Vca Lion
21st Century and Contemporary Retro Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French More Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Bangles
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Vintage 1980s American Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1840s British Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 2000s Indian Anglo-Indian Bangles
Diamond, Gold, 22k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
Antique 1770s Portuguese Georgian Dangle Earrings
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Silver
20th Century French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American More Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Post-War Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Retro Brooches
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1950s American More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modern Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French More Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century French Brooches
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
Chrysophrase, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Necklace Enhancers
Onyx, Gold
Vintage 1970s Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Aesthetic Movement Link Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Platinum
20th Century American Bangles
Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Post-War Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Modernist Link Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s French Pendant Necklaces
Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Enamel, Platinum, 18k Gold
20th Century French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s French Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold
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Paper
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
French Brooches
Diamond
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
Emerald, Onyx, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Diamond
French Link Necklaces
French Chain Necklaces
20th Century Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Chain Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Onyx, 18k Gold, 22k Gold
Late 20th Century Brooches
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s French Bangles
Emerald, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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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