Van Cleef & Arpels

(1896 – current)
 

Van Cleef & Arpels is an iconic French House, specializing in luxury jewellery, exquisite watch and perfume. The house was founded in Paris by Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels and has always been considered one of the most mysterious and charming companies.

The first boutique by Van Cleef & Arpels at 22 Place Vendôme, across from the Hôtel Ritz. Later on, salons were opened in fancy holiday resorts, such as Deauville, Vichy, Le Touquet, Nice, and Monte-Carlo. The company was also the first French jeweller to open boutiques in Japan and China. As the popularity grew, Van Cleef & Arpels opened more and more salons all over the world. Nowadays they have boutiques and stores in the Middle East and South East Asia, many countries in Europe, USA and Australia.

In 1925, a Van Cleef & Arpel’s bracelet with red and white roses fashioned from rubies and diamonds won the grand prize at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts [see: Serafin, Amy (Fall 2012). "The Family, The Jewels, The Legend". France Magazine]. 

Their items often feature floristic and animalistic motives and fairy figures. The patterns have become typical and distinguishing the House from other makers and are now world recognized. The House’s products have been worn by global style icons from Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor to Duchess of Windsor, Farah Pahlavi and Queen Nazli of Egypt.

The company is also world recognized for its Serti Mysterieux, or "Mystery Setting", a proprietary gem setting technique employing a setting where the prongs are invisible. Each stone is faceted onto gold rails less than two-tenths of a millimeter thick. The whole process is ultimately delicate and can require 300 hours of work per piece or more, which is why only a few items in such style are manufactured per year. Though such important makers as Cartier and Chaumet also have received a patent for a similar technique, neither of them has used it so extensively.

Nowadays Van Cleef & Arpels remains one of world’s most celebrated luxury items company. Their iconic jewellery, watches and perfume are considered ultimately stylish and exquisite. Owing a piece by Van Cleef & Arpels truly is an honour.