A Maison born of a marriage
Once upon a time, there was a Maison born from a love story: the history of Van Cleef & Arpels dates back to 1895, when Esther, known as Estelle, Arpels, married Alfred Van Cleef, both from families of jewelry merchants. In 1906, they went into business with Estelle’s brothers – Salomon, known as Charles, followed by Jules, known as Julien, in 1908 and Louis in 1912 – to open the first Van Cleef & Arpels boutique at 22 Place Vendôme, in a Parisian neighborhood renowned for its elegance.
Since then, the ampersand “&” has been a perpetual bond, symbolizing the union of individuals and expertise, the convergence of excellence and poetry that distinguishes Van Cleef & Arpels creations.
Façade of the first boutique Van Cleef & Arpels at 22 Place Vendome, circa 1906
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef on their wedding day, 1895
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
A major source of inspiration for the Maison, love has shaped its creations from the beginning. As proof, its very first piece — sold in 1906 — was a heart set with diamonds. Ever since, love has inspired rings created to mark life’s milestones along with more figurative pieces. Floral symbols of affection, such as daisies and forget-me-nots, appear alongside allegories of love, from Cupid clips to the well-named “inseparable” birds. Today, expressions of tenderness continue to inspire Van Cleef & Arpels' High Jewelry, Jewelry and Watchmaking collections.
Forget-me-not brooch, 1940
Yellow gold, sapphires, diamonds
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Cupid clip, 1944
Yellow gold, rubies, moonstone
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Lovebirds table clock, 1949
Yellow gold, platinum, emeralds, rubies, diamonds
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Love echoes throughout the Maison's Poetry of Time™, where watchmaking encompasses dreams and emotion. Created in 2010, the Pont des Amoureux watch — emblematic of Van Cleef & Arpels — transforms each day into a precious rendez-vous. Thanks to a double retrograde movement, a couple unites to exchange a kiss. More recently, the Bal des Amoureux watch stages the couple's reunion in an original setting reminiscent of a Parisian guinguette.
Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux watch
Poetic Complications® collection
At once jewels and enchanting timepieces, High Jewelry watches trace the destiny of legendary couples. In tribute to Aida and Radamès, Ulysses and Penelope and Tristan and Isolde, interlacing precious stones and cleverly concealed dials mark the passage of time with brilliance.
Aïda & Radamès watch, quartz movement, white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, sapphires, purple sapphires, green tourmalines, lapis lazuli, white mother-of-pearl, diamonds, Love Stories High Jewelry watches collection
Ulysse & Pénélope watch, quartz movement, white gold, sapphires, diamonds, Love Stories High Jewelry watches collection
Tristan & Iseult watch, quartz movement, white gold, diamonds, blue sapphires, pink sapphires, white mother-of-pearl, Love Stories High Jewelry watches collection
Amytis & Nabuchodonosor Secret watch, quartz movement, white gold, rose gold, one sugar loaf sapphire of 6.75 carats (Burma), emeralds, turquoise, diamonds, Love Stories High Jewelry watches collection
In High Jewelry, love inspires the Romeo & Juliet thematic collection. A tribute to Shakespeare's masterpiece, this series of over 100 unique pieces brings the language of love into dialogue with gemstones.
