Why is Van Cleef and Arpels so expensive?

Van Cleef & Arpels is so expensive because it is a well-known company that has a fantastic reputation. Van Cleef & Arpels are universally renowned for high quality jewelry with a focus on detail. High-profile fans of the French jewelry house over the years have included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and many more. Find an extraordinary range of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on 1stDibs.

Van Cleef And Arpels Charm

Van Cleef Arpels Gold Pendant

Vintage 18k Gold Charm Bracelet

Van Cleef 18k Watch

Vca 750

Alhambra Charm

Van Cleef 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Gold Rope Link Charm Bracelet.

Unavailable

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Gold Rope Link Charm Bracelet.

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in London, GB

The bracelet designed as a series of rope work curb links, suspending one charm designed as two love birds sitting on a branch in front of a setting sun, the birds set with a pear-sh...

Category

Vintage 1950s French Chain Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Hawaii Pendant Brooch Pendant & Charms 18K Yellow Gold

Unavailable

W 0.98 in L 0.96 in

Van Cleef & Arpels Hawaii Pendant Brooch Pendant & Charms 18K Yellow Gold

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in New York, NY

Accessories: No Accessories Measurements: Height/Length: 24.15 mm, Width: 24.70 mm Designer: Van Cleef & Arpels Model: Hawaii Pendant Brooch Pendant & Charms 18K Yellow Gold with Cit...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Unavailable

Unavailable

W 0.44 in L 14.41 in

Henry Dankner 2.24 Carat Diamond 18K 2-Tone Gold Fancy Link Bracelet

By Henry Dankner & Sons

Located in Goettingen, DE

In the 1980s, the company increasingly specialized in the manufacture of trailers. Charms jewels of the later years were also distributed through leading jewelers such as Cartier, Ha...

Category

Late 20th Century American Link Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Lions Head Necklace

Unavailable

Lions Head Necklace

By Napier

Located in Mastic Beach, NY

Philippe worked as a designer of fine jewelry for Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and brought to Trifari many imaginative ideas.

Category

Vintage 1980s American Art Nouveau Choker Necklaces

Sold

Van Cleef & Arpels France Rose Gold Coral Moonstone Diamond Charm Bracelet

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in New York, NY

Designed as a cable link chain featuring four stylized charms and bezel set gemstone cabochons. Depicting a woman with three balloons, sitting, kicking a ball and a man with a single...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Charm Bracelets

Materials

Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Coral, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Production Mercredi à Paris 4 Charm Bracelet ARN5O800

Sold

L 7 in

Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Production Mercredi à Paris 4 Charm Bracelet ARN5O800

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A stunning 18k rose gold Van Cleef & Arpels Mercredi à Paris charm bracelet from the Romance in Paris line of the Journée à Paris Collection.

Category

Early 2000s French Charm Bracelets

Materials

Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold

Sold

W 0.6 in D 0.09 in L 7.09 in

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Green Malachite Gold Bracelet

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Napoli, NA

The Alhambra Bracelet in Green Malachite is a luxurious and exquisite piece of jewelry crafted by Van Cleef & Arpels. Part of the renowned Alhambra collection, this bracelet exemplif...

Category

Vintage 1980s French Modern Charm Bracelets

Materials

Malachite, Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Vintage Alhambra Bracelet VCARA4200

Sold

L 7.5 in

Van Cleef & Arpels Turquoise Vintage Alhambra Bracelet VCARA4200

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A rare 18k yellow gold turquoise bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels from the Vintage Alhambra collection. The bracelet features 5 iconic 4 leaf clover motifs, each set with a beaded edge...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Charm Bracelets

Materials

Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Sold

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Rock Crystal Yellow Gold Bracelet Rare

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Miami, FL

Guaranteed authentic extremely are and highly collectible Vintage Alhambra 5 motif bracelet features rare Rock Crystal set in 18K yellow gold. Very rare to find, this beauty is a col...

Category

2010s French Charm Bracelets

Materials

Yellow Gold

$1,800

Felix B. Vollman 18 Karat Blue Enamel Baby Bootie Charm - VHK#511

Located in Hicksville, NY

Felix B. Vollman 18 Karat Blue Enamel Baby Bootie Charm - VHK#511 Item Details: Year: 2000s Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 8.1 grams Diamond Details: .1...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels Magic 5 Motif Alhambra Bracelet

$13,200

Van Cleef & Arpels Magic 5 Motif Alhambra Bracelet

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in New York, NY

An elegant Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra bracelet crafted in 18K yellow gold, featuring a captivating combination of white mother-of-pearl, black onyx, and iridescent gray mother...

Category

20th Century French Modern Chain Bracelets

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Vintage Alhambra 5-Motif Mother-of-Pearl Bracelet

$5,650

$6,512

L 7.5 in

Van Cleef & Arpels White Gold Vintage Alhambra Bracelet VCARF48400

By Van Cleef & Arpels

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A classic 18k white gold mother of pearl bracelet by Van Cleef and Arpels from the Vintage Alhambra Collection. The stylish bracelet is made up of 5 iconic 4-leaf clover motifs, each...

Category

2010s French Link Bracelets

Materials

18k Gold, White Gold

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Ippolita 18 Karat Yellow Gold Classico Oval Hammered Bangled Bracelet 4MM

$1,650

L 7.5 in

Ippolita 18 Karat Yellow Gold Classico Oval Hammered Bangled Bracelet 4MM

By Ippolita

Located in Baltimore, MD

Ippolita 18 Karat Yellow Gold Classico Oval Hammered Bangled Bracelet Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 6.43 grams Width: 4mm Inside circumference: 7.5 inches Inside diameter: 65mm STD ...

