Van Cleef & Arpels is a French jewelry and perfume company that’s been around since 1896. It was formed through the marriage of Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a stonecutter, and Estelle Arpels, daughter of a precious stone dealer. The marriage united two families with stone-cutting backgrounds in more ways than one.
From the beginning, Van Cleef & Arpels’ pieces have featured flowers, animals, and fairies. One of its most famous collections is the Alhambra, which debuted in 1968 and featured lucky charms such as four-leaf clovers and the Alhambra Palace’s scalloped arches that give the collection its name. While the jewelry quickly gained a reputation for elegance, it became a status symbol when celebrities such as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Eva Peron began to wear it. These days, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry has been spotted on icons such as Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, and Mariah Carey.
This time-tested craftsmanship and modern star power combine to make Van Cleef & Arpels one of the world’s most sought-after jewelry brands. Learn more about the classic characteristics of Van Cleef & Arpels and how we can help you make one of their pieces your own by reading below.
Van Cleef & Arpels One-Of-A-Kind Craftsmanship
What sets Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry apart is its patent on a proprietary gem setting style known as Serti Mysterieux or “Mystery Setting.” With this setting style, the prongs are virtually invisible, with the stone placed onto extremely thin gold rails. Each piece can take 300 hours to make; therefore, only a few are made each calendar year.
This rarity is just one factor that gives Van Cleef & Arpels pieces their value. Other factors include fine detail and elegant design.
Flexibility & Adaptability
Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry is not just unique; it’s also uniquely versatile. In 1938, the Passe-Partout was rolled out and immediately made waves in the jewelry world. It could be worn as a choker, bracelet, or belt, and the flower clips could be used as brooches. Van Cleef & Arpels followed this star turn with the Zip Necklace in 1950. This piece’s fully functioning zipper allowed it to be worn as a necklace or bracelet. This versatility is another reason for Van Cleef & Arpels’ value.
The Prestige Of Van Cleef & Arpels
Of course, most people buying a piece of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry know they are buying something exceptional. That’s the final, and perhaps most important, factor in Van Cleef & Arpels’ worth when it comes to resales. Each piece is not only beautiful, but it also comes with the Van Cleef & Arpels name on it. So when you purchase a Van Cleef & Arpels piece, you can have peace of mind knowing you’re making an excellent long-term investment.
We Can Help You Appraise & Sell Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry
Joshua Kodner Galleries is a fourth-generation appraiser and auction house located in Florida, serving all international markets. If you’ve acquired a piece of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry via an estate sale or inheritance, we’d be happy to help you determine its value. And if you’re looking to sell Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, we invite you to do so through one of our online auctions. We have a list of more than 700,000 digital subscribers who are notified every time we hold an online auction, so your items will certainly have a wide reach.
Buy Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry At Auction
If you wish to buy Van Cleef & Arpels at a jewelry auction, going through one of ours is a great choice. We auction off only the finest items. Furthermore, we welcome absentee bidders, so you don’t have to worry about constantly monitoring an item for other bids. Just place your bid online or by phone, and we’ll let you know whenever another bid is placed.
Get in Touch
Contact us for a free appraisal of your Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. Our team is on call 24 hours a day, so you can always expect same-day service should you need anything. We take great pride in our excellent customer service and carefully curated auctions. Once you work with us, we’re certain you’ll never look to another appraiser or auction house again!
