif Sweet Alhambra Bracelet in Rose Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra 6-Motif Bracelet is a timeless emblem of luck, elegance, and legendary French craftsmanship, beautifully rendered in luxurious ...
Rose Gold
Van Cleef & Arples Vintage Alhambra Mother-Of-Pearl 18K White Gold Stud Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Boca Raton, FL
18K White Gold Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Mother-of-Pearl Earrings. These iconic earrings feature the maison’s signature Alhambra clover motif, beautifully crafted in 18...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra 1.06ct Round Cut Diamond Ring 18K White Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Aventura, FL
Conceived in 2006, the Magic Alhambra creations feature Alhambra motifs of various sizes, united in a joyful dance.
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 18K Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli Dial Quartz Ladies 26mm
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 18K Yellow Gold Lapis Lazuli Dial Quartz Watch, circa 1999.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 236574 18K YG Carnelian Dial Quartz Lady Watch 26mm
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra 236574 18K Yellow Gold Carnelian Dial Quartz Watch, circa 1988.
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Malachite 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 green malachi...
Malachite, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Malachite Magic Alhambra Ring Size 52 VCARO3AV52
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
An 18k yellow gold malachite ring by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Magic Alhambra collection. The ring features the iconic 4-leaf clover motif with a mother of pearl inlay, complemente...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl and Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl and Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: Z157279 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl a...
Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Pure Alhambra Nine Motifs Diamond White Gold Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k White Gold Pure Alhambra 9 Motifs Diamond Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Diamond, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra Blue Agate 18K Yellow Gold Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra pendant, beautifully crafted in solid 18K yellow gold.
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Pure Alhambra Pink Sapphire White Gold Small Pendant Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous limited edition Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from the iconic Pure Alhambra limited collection features the lucky clover pendant crafted in 18k white gold, set with pink ...
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl and Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl and Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: 156166 Listing Title: Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Mother Of Pearl an...
Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold Onyx Vintage Alhambra 5 Motif Bracelet VCARA41300
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A timeless 18k yellow gold onyx bracelet, from the Vintage Alhambra collection by Van Cleef and Arpels. The bracelet is made up of 5 iconic clover motifs, each set with a beaded edge...
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS VCA 18K White Gold Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring 52 6
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in West Chester, PA
Here is the updated version: --- **Van Cleef & Arpels 18K White Gold Diamond Vintage Alhambra Ring Size 6 (EU 52)** Faithful to the very first Alhambra® jewel created in 1968...
Diamond, White Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 2016 Holiday Edition Vintage Alhambra Black Onyx Gold Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Fairfax, VA
Description: An elegant Vintage Alhambra pendant from the 2016 Holiday Edition by Van Cleef & Arpels, exquisitely crafted in solid 18K rose gold.
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Carnelian and Tiger's Eye 'Magic Alhambra' Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This Van Cleef & Arpels 18K gold necklace features 16 variously sized carnelian and tiger's eye quatrefoil motifs on a fine link chain. Necklace length 48 inches. French assay and wo...
Carnelian, Tiger's Eye, 18k 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, Yellow Gold
BNIB Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Malachite Pendant Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Forest Park, GA
BNIB Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Malachite Pendant Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold The Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra Malachite Pendant Necklace is a timeless symbol of elegance and soph...
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold/ MOP Mother of Pearl Magic Alhambra Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Yellow Gold/ Mother of Pearl Magic Alhambra Earrings Year of Production: 2015 Made In: France Materials: Mother of pearl & 18K yellow gold Hallmarks:...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Large 24 Motifs Alhambra Yellow Gold Choker Necklace
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold 24 Large Motifs Alhambra Choker Necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. With 24 large motifs of 18k yellow gold Alhambras 1" each.
Yellow Gold
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Magic Alhambra Green Malachite 18k Yellow Gold Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous Van Cleef & Arpels ring from the iconic Magic Alhambra collection features the classic bead-edged lucky clover design crafted in 18k yellow gold and inlaid with green m...
Malachite, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef Arpels Pure Alhambra Earrings Genuine VCA 18k YG Vintage Black Onyx
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Rare Van Cleef and Arpels Earrings CERTIFIED Vintage PURE Alhambra Collection Stud Earrings. 18k Yellow Gold with Black Onyx inlay.
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef Arpels Lucky Alhambra Necklace. Genuine VCA 18k WG Shell Heart Pendant
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Rare Van Cleef and Arpels Necklace Lucky Alhambra Heart Collection Pendant. 18k White Gold with Mother of Pearl.
Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra watch. 18k Gold VCA HH75210 Clove Black Dial.
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Port Charlotte, FL
Genuine Van Cleef & Arpels Watch Alhambra Collection ref. HH75210 VCARD21900 18k Yellow Gold Case. 18k Yellow Gold Original VCA Buckle.
18k Gold, Yellow 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.