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Van Cleef & Arpels

When it comes to luxury jewellery brands, Van Cleef & Arpels is a firm favourite of celebrities and royalty. Having been creating fine jewellery and watches for more than a century, their opulent designs have attracted many famous clientele.

Argentina's former first lady Eva Perón, iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor, the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson and Grace Kelly, the American actress who became Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier III, were all devotees of the Parisienne jewellery house.

Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery has produced some of the most popular, inspiring and sought after collections of all time, such as Alhambra, Frivole, Perlee, Lucky Spring and more.

History of Van Cleef & Arpels

The romantic tale of Van Cleef & Arpels history dates back to 1895, when Estelle Arpels married Alfred Van Cleef in Paris. Estelle's father was precious stones dealer Léon Arpels, of Paris, while Alfred's father was diamond cutter Salomon Van Cleef, of Gent, Flanders.

The two families used their combined skills to launch their own luxury jewellery business in Paris in 1896. Following Léon's death in 1903, Estelle's three brothers, Charles, Julien and Louis, joined the company. They opened a jewellery boutique at 22 Place Vendôme, opposite the Hôtel Ritz, in 1906.

The company still operates from its famous address at Place Vendôme today. The family tradition was continued when Julien's three sons, Jacques, Claude and Pierre, took over the running of the business.

Claude's son, Claude Arpels Jnr, joined Cleef & Arpels in 1991, following the death of his father in 1990 and the retirement of his uncle, Phillippe Arpels, company president since 1985.

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA - the luxury goods company based in Switzerland and commonly known as Richemont - acquired Cleef & Arpels in 2003. Today, with more than 130 prestigious boutiques globally, Cleef & Arpels has become one of the most highly respected and trusted luxury jewellery brands in the world.

Celebrity Clients

One of the brand's most famous devotees was the Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco in 1956. She loved Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery and the Maison soon became an Official Supplier to the Principality of Monaco.

Princess Grace adored everything from the more traditional pieces to the whimsical, such as the La Boutique animal clip collection in the 1950s. The fun range depicted cartoon-style animals fashioned in a choice of precious metals and gemstones.

Elizabeth Taylor had an incredible collection of Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. Once described as having the greatest collection of jewellery ever amassed by a Hollywood actress, the late star had more than 40 pieces in her collection. Most items had been bought for her by Richard Burton during their epic romance.

He reportedly told her he was going to buy her "the world's most perfect ruby". He spent four years searching for the perfect stone and finally found the Puertas Ruby at Van Cleef & Arpels. Burton gave his wife the opulent ruby, diamond and yellow gold ring, with the 8.25-carat Puertas Ruby as the centrepiece, as a Christmas gift in 1968.

Taylor described how she screamed with delight as she gazed at the "most exquisite ruby" ever seen. Taylor wore a Van Cleef & Arpels pendant brooch - another gift from Burton - at the premiere of That's Entertainment in 1974. Fashioned from a 69.42-carat diamond, it was valued at a cool £1.1 million.

Alhambra Collection

One of the most famous Van Cleef & Arpels collections is the Alhambra collection, featuring a four-leaf clover design. The rounded shape is inspired by the Moorish quatrefoil Granada's Alhambra Palace in Spain. The collection was launched in 1968, with the clover symbol becoming the brand's new emblem.

The first piece was the Alhambra® long necklace in yellow gold, comprising 20 clover-shaped motifs and trimmed with gold beads. The four-leaf clover was chosen as a lucky shape due to Jacques Arpel's saying, "To be lucky, you have to believe in luck.

"The Alhambra collection remains in production today, more than half a century after its launch, a tribute to its popularity and longevity. The collection is fashioned from a wide variety of materials. The mother-of-pearl items are the most popular, becoming best-sellers over the years.

