Van Cleef & Arpels
“There are signatures that we hold dear,” is the motto that has graced Van Cleef & Arpels catalogs and advertisements for years.
It's impossible to talk about the world of luxury jewelry without mentioning Van Cleef & Arpels. This iconic brand has been making its mark on the history of jewelry since 1906. Its creations never cease to amaze us with their rigor and inventiveness, but also their classicism, audacity, and sometimes even their extravagance.
From rings to necklaces, earrings, watches and bracelets, Van Cleef & Arpels' creativity is limitless. ELOE House presents here the history of this essential brand and its flagship pieces.
Van Cleef & Arpels, a symbolic house
The story of Van Cleef & Arpels began in 1895, when Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a gemstone merchant, married Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a lapidary. Their desire to innovate, their passion for precious stones, and their sense of family led them to found Van Cleef & Arpels, a union of their two names that set the course for a clearly defined jewelry career. They then opened their first boutique at 22 Place Vendôme in Paris. Within months, it was a resounding success. Other boutiques quickly opened in seaside and spa resorts such as Dinard, Vichy, Nice, Le Touquet, Deauville, and Monte Carlo.
VCA remains a family affair; Estelle and Alfred, along with the Arpels brothers, Charles-Salomon, Julien, and Louis, made the house prosper, eventually becoming a mecca of Parisian elegance. In 1926, their daughter, Renée Puissant, took over as artistic director, then as manager in 1938. She injected inspiration and creativity, giving Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry a unique and instantly distinguishable character.
In 1939, Claude Arpels, Estelle's nephew, flew to New York where he opened an office and a boutique. Another was opened in Palm Beach, marking the beginning of the Parisian Maison's international renown. The United States became the family's home (with the exception of Estelle and Renée), who settled there during the Second World War. This move played a role in the brand's creations in the 20th century, as their design was inspired by both French and American influences.
After Estelle's death in 1942, her cousins Claude, Jacques, and Pierre Arpels took over the management of the jewelry house and continued to make it prosper. They notably created the crown for Empress Farah of Iran in 1967, which helped make them known in Asia.
The 21st century continued Van Cleef & Arpels' international expansion, with the opening of new boutiques in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The brand is present in more than 28 countries and presents its jewelry collections worldwide.
The iconic creations of Maison Van Cleef & Arpels
For over a century, the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry house has offered ever more inspiring and timeless pieces.
The Alhambra Collection
Created in 1968, the Alhambra necklace is a symbol of luck that spans the ages. Its refined, slim profiles in chalcedony, agate, and yellow gold create a piece of jewelry directly inspired by four-leaf clovers, identical to those Jacques Arpels picked in his garden.
It was a real success, so much so that the now iconic collection was expanded to include earrings, rings, and bracelets. The new generation now features different but always sublime precious stones: mother-of-pearl, turquoise, coral, onyx, and more.
The minaudière
Charles Arpels was the man behind the invention of this essential little bag for every evening. When he saw his friend Florence Jay Gould placing her lipstick, powder compact, cigarettes, and lighter in a small cigarette case, he imagined a case adorned with precious stones that women could take with them on their social outings to store all their belongings. This was the birth of the Minaudière, named after the house of Charles Arpels, which quickly became a timeless classic.
The all-purpose necklace
Van Cleef & Arpels' passion for innovation takes on its full meaning with the all-purpose necklace. In 1938, the brand filed a patent for this unique piece: a system of metal rails allowed a flexible yellow gold chain to be slid to the desired length. The piece could then be transformed as desired: necklace, choker, bracelet, belt, sautoir, and even earrings. This unique creation has become a signature piece for the brand.
Van Cleef & Arpels and the vintage trend
The centuries-old expertise and beauty of Van Cleef & Arpels creations make it one of the most recognized jewelry houses in the world. The brand's vintage and more recent designer pieces are an ode to magnificence, spanning the ages and still inspiring. Maison ELOE loves Van Cleef & Arpels: the brand's vintage jewelry can be found on our website.
