First established in 1895, there is a lot to love about the Van Cleef & Arpels brand – from the romance at the centre of the brand’s establishment and history, to the intricacy of each piece and the ways in which each collection draws on the inspiration and influence of history, nature, and culture.
The brand has always been synonymous with luxury and was created as a celebration of the union between two great families – both operated within the jewellery and luxury accessory industry. One specialised in stone cutting while the other specialised in precious stones, Van Cleef & Arpels became a way for the founders to showcase their skills and create unique and stand-out collections which continue to delight buyers today.
So, what makes the brand so special and which pieces really stand out from the crowd?
Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery doesn’t just make a statement – it tells a story. Every piece in every collection is uniquely designed to tap into a different thematic influence or cultural inspiration, while at the same time the founders, designers, and creators themselves found new ways of bringing jewellery to life through innovation.
One of the core reasons why Van Cleef & Arpels is such a popular brand in the luxury jewellery sector is that it does not shy away from colour, and it does not cut corners in an attempt to churn out quantity while lacking quality. In the 1930’s the creators found a way of setting stones without the use of visible prongs; an art requiring extreme precision and only the highest quality craftsmanship from their team. Nonetheless, this became a staple of many of the pieces to come.
And we cannot talk about the popularity of the Van Cleef & Arpels brand without considering its nature as an investment. As with so many designer brands and luxury products, the demand for Van Cleef & Arpels pieces far outweighs supply – with the following collections and individual pieces garnering some of the highest demand across the brand as a whole.
The following pieces of jewellery are considered the standout pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels entire collection; not merely for their design flair and creativity, but for the way that they are worn, and the means through which they challenge the existing norms surrounding the jewellery industry.
Perhaps the most well-known and highly coveted collection, the Alhambra collection is what sparked a change in the attitude of jewellery wearers and buyers – showing people that it was okay to wear luxury jewellery as part of their every day, rather than reserving it for formal occasions.
This collection is captured in its four-leaf clover design – first created as a pendant in 1968 and now a common theme across the brand and collection in the form of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more. The most popular collection by a mile, the Alhambra collection stands out from the crowd because of its direct and recognisable link to the brand’s success and coveted status in the luxury industry.
Indulgent, airy, and as picturesque as they are striking to look at, the pieces in the Frivole collection combine intricate designs and realistic motifs with the colours and details that present oversized extravagance. Designed to replicate the flow of a bouquet of flowers, in this collection Van Cleef & Arpels approach the commonly used floral influence and inject it with more in the way of design flair – making it a crowd-pleasing standout and one that people instantly recognise as Van Cleef & Arpels.
Making it onto our list of standout pieces for obvious reasons, the zip necklace created elegance and style out of something which is overtly ordinary. Made famous by Margot Robbie, the zip necklace is one of the most coveted pieces in the brand’s collection because it turns an everyday staple into a luxurious must-have – and does so with added sparkle.
The Perlee collection is bold and modern, leaning on the simplest of styles and the most elegant of features – with small golden beads complimenting and sitting alongside diamonds and other luxurious and precious gems. Favoured by wearers from all generations, this collection once again designs its own beauty standards with something which is both so simple and so elegant – spotlighting the technique of beading across each piece.
Not to be confused with the Frivole collection, which is also one steeped in floral influence, the Flora collection encompasses a series of pieces and designs which are influenced by the everyday beauty of nature. Encompassing both realistic and abstract examples of flowers at every stage of their growth cycle, this collection is three-dimensional and stands out as a result of the oversized yet elegant finishes across each piece.
This collection is where nature meets motion, with every piece brought to life in recognition of both individual creatures and the intricacies of their movement. With ornamental colours and precious stones at the heart of each piece’s exterior design, the inspiration is always extraordinarily simple.
This collection is where the Van Cleef & Arpels brand shifts away from its natural staples, creating pieces which pick up on and celebrate the symbolism of the constellations. To look at, these pendants are actually very minimal and basic when compared with the rest of the brand’s designs – however, the intricacy and detail behind each design are one of a kind.
Finally, the Couture collection; a colourful recognition of both traditional and modern design – with standout designs featuring unique shapes and fits, bright colours, and innovative concepts.
Van Cleef & Arpels is a brand which has been making history since its inception – adding a different spin to the concept of luxury design and injecting high-class and investment jewellery with pieces which expose the intricacies of normality, transitioning into something packed full of beauty.
To explore our in-house collection of Van Cleef & Arpels pieces, and to find out more about the investment value, authentication and valuation process at Love Luxury, get in touch with us directly.
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