For engagement rings and any gold, platinum or diamond jewelry: You can clean the piece regularly yourself: plunge it in tepid soapy water and clean it gently with a brush and pH-neutral soap. Then rinse it carefully with fresh tepid water, dry it and polish it with a soft cloth. This quick, easy operation will preserve your jewelry's beautiful brilliance.
For creations with stones other than diamonds (pearls, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, turquoises, opals, etc.), we recommend that you take your jewelry to a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique or Van Cleef & Arpels-authorized point of sale. Our teams at the boutiques and at our High Jewelry workshops will take the greatest care of your piece.
Where can I have my Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry examined and repaired?
If you are interested in initiating a service request for your Van Cleef & Arpels creation or have other related questions, please contact our Client Relations Center at 1-877 VAN CLEEF (1-877-826-2533) or visit our Store Locator to locate your closest Van Cleef & Arpels Boutique or Authorized Retailer.
Wearing your jewelry: Some pieces of jewelry are more delicate than others. We therefore recommend that you choose your jewelry according to the day's activities. Generally we advise against wearing your jewelry in the following situations: - when carrying out a sporting activity - on the beach, at the sauna or Turkish bath - in any situation that could lead to intense thermal shocks - when performing household tasks that may cause it to come into contact with corrosive products - when gardening or carrying out DIY It is also preferable to remove your jewelry when you wash your hands. In addition we recommend that you put your jewelry on after applying your makeup and perfume.
Storage: Your jewelry should be stored in its Van Cleef & Arpels case in order to protect it from shocks or scratches. You are advised against storing several pieces of jewelry in the same case as they could become scratched by rubbing against each other.
Should I polish my jewelry regularly?
Because polishing removes a fine layer of metal from the surface of the jewelry through the combined use of brushes and abrasive pastes, we recommend that you only polish your jewelry two or three times in its life.
Is it possible to have my jewelry engraved?
It is possible to engrave certain Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry pieces in order to personalize them or commemorate a happy event. This personalization may take the form of a date, initials, a name, etc. The feasibility of an engraving operation depends both on the model and on the desired engraving. We therefore recommend that you take your creation to one of our Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques or Van Cleef & Arpels authorized points of sale. To contact our Client Relations Center, please click here.
Should I polish my jewelry regularly?
It is possible to adjust the size of certain Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry pieces according to your needs. The feasibility of a sizing operation depends both on the model and on the desired sizing. We therefore recommend that you take your creation to one of our Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques or Van Cleef & Arpels authorized points of sale. To contact our Client Relations Center, please click here.
Jewelry FAQ
Where can I have my Van Cleef & Arpels timepiece examined and repaired?
If you are interested in initiating a service request for your Van Cleef & Arpels creation or have other related questions, please contact our Client Relations Center at 1-877 VAN CLEEF (1-877-826-2533) or visit our Store Locator to locate your closest Van Cleef & Arpels Boutique or Authorized Retailer.
All Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces benefit from a two-year sales Warranty.
All Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces benefit from a two-year sales Warranty.
How can I ensure that my timepiece is water resistant?
We recommend that you have the water resistance of your Van Cleef & Arpels timepiece examined on a regular basis. These examinations are all the more necessary in the case of regular sporting activity or if your watch comes into frequent contact with water.
Some advice for daily care: - always check that the crown of your water-resistant timepiece has been pushed in (pressed against the case of the timepiece and not pulled out for time setting) before putting your timepiece in water. - do not to pull out the crown to set the date or time when it is in water. The water could penetrate the case of the timepiece when the crown is pulled out. Similarly, for chronograph timepieces the pushers should not be used when the timepiece is underwater.
Only our watchmakers or Van Cleef & Arpels authorized After-Sales Service Centers are authorized to carry out the regular maintenance and water-resistance services for the Van Cleef & Arpels International Warranty, in accordance with Van Cleef & Arpels’ instructions.
To find your nearest Van Cleef & Arpels boutique or authorized retailers, please click here.
Should your timepiece become magnetized, simply take it to one of our Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques or Van Cleef & Arpels authorized sales outlets. Our watchmakers will perform a service known as "Demagnetization" which will correct the dysfunction caused by the magnetic field.
Why should I have my timepiece serviced?
