When we talk about luxury brands, there are some that barely need an introduction. Van Cleef & Arpels is one of them.
Not only is this brand so iconic that its four-leaf clover design has been replicated by countless high-street designers and retailers, but it has produced some of the most expensive jewels ever to be sold at auction.
And it’s this particular category, the high-profile and high-price pieces, that we’re looking at in this blog.
But before we dive into the items that have fetched the most at auction, let’s refresh everyone’s memory on the Van Cleef & Arpels brand and why it holds such prestigious acclaim on the luxury market.
There are lots of jewellery brands out there, many of which have stepped into the luxury market. However, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the only brands that is truly and genuinely unique in its approach and its designs.
There is no mistaking a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet, ring, or necklace. These are designs that defy the standard boundaries of regular design, and which are often inspired by nature and by the natural whimsy of the world around us.
Throughout the years, Van Cleef & Arpels has attracted attention from countless celebrity wearers and high-profile fans. Royalty, on-screen stars, and global singers have all been pictured out and about with Van Cleef & Arpels pieces, creating the kind of buzz that most brands can only dream of.
And we can’t overlook the intrinsic value of the pieces created and the materials that are used to bring each item of jewellery to life. Because the brand was founded by two families, one from the business of sourcing gemstones and precious stones, and the other specialists in diamond cutting, the brand very quickly became known for its quality materials. And the designs speak for themselves, spanning collections inspired by flowers, animals, and even the changing landscape around gender norms.
‘Inclusive’ is a word often used to describe Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery – though as the price tags we are about to talk about prove, the luxury status of these pieces means that buyers remain in limited company.
Bracelets are just one form of jewellery brought to life by Van Cleef & Arpels, though you’d be amazed at the prices some of them attract at auction!
The most expensive actually didn’t sell very long ago, with the figures coming from an auction sale in 2024. The bracelet was the Gem Set and Diamond Bracelet, and it sold for an incredible 342,900 Swiss Francs – which equates to around £317,696. This bracelet, made in the 1930s and embedded with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, is intricate and dazzling and everything that Van Cleef & Arpels stands for.
In second place, from an auction sales perspective, is another blue and clear diamond piece. The Sapphire and Diamond ‘Boucle’ Bracelet boasts a unique knot-style feature in the centre and is rich with diamonds and coloured gemstones. It sold in 2024 for 240,000 Euros – equivalent to £207,000 – and is particularly popular for its art deco styling.
Moving down the list, we have the ‘Mystery-set’ Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet – a notable design because it uses one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most renowned attributes. The ‘Mystery set’ essentially means there are no prongs around the gemstones, and that they are held in place by what has become known as a mystery setting. This bracelet sold in 2024 for 126,000 Swiss Francs, equivalent to just under £117,000.
Suffice to say, Van Cleef & Arpels is a brand that sits high on the list of most auction houses in terms of value. But what about the pieces that don’t fall under this particular category but are worthy of a mention?
Of course, the above is just a snapshot of Van Cleef & Arpels’ success. We can’t talk about the success of Van Cleef & Arpels as a luxury brand and not mention the famous zip necklace; a genuine working zip that is suspended around the neck and remains one of the brand’s most ingenious, complex, and memorable releases. Its innovation was first seen in an early release in 1950, with different iterations following that use various materials and boast different aesthetic finishes.
The Alhambra collection is another one to note. Spanning necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings, the Alhambra collection is one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most recognisable collections – using the four-leaf clover as a symbol of luck and of a positive, proactive life. First created in 1968, this is the collection that has drawn the attention of consumers around the world, with countless replications meaning that Van Cleef & Arpels’ buyers have to pay particularly close attention to authentication checks.
Another notable collection is the Boutique range, which the brand claims is more affordable and accessible, as well as the iconic Passe-Partout necklace and the Floral collections that bridge beauty and elegance.
Even if the high-ticket auction items aren’t in your budget, the unrivalled benefit of the Van Cleef & Arpels range lies in its versatility, and the simple fact that these pieces are both statement designs and incredibly wearable accessories.
When you visit your local boutique reseller and browse their Van Cleef & Arpels collection, you will see that everything from the sizing of each piece to the colours and material variations means it can be as bold or as refined as you like.
Compared with other luxury brands, this is often classed as the one that boasts the most iconic designs – and so is the most recognisable from a place of status and prestige. While many of the designs are overtly feminine, the inclusive approach of Van Cleef & Arpels constantly underpins the simple idea that its pieces are for everyone.
So, which piece will you be trying first?
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