Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra White Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Design:
- Metal:
- Weight:2.9 g
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Indianapolis, IN
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3882222788622
Van Cleef & Arpels
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Indianapolis, IN
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian Necklace GoldBy Van Cleef & ArpelsLocated in Indianapolis, INThe Van Cleef & Arpels Sweet Alhambra Carnelian Necklace in Gold is a stunning piece of jewelry that exudes elegance and sophistication. Crafted by the renowned luxury brand Van Clee...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsGold
- Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Triple Heart Station Necklace SilverBy Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.Located in Indianapolis, INThe Tiffany & Co. Return To Tiffany Oval Tag Necklace in Silver is an iconic and timeless piece of jewelry that epitomizes elegance and sophistication. Crafted from high-quality ster...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsSilver
- Tiffany & Co. Return To Tiffany Oval Tag Necklace SilverBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Indianapolis, INThe Tiffany & Co. Return To Tiffany Oval Tag Necklace in Silver is an iconic and timeless piece of jewelry that epitomizes elegance and sophistication. Crafted from high-quality ster...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsSilver
- Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Full Heart Pendant Necklace GoldBy Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.Located in Indianapolis, INThe Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Full Heart Pendant Necklace in Gold is a timeless and elegant piece of jewelry that exudes sophistication and charm. Designed by renowned designer Elsa...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold
- Tiffany & Co. Return To Tiffany Heart Lock Necklace GoldBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Indianapolis, INThe Tiffany & Co. Return To Tiffany Heart Lock Necklace in Gold is a classic and iconic piece that embodies the brand's legacy of timeless ...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsGold
- Tiffany & Co. 1837 Interlocking Circle Necklace SilverBy Tiffany & Co.Located in Indianapolis, INThe Tiffany & Co. 1837 Interlocking Circle Necklace in Silver is a sleek and sophisticated accessory that embodies the brand's legacy of timeless elegance. Crafted from high-quality ...Category
2010s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsSilver
- Meditation Kinetic PendantBy Sybarite JewelleryLocated in London, GBOur Fortune Collection is a playful take on the Wheel of Fortune, a symbol the world over for the euphoria that one stroke of luck can have. We have captured this spirit of magic and...Category
2010s Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsWhite Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Love Hearts Initial Necklace in 18 Carat Gold and DiamondBy Origin 31Located in Chertsey, GBIntroducing a remarkable fusion of British charm and exquisite craftsmanship: the immortalization of an iconic sweet in the realm of fine jewellery. Prepare to be captivated as we br...Category
2010s British Contemporary Drop Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Fernand Demaret Opal and 18ct Pendant, Modernist Artist & Designers JewelleryBy Fernand DemaretLocated in Bruxelles, BEAn abstract pendant, 18ct gold, large opal (small rond diamond brillant cut) by Fernand Demaret , a famous Belgian goldsmith and his studio’s artists. Pendant designed by goldsmith Claude Wesel while working in Fernand Demaret workshop. Marked : Demaret’s stamps This pendant exemplifies the artist goldsmith's sculptural treatment of gold. Published in « Belgian Modernist Jewellery », Collectors Gallery...Category
Vintage 1960s Belgian Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Materials18k Gold
- 18 K White and Yellow Gold Pendant Heart Shaped with Diamonds Ct.8.85Located in BARI, ITHeart-shaped pendant in 18k white and yellow gold with diamonds ct.8.85. The counter-link is also heart-shaped and can be opened so as to allow the pendant to be inserted even on a s...Category
2010s Italian Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 0.44+0.35 Carats Diamonds 1.10 Carats Emeralds White Gold Pendant NecklaceLocated in BARI, ITThis splendid pendant with collier is handmade in Italy. Made of white gold with diamonds (0.44 carats for the pendant and 0.5 carats for the collier) and emeralds (1.10 carats). It ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chain Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, White Gold
- Paul Amey Gold, Silver, Diamond, Garnet, Art Glass, Enamel "Whale Tail" PendantBy Paul AmeyLocated in Tewantin, QueenslandDive into the depths of elegance with Paul Amey's "Whale Tail" Pendant – a captivating and entirely handcrafted masterpiece that brings together the richness of tarnish-resistant Ste...Category
2010s Australian Artist Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Garnet, Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Gems by David Webb, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels Anchor The Back Vault’s Treasure Trove
Boasting one of the largest collections of David Webb in the world, the firm offers exceptional jewels — always in demand yet never in short supply.
This Turquoise Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Necklace Is a Rare and Alluring Find
You know the French maison’s famous motif well. But why is this particular piece so in demand?