History
Once upon a time, two jeweller families from Holland were joined together by the marriage of their children, Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef, who came from a long line of craftsmen specialising in stone cutting. Ten years later in 1906, the Parisian jewellery house took residence in its first boutique at 22, Place Vendôme in Paris. Thus began a journey that would span many generations and imaginative creations that soon reached international recognition.
Today the company stands on a solid foundation thanks to the founding families and many years of experience. With its presence strongly felt in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, their philosophy remains faithful to its heritage. During the redesigning of their historical boutique at 22, Place Vendôme, the Galerie was erected. The sales of vintage items are organised and prestigious pieces from past eras are placed for exhibition here where visitors can immerse themselves in the Van Cleef & Arpels heritage.
International Recognition
Being so established as Van Cleef & Arpels also means collaboration with bigger names. Famous fashion designers have also featured collections by the House in their own fashion lines. Designers with international acclaim such as Balenciaga, Viktor & Rolf, Christian Dior, Julien MacDonald, Gaspard Yurkievich and even the great Karl Lagerfeld recognise the inventive design and appreciate the craft behind the pieces that Van Cleef & Arpels had perfected over the generations. Patented in 1990, this technique is known as the ‘Mystery Setting’ which truly is a masterpiece of the jeweller’s craft. It allows for the setting of the gems to be showcased by concealing the prongs beneath, hence enhancing them.
This enhanced appeal has earned acclaim and allowed the creation of 3D designs; uplifting the overall appeal of the pieces created by the Parisian House. Such is the unmistakable distinction of a Van Cleef & Arpels piece that the company has been patronised by members of royalty, celebrities and wealthy socialites. Royal patrons have included the Maharani of Baroda and the Duchess of Windsor to Princess Grace of Monaco. High-profile Hollywood names are also no exception. Famous names include Scarlett Johansson, Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and the posh Victoria Beckham.
Alhambra
Established in Malaysia in 2007, two of the signature collections to be showcased in the Starhill Gallery are the ‘Alhambra’ and the ‘A Day in Paris’ collections. Of the two, the ‘Alhambra’ collection has been the signature since its premiere in 1975. Carefully designed and constantly represented in different styles, the signature four-leaf clover symbolises more than just simple sophistication. Today it is their most recognised collection around the world.
A symbol of positivity, it combines the beauty of nature with charm during an era when good luck charms were widely popular. The four leaves of the clover each bears a meaning; bringing hope, faith, love and lady luck to those who wear it. In recent years, the Alhambra collection has been redesigned to accommodate both modern day style and the symbol of yesteryear. The redesigned Alhambra pieces were such a hit with celebrity actress Eva Longoria that she presented a bracelet from the ‘Sweet Alhambra’ collection as a wedding favour to every female guest at her wedding!
With each being a masterpiece using a myriad of rich materials such as mother of pearl, rose gold, platinum and a variety of gems, the Alhambra collection presents a reassuring sensuality, adorning its clients with stylish chic and elegance.
Une Journée À Paris
The ‘A Day in Paris’ or ‘Une Journée À Paris’ celebrates the city of Paris, the birth place of Van Cleef & Arpels. The collection tells the story of a day in Paris; where a cast of whimsical and romantic characters appear against a backdrop of the mythical, magical and enchanting side of Paris.
The collection draws out two stories – ‘Wednesday in Paris’ depicts a lighter side to Paris whereas ‘Romance in Paris’ features a rendezvous between a young couple in the romance capital of the world. Each story line is composed of three pieces; a bracelet, sautoir and a pendant.
The first line, ‘Wednesday in Paris’ (Mercredi à Paris in French) illustrates the story of childhood laughter and games in the playground. Signifying a childlike innocence, the intricate pieces highlight the carefree joy and festive freedom with the spring of childhood days and a small and lively cast play with big colourful balloons lifting them into a sea of imagination on a busy Wednesday afternoon; a time when many others are busy at work. Van Cleef & Arpels upholds its standard of meticulous detail and high level of craftsmanship also by designing the characters with pink gold, three colours of coral, white mother of pearl and diamonds. This line truly highlights a childlike freedom – where adults live a faster pace weaving through the web of life, a child’s passage of time follows in their own momentum.
The second story line titled ‘Romance in Paris’ (Romance à Paris) is an ode to Parisian romance and a celebration of a lover’s journey. The line tells a tale of a youthful couple’s meeting and the carefree passion of a budding romance. Recreating the joys and emotions of a thrilling new love, the male and female characters represent a more complex and mature kind of relationship from ‘Wednesday in Paris’. Poetic and creative, ‘Romance in Paris’ celebrates the magic by completing the lovers’ tender meeting beneath an umbrella that shelters them from a shower of diamonds, mother of pearl, lapis lazuli and turquoise drops.
Creative Style & Personality
Ultimately, creativity has always been and still is the mission of Van Cleef & Arpels expressed in various styles. The House does not set a monolithic style, instead transforms design and art movements to make them personal. Uniting key approaches such as simplicity, functionality and sophistication, Van Cleef & Arpels, who stands apart from the rest, invokes a sensual yet feminine charm, recreating styles with nature in movement. This philosophy embracing change ensures that the spirit of Van Cleef & Arpels will last forever.