Your timepiece is a creation that is both precious and technical, composed of several dozen elements. These components must remain perfectly positioned and in some cases oiled in order to guarantee the regular, silent running of the movement. Lack of maintenance will accelerate its wear and tear.
How is a Van Cleef & Arpels solitaire different from other solitaires?
Each Van Cleef & Arpels solitaire is the reflection of our unparalleled expertise in fine Jewelry, coupled with the most exacting standards in the selection of stones. While the expert gemologists at Van Cleef & Arpels select only the rarest and most extraordinary diamonds based on the highest categories of the 4 Cs, they are also keenly aware of a fifth criterion, that of character. Each diamond is scrutinized to assess its fire, brilliance and liveliness: it must convey a unique emotion and be thoroughly captivating. To own a diamond selected by Van Cleef & Arpels therefore is, unquestionably, to possess an exceptional stone and solitaire.
How does Van Cleef & Arpels select its diamonds?
Van Cleef & Arpels not only selects its diamonds according to the 4 Cs standards laid down by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), but takes this rigor to the highest level, selecting only the top categories of the 4 Cs. It is one of very few jewelers to offer such remarkable and rigorous quality standards.
Where do diamonds used by Van Cleef & Arpels come from?
Van Cleef & Arpels is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and subscribes to the principles of the World Diamond Council. These organisations guarantee systems designed to end all diamond trade resulting from conflict, thus ensuring that no stones purchased are the consequence of armed conflict. All diamonds selected by Van Cleef & Arpels adhere strictly to the Kimberley Process and are therefore in no way linked to conflict.
You can be certain that your diamonds have been selected according to our criteria of excellence, and that they have come from responsible sources.
What do the 4 Cs stand for?
The standard diamond certification – the 4 Cs – was developed by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), an internationally recognized, institution. These four criteria are color, clarity, cut and carat, and they determine the quality and value of a diamond.
Van Cleef & Arpels not only selects its diamonds according to 4 Cs standards, but takes this rigor to the very highest level, choosing from only the top categories of the 4 Cs. In fact, only diamonds from categories D and E on the color scale are selected (the global scale ranges from D, extremely rare colorless diamonds to Z, the much more common yellow diamond).
On the clarity scale, only the highest criteria – "Flawless" and "Internally Flawless" and "Very very slightly included" (VVS1/VVS2) – are selected by Van Cleef & Arpels (the global scale ranges from Flawless (FL) to "Included 3" for diamonds with obvious visible inclusions).
As for cut, only the criteria "Excellent" and "Very good" are selected (the global scale ranges from "Excellent" to "Poor"). These criteria selected by Van Cleef & Arpels guarantee optimal refraction of light in the heart of the diamond, and therefore extreme brilliance.
Finally, the Maison offers a wide range of carat sizes.
Van Cleef & Arpels is one of very few Maisons to offer such an exclusive combination of criteria.
To guarantee a rare and extraordinary stone, the 4 Cs are essential but not sufficient in themselves. Van Cleef & Arpels goes even further by imposing an additional constraint, the fifth C, for "character".
What exactly is a carat?
The weight of a diamond is measured by a standard unit used worldwide: the carat. The name "carat" comes from the seed of the carob tree native to Mediterranean regions. A carat weighs .2 grams, like the seed of the carob tree, once used to weigh stones.
Why does the 4 Cs color scale begin with D and not A?
It is generally accepted that the color scale begins with D for "diamond". However, given our ignorance of what nature may yet have in store for us, diamonds with a more extreme whiteness than our D-colored diamonds may yet remain to be found. In 1953, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) adopted the color scale ranging from D to Z. This then became one of the 4 Cs. Van Cleef & Arpels selects diamonds exclusively from the rarest colors: D and E.
Why does one diamond shine more than another?
The brilliance of a diamond depends on its size (cut), a 4 Cs criterion. The closer the cut is to perfection, the greater the diamond's brilliance. Van Cleef & Arpels selects only “excellent” and “very good” cuts, the two most perfect cut grades on the scale, thus ensuring an optimum refraction of light in the heart of stone, and hence an extreme brilliance.
Which of the 4 Cs criteria is the most important?
The most important criterion could be the diamond's color, but it could also be the purity, cut, brightness or carat size that procure the most emotion. Each of us has our own selection criteria when choosing a solitaire. In short, it all depends on what you are looking for. It is the combination of these criteria, taken to the extreme in quality that makes a Van Cleef & Arpels stone exceptional and unique. The sales teams in our boutiques will be delighted to provide any further information you may require.
