The Alhambra collection,
the Van Cleef & Arpels' icon of luck
Inspired by the shape of a four-leaf clover, the Alhambra motif was created in 1968. It established itself as Van Cleef & Arpels' icon of luck, reinventing itself over time through a wide variety of materials and functions.
Luck according to Van Cleef & Arpels
A value dear to the Maison, luck has been a perennial guiding light for Van Cleef & Arpels, inspiring some of its creations, such as wooden talisman jewelry, lucky charms, and ladybugs. Jacques Arpels himself enjoyed picking four-leaf clovers to offer them, accompanied by the English poem "Don't Quit," as an invitation to always keep hope.
Clover brooch product card, 1933
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
Clover brooch product card, 1936
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
Clover clip product card, 1948
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives
"To be lucky, you have to believe in luck"
The Alhambra collection perpetuates this tradition: combining jewelry expertise and the symbolism of luck, it reflects Van Cleef & Arpels' cherished positive vision of life. The first creation – a textured yellow gold long necklace – was thus born in 1968.
Alhambra long necklace, 1978
Yellow gