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 Arpels. 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.
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire And Diamond Earring & Necklace Suite
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire And Diamond Nature Inspired Earring And Necklace Suite In 18k Yellow Gold. Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire And Diamond Floral Ear-clip Earrings In 18k...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire and Diamond Necklace in 18K Yellow Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Carat Weight: Sapphires approx. 42 cts. & 20 cts. diamonds Color/Clarity: Madagascar No Heat; G-H VS Certifications: AGL Size: 14 inches Creator: Van Cleef & Arpels, France M...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 30cts Diamond Ceylon Sapphire Necklace in 18 Karat Gold
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Dallas, TX
Van Cleef & Arpels dazzling collar necklace bursting with brilliance of approximately 19 carats of finest white diamonds which are complemented by 11 carats of vividly-colored blue and yellow Ceylon sapphires (GIA and AGL certified as Ceylon/Sri Lanka geographic origin), all meticulously set in 18 karat yellow gold. The necklace is designed as a seamless series of thirty-two gold panels, each with a gracefully scalloped outer edge and pavé-set with brilliant-cut round diamonds. Each of the seven center-front panels is embellished by a large pear-shaped sapphire of richly saturated hue, alternating between yellow and blue colored sapphires. The panels gently curve from their inner to outer edge, giving maximum exposure to impeccably set diamonds and resulting in exceptional overall necklace brilliance. The sapphires add just the right amount of gem opulence and intrigue to this elegant design. Van Cleef expertly uses each necklace element – its scalloped silhouette, curved panels, and sparkling pavéd diamond surface – to create an appearance of a luminous and dressy lace collar. True to its luxurious French heritage...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Go...
Van Cleef & Arpels VCA Sapphire Diamond Choker 18k Gold Necklace & Bracelets
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Miami, FL
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire & Diamond Link Choker Necklace / Convertible Bracelets 18K Yellow Gold – Signed – With Appraisal An exquisite and rare Van Cleef & Arpels choker necklace,...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Van Cleef & Arpels 1965 Convertible Necklace, Bracelet & Brooch
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
Carat Weight: Sapphires approx. 67.00 cts. & Diamonds approx. 125.00 cts. Color/Clarity: NH Blue Sapphires / F-G VVS-VS Size: Necklace 19 in. (Convertible to 6.75 in. Bracelet) / Bro...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Platinum
18k Gold Necklace with 16 Ct Ceylon Blue Sapphires & Diamonds
Located in New Delhi, Delhi
From new autumn collection, an exquisite fabulous necklace by Italian designer , so stunning and refined style, a very piece of goldsmith’s art. Necklace come in 18k with 13 pieces ...
18k Gold
Certified 14.00 Carat Blue Sapphire 2.40 Carat Diamonds Gold Necklace
Located in New Delhi, Delhi
An exquisite necklace within a sculpture of Sapphires and Diamonds, a masterpiece celebrating rare beauty and unparalleled craftsmanship. This design conveys a message of uniqueness....
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold
$308,800Sale Price|20% Off
Luxury 18k White Gold Statement Ceylon Sapphire & Diamond Necklace, 82.58 Carats
Located in Great Neck, NY
A jewel of distinction and grandeur, this 18K solid white gold sapphire and diamond necklace captures the very essence of high jewelry. Designed in a Winston-inspired style, it radia...
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Mappin & Webb Sapphire and Diamond Necklace
By Mappin & Webb
Located in London, GB
Here we have a wonderful necklace from the historic jewellery company of Mappin & Webb. A warm 18ct yellow gold rope-like chain suspends a fabulous ensemble of precious gemstones at ...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$85,000Sale Price|66% Off
NWT $250, 000 Rare Fancy 18KT Gold Gorgeous Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Necklace
Located in New York, NY
A Rare 18KT White Gold Ceylon Sapphire Diamond Necklace. Necklace is comprised of Finely Set Glittering Gorgeous Ceylon Sapphire Brace...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. 10.25 Carat Kashmir Sapphire Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted by the legendary Tiffany & Co., this enchanting necklace is a rare and unique masterpiece of early 20th-century American jewelry design. Delicately handcrafted, the one-of-a-kind creation is set with two stunning examples of Kashmir sapphires weighing 5.65 and 4.60 respectively. These gemstones are certified by the American Gemological Laboratories as Kashmir in origin and completely untreated, an extreme rarity for Kashmirs. Dozens of sparkling white diamond accents complement the brilliant blue stones in a romantic, winding 18K yellow gold setting. These incredible sapphires would have been sourced by George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany & Co.'s expert gemologist, who selected only the finest gemstones for the firm's unique creations. The sapphires in this necklace are truly superior examples. Kashmir sapphires were first unearthed in the early 1880s after a landslide in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. They are celebrated not only for their rarity, but also for the softness of their distinctive blue hue. Boasting incredible color and brilliance, untreated Kashmir sapphires of this quality are scarce, especially within an antique Tiffany setting. Since the firm's inception in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has been at the forefront of luxurious design and craftsmanship, especially in the realm of fine jewelry. Founder Charles Lewis Tiffany...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
57.39 Carat Fancy Colored Sapphire Necklace
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary multi-color sapphire and diamond necklace showcases 57.39 total carats of rare Ceylon sapphires. A radiant spectrum of hues—including brilliant yellow, vivid viole...
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
Art Deco Diamond Emerald Sapphire Necklace
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegant Art Deco necklace centers a magnificent Old European cut diamond weighing 5.81 carats. Accompanied by a GIA report, the luminous diamond displays the depth and fire that...
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels 8.45 Carat Kashmir Sapphire Ring
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New Orleans, LA
Among the most coveted gemstones in the world, Kashmir sapphires represent the height of rarity and beauty, and this extraordinary Van Cleef & Arpels ring displays one of the fin...
Sapphire
Tiffany & Co. 45.64 Carat Diamond Lavalier Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Six diamond-encrusted fans are suspended from a pearl and diamond bead chain in this elegant lavalier necklace from Tiffany & Co. Round diamonds...
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold
104.39 Carat Untreated Tanzanite Pendant
Located in New Orleans, LA
A monumental 104.39-carat cushion-cut tanzanite is the star of this eye-catching pendant. The gem has been certified by the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) as being untreated, meaning that no clarity or thermal enhancements have been used to achieve its vivid purplish blue color. Virtually all tanzanite stones are heat treated, so a perfect untreated stone...
Diamond, Tanzanite, 18k Gold, Platinum
