Van Cleef Diamond Butterfly
20th Century Lever-Back Earrings
Vintage 1970s French Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Brooches
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
Late 20th Century Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Bangles
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Choker Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire
21st Century and Contemporary French Stud Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
2010s French More Rings
Diamond, Turquoise
2010s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Brooches
Diamond, Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
2010s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Drop Necklaces
Coral, Cultured Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Fashion Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Wrist Watches
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Fashion Rings
18k Gold, White Gold, Rhodium
21st Century and Contemporary French Artist Wrist Watches
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, Diamond, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
2010s French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Brooches
Yellow Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Gold
2010s Italian Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Aquamarine, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Artist Pendant Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gol...
Antique 1820s British Early Victorian Brooches
Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary More Bracelets
Diamond, Chalcedony, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Tsavorite, Gold, White Gold
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary More Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French More Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
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Van Cleef Diamond Butterfly For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Van Cleef Diamond Butterfly?
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 Arpel. 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Van 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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