Dentelle clip, yellow gold, platinum, round diamonds, 1940. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Creations from
the 1940s and 1950s

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HIGH JEWELRY

Creations from
the 1940s and 1950s

Flitting through the 1940s and 1950s, Van Cleef & Arpels draws its inspiration from the world of couture.

Heritage creations belong to a curated collection of signature jewels certified and authenticated through the Van Cleef & Arpels archives and meticulously examined by our master craftsmen.
These creations are available for sale. For more information, please contact our personal advisors or follow @vcaheritage on Instagram and contact us by direct message.

   

1940s and 1950s, the Maison joyously rediscovers the couturier's craft. With a precise touch, High Jewelry and couture move closer: daytime fashion finds its match in the solar radiance of yellow gold, and evening gowns' classic glamour is enhanced with white High Jewelry. These creations bring the world of fashion to life, imitating the draping flow of fabrics and the dramatic lines of graceful silhouettes.

Normandie earrings, 1954 and Normandie transformable necklace, 1954. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.
    Bouquet clip, 1940, rubies, and Earrings, 1945. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Tying delicate bows and knots with polished and pierced gold, the Heritage collection reveals a selection of clips from the 1940s and 1950s. Can you see how the details evoke the daintiness of lacework?

Designs of bow clips, Circa 1940, Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
Dentelle clip, 1947, yellow gold, platinum, rose gold, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Dentelle clip, 1947, yellow gold, platinum, rose gold, diamonds

The Maison's craftsmen create pieces that reflect textile inspirations. They are as supple as fabric, and as fine as an ornament. Enhanced with diamonds or colored stones, the metal is woven like jersey, angel hair or finely twisted rope dipped in gold.

    Cheveux d'Ange necklace,1958, yellow gold, platinum, round diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

    Cheveux d'ange necklace, 1958, yellow gold, platinum, round diamonds

    Tissu sergé bracelet, 1951, yellow gold, platinum, rose gold, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

    Tissu Sergé bracelet, 1951,  yellow gold, platinum, rose gold, diamonds

Reflecting a new facet of creation, White High Jewelry creations glitter in the light with diamonds set in white gold.

    Nouveaux tourbillons earrings, 1955, platinum, white gold, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

    Nouveaux tourbillons earrings, 1955,  platinum, white gold, diamonds

    Necklace, 1950, platinum, white gold, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

    Necklace, 1950, platinum, white gold, diamonds

Timeless and beautiful, the "river" necklaces shine on the necks of the elegant ladies of the 1950s. They can also be worn as bracelets, or even in the hair, as glamorous actresses so gracefully demonstrated.

Our journey reaches the end of this era with the Boutique collection, launched in 1954, tying together two decades of bristling playfulness. From animal clips to charm bracelets, these daytime pieces reflect the whimsical air of their time.