How can I be certain of the qualities of my Van Cleef & Arpels diamond?
The qualities of a given diamond all appear on the GIA certificate issued by the Gemological Institute of America, an independent, internationally recognized, laboratory. This certificate is provided to the client at the time of purchase.
What is a GIA certificate? Of what use is it? Is it recognized abroad?
Each central stone selected by Van Cleef & Arpels receives a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), an independent laboratory which is respected worldwide. It constitutes an "identity card", which attests to the quality of the stone and details its properties. In addition to this GIA certification, Van Cleef & Arpels offers a further commitment with a Certificate of Authenticity, given at the time of purchase of your Van Cleef & Arpels piece. This certificate attests to the authenticity and long-term service of the item. It guarantees that the piece was hand-crafted, according to the highest standards of expertise, virtuosity and creativity. Finally, it is a testimony to the enduring bond between Van Cleef & Arpels and its clients.
Can a diamond break or be damaged?
Diamond is a precious stone, known for its extreme durability. To contribute to its longevity, it is advisable to take great care of your diamond Jewelry, preferably by isolating each diamond creation in a separate box, and avoiding shokes.
Can I continue wearing my solitaire while wearing gloves?
Nothing prevents you from wearing your solitaire while wearing gloves. However, if you sense repeated friction every time you put on your gloves, please contact a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique.
How do I take care of my solitaire?
Your Van Cleef & Arpels solitaire is precious. Here are some tips to take optimal care of your solitaire, depending on its characteristics.
Gold, platinum and diamond solitaires:
You may gently clean your solitaire with warm soapy water, and a mild PH neutral soap. Rinse thoroughly with clear warm water, then wipe and buff your solitaire with a soft cloth.
This quick and simple cleaning will maintain the shine of your solitaire.
Solitaires with other precious stones (emeralds, sapphires, rubies):
Please do not hesitate to bring your solitaire to a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, where our teams will take utmost care of your ring.
In all cases, no abrasive products, such as household products or paper towels, should be used, in order to prevent damage to your solitaire. Finally, it is recommended to isolate your solitaire within your Jewelry box.
What if my ring needs a different type of service ?
Our Jewelry craftsmen have taken extreme care when creating your solitaire. We recommend therefore that you contact a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique should your ring require any attention whatsoever.
Can I have my ring engraved?
Most of our models can be engraved, and thus personalized with a date, initials or a name. Our teams are pleased to welcome you in a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique in order to determine the most suitable form of engraving for a given model.
How can I find the price of a ring?
The price of a ring depends on the combination of the 4 Cs of its central stone, and the complexity of its setting. We invite you to visit a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique to try on the ring you are interested in. Our team can then inform you of the price.
Why is the price of a ring not proportionate to the weight of the diamond?
The price of a diamond depends primarily on its weight (carats), because the greater the weight, the rarer the diamond. The price of a diamond increases faster than its weight. A 1-carat solitaire is therefore around four times more expensive than a .50 carat solitaire of equal diamond quality.
How can I find out my fiancée's ring size?
If you visit any a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique, our staff will be pleased to give you a ring sizer. This tool will help you determine your ring size or that of your fiancée, using another ring.
Our Van Cleef & Arpels iPad application can also help you determine an approximate ring size. It can be downloaded from the App Store, or viewed in certain boutiques.
As a French Maison, Van Cleef & Arpels uses European ring sizes. Please refer to our website or the chart below for the American or British equivalent of your European size.
What if I or my fiancée do not like the ring I bought?
You can exchange your ring within three months of purchase, under certain conditions. We recommend that you contact a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique for more information.
How can I find the perfect wedding band to match my solitaire?
Van Cleef & Arpels offers a wide range of matching solitaires and wedding bands to meet your expectations. Our boutique team will be delighted to provide more information and help you find the perfect wedding band. You can also check the Van Cleef & Arpels iPad application for suggested matching creations. The application can be downloaded from the App Store or viewed in certain boutiques.
Is your entire range online?
Most Van Cleef & Arpels creations are displayed on the website, but we invite you to visit the boutique to discover the entire range and our unique creations. You are welcome to try these on, as well as those that caught your attention on the site.