The other materials include malachite, onyx, lapis and "tiger's eye" versions. The pieces always sell well at auction. The Alhambra Lucky necklace set, featuring tiger's eye butterflies, mother-of-pearl clovers, carnelian hearts and malachite leaves, set in 18-carat yellow gold, sold at auction for £10,950 - far exceeding the estimate of between £4,780 and £6,370.

Frivole Collection

The Frivole collection, launched in 2003, is a luxurious design that reflects the brand's incredible craftsmanship. It combines artistry and vitality to create pieces that resemble a bouquet of flowers dancing in the breeze. The Frivole collection stands out as a result of its graphic and airy aesthetic appeal.

Heart-shaped petals, fashioned from pavé-set or mirror-polished gold, play on reflections and light to produce a stunning effect. Van Cleef & Arpels expanded the Frivole jewellery collection with nine new pieces, featuring floral designs, in 2018. These included rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets in 18-carat yellow gold and diamonds.

The new items incorporated the famous flower motif made from three heart-shaped petals surrounding a central diamond. The brand built on its legacy of transformable jewellery by creating a Frivole large pendant that could also be worn as a brooch.

The clip pendant features generous dimensions to emphasise its mirror polishing, enabling the three diamonds to nestle in the centre of a blossoming flower. The Frivole collection expanded further with seven new creations in rose gold or yellow gold, set with emeralds and rubies.

Perlée Collection

Launched in 2008, the Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée collection includes bracelets, pendants, rings and earrings, all with beautifully crafted beaded borders. The luxury jewellery collection was named after the French word "perlé", relating to the pearled edge. The technique of golden beading has been used by the brand since the 1920s.

The Perlée collection comprises six creations, echoing the joyful, sparkling spirit that typifies Van Cleef & Arpels. The three Perlée sweet clover bracelets and three rings, set in gold, feature motifs that embody the iconic Van Cleef & Arpels style.

The stones include malachite, a beautiful opaque stone that epitomises nature, thanks to its deep green hue. The high-quality malachite chosen by Van Cleef & Arpels is sourced predominantly in Australia. The collection also includes turquoise, characterised by its intense blue colour. Turquoise figures in a number of the brand's High Jewellery creations, where its bold azure hue combines beautifully with the precious stones.

The Perlée collection's golden beads have been present in many collections since the 1920s. In 1948, they took on a more generous form, multiplying into a variety of dimensions on necklaces, rings, bracelets and watches. The brand created more delicate, feminine creations with its Perlée pearls of gold and Perlée diamonds. In 2019, a stunning Perlée watch, in rose gold and diamonds, took the luxury jewellery world by storm.

Lucky Spring Collection

Van Cleef & Arpels' Lucky Spring collection, launched in March 2021, pays tribute to the rebirth of nature that spring brings. There’s a myriad of inspiration for the six delicate pieces dedicated to spring: three bracelets, a long necklace, a pair of earrings and a clip. The collection is sophisticated, yet still manages to capture a sense of fun and a love of life.

The designs include dainty ladybirds — some in mid-flight — Lily of the Valley leaves and flowers and the blossom from plum trees. It creates a showcase of nature at its finest. The motifs have been carefully chosen to pay homage to Van Cleef & Arpels' rich history.

Florals have always been a source of inspiration since the luxury jewellery brand's early years. Flowers date back to the 1920s, when they featured on diamond brooches and clips. Ladybirds were part of Van Cleef & Arpels' theme of "good luck" animals that first appeared in the 1930s.

The elegant pieces in the Lucky Spring collection are particularly interesting because although they symbolise the new beginnings of spring, they also take a retrospective look at the brand's past in an interesting oxymoron. A symbol of new beginnings yet a retrospective at Van Cleef & Arpels’ colourful past.

Where To Buy Van Cleef & Arpels Jewellery

If you're looking to purchase Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery, take inspiration from the large selection available to purchase at RichDiamonds of Bond Street.

As one of London's leading vintage and pre-owned luxury jewellery dealers, our professional team checks all of the jewellery personally. We will provide our guarantee on the authenticity of every piece of jewellery that we sell.