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Hermes Cuivre Novillo Leather 30cm Birkin Bag with Goldtone Hardware

$16,495

Hermes Cuivre Novillo Leather 30cm Birkin Bag with Goldtone Hardware

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Cuivre Novillo Leather 30cm Birkin Bag with Goldtone Hardware Made In: France Year of Production: 2019 Color: Cuivre Hardware: Goldtone hardware Materials: Novillo leather Li...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Fuschia Shiny Crocodile Porosus Birkin 35 Palladium Hardware, 2014

$39,900

H 10.63 in D 7.09 in L 13.78 in

Hermès Fuschia Shiny Crocodile Porosus Birkin 35 Palladium Hardware, 2014

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

This Hermès Birkin 35 in fuchsia shiny porosus crocodile from 2014 is a striking example of the house’s craftsmanship, paired with palladium hardware. The structured silhouette is so...

Category

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Vintage Cartier Paris Panthère Model WF3072B9 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamonds

$29,950

W 0.87 in L 1.19 in

Vintage Cartier Paris Panthère Model WF3072B9 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamonds

By Cartier

Located in New York, NY

Maker: Cartier Model: Panthère WF3072B9 retailed in Paris Place Vendome store Circa: 2001 Materials: 18k Yellow Gold and Diamond Bezel and Lugs Case: W 22.0 x H 30.0mm Movement: Qua...

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Early 2000s Swiss Modernist Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Hermès 2011 Birkin 30cm Pink Box Calf Leather Women's Handbag New

$28,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 8.67 in D 6.3 in L 11.82 in

Hermès 2011 Birkin 30cm Pink Box Calf Leather Women's Handbag New

By Hermès

Located in Ottawa, CA

Hermes Bag Birkin 30cm Box Calf Pink New - 2410152001 Brand: Hermès Type : Hermes Birkin Bag Inside Detail: N/A Base Size: 30cm Height: 22cm Depth: 16cm Weight: Material: Box Calf L...

Category

2010s French Briefcases and Attachés

A Pair of Bulgari Earrings with Turquoise, Diamond and Amethyst

$30,066

A Pair of Bulgari Earrings with Turquoise, Diamond and Amethyst

By Bulgari

Located in Amsterdam, NL

A pair of 18k gold earrings with cabochon-cut turquoise stones on the ear, attached to a horizontal round circle with calibre-cut pavé set green tourmaline, below is a round turquois...

Category

Early 2000s Italian Dangle Earrings

Materials

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Hermes Birkin 25 Cote A Cote Tuffetage Limited Edition Bag

$59,765

Size: 25 cm

Hermes Birkin 25 Cote A Cote Tuffetage Limited Edition Bag

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Mightychic offers an Hermès Birkin 25 Côte à Côte Tuffetage in Black Swift with Permabrass hardware. This rare limited edition Birkin introduces Hermès’ Côte à Côte tuffetage techniq...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Cartier Tank Francaise W50002N2 Aftermarket Diamond Bezel Women's Watch 20mm

$17,467

Dm 0.79 in

Cartier Tank Francaise W50002N2 Aftermarket Diamond Bezel Women's Watch 20mm

By Cartier

Located in Miami, FL

Cartier Tank Francaise W50002N2 18k Yellow Gold Aftermarket Diamond Bezel White Dial Quartz Women's Watch 20mm. Fits a wrist measuring approximately 5.5 inches. Original box and pape...

Category

2010s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès 2010s Colvert Alligator Leather Constance Wallet with H Buckle

$13,200

H 4.73 in D 1.38 in L 8.08 in

Hermès 2010s Colvert Alligator Leather Constance Wallet with H Buckle

By Hermès

Located in London, GB

Colvert Alligator Mississipiensis leather Enamel H buckle on palladium hardware Interior card slot panel on each side and zipper Comes with original box. Condition: Very Good This pr...

Category

2010s European Wallets

$94,775

Size: 20 cm

Hermes Kelly 20 Teddy Pluch Gris Caillou Grizzly Shearling

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Mightychic offers a Hermes limited edition Kelly 20 Pluch "Teddy" is a stunning creation, crafted in Gris Caillou Grizzly and Etoupe Swift leather, complimented by Mouton Merinos (Sh...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags

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Van Cleef And Arpels Charm For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, you can find the most appropriate van cleef and arpels charm for your needs in our varied inventory. Each design created in this style — which was crafted with great care and often made from 18k Gold, Gold and Platinum — can elevate any look. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. If you’re looking for a van cleef and arpels charm from a specific time period, our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and you’ll find at least one that dates back to the 20th Century while another version may have been produced as recently as the 21st Century. Creating a van cleef and arpels charm has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier are consistently popular. A van cleef and arpels charm can be a stylish choice for most occasions, but Diamond rings, from our inventory of 11, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. If you’re browsing our inventory for a van cleef and arpels charm, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for unisex and men.

How Much is a Van Cleef And Arpels Charm?

The price for a van cleef and arpels charm starts at $3,200 and tops out at $65,000 with these more-jewelry-watches, on average, selling for $6,400.

Van Cleef & Arpels 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.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

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.

Questions About Van Cleef & Arpels

Why is Van Cleef and Arpels so expensive?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Van Cleef & Arpels is so expensive because it is a well-known company that has a fantastic reputation. Van Cleef & Arpels are universally renowned for high quality jewelry with a focus on detail. High-profile fans of the French jewelry house over the years have included the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor and many more. Find an extraordinary range of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on 1stDibs.

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