Since 1906, diamonds have been a cornerstone in the story of Van Cleef & Arpels. From the marriage of Estelle Arpels (the daughter of a gemstone merchant) and Alfred Van Cleef (the son of a lapidary) to acquiring stones for royalty and celebrities, the beginning of the company was based on sourcing the highest quality of diamonds in the world. When the brand sold its first piece—a heart set with brilliant-cut diamonds—it demonstrated a new caliber of jewelry design and production, uncommon at the time.
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, voluminous gold jewelry was favored over diamonds. Despite the trends of the time, Van Cleef & Arpels stuck to its roots and remained inspired by arts and culture to drive its designs. One of its influences was in 1937 when The International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques was shown in response to the influence of couture, fueling the creations of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, clips, and more.
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
This week in Paris, the brand’s attention to diamond details is exemplified with a presentation at the Hotel D’Evreux with the high jewelry collection, “Legend of Diamonds.” Divided into two chapters—“White Diamond Variations” and “25 Mystery Set Jewels”—it includes over 100 pieces that retrace the maison’s history and style.
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Art Deco-inspired pieces feature birds in flight and floral bouquets, and abstract designs of the past—including reimagined bandeaux bracelets made completely of diamonds—inspired the Floraison de Diamants bracelet and chandelier earrings that were transformed into a clip. The Entrelacs Mystérieux Bracelet is made up of white and rose gold, showing two Asscher cut diamonds of 10.88 and 10.88 carats alongside additional accenting sapphires and diamonds.
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Other designs include the matching Chevron Mystérieux Necklace and earrings with detachable pendants in white and rose gold with three pear-shaped diamonds of 31.24, 12.18, and 12.07 carats, and more diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. There’s the Liseré Mystérieux Ring, seen in white and rose gold with one pear-shaped diamond of 2.50 carats alongside emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. And the Ornement Mystérieux clip, shining in white and rose gold with 21 round diamonds totaling 12.09 carats, complemented by rubies and more diamonds. Finally, the Echo Mystérieux Ring gleams in white and rose gold, one cushion-cut diamond of 25.06 carats, and buff-topped emeralds, sapphires, diamonds.
Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
“Developing Legend of diamonds took about four years from the time we first saw the rough stone to the release of the finished pieces. I’m very proud of the collection,” said Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels. “Thanks to the work of all the teams at Van Cleef & Arpels, I think we have successfully shown that an exceptional diamond can be the starting point for an extraordinary collection that will be a milestone in the history of the maison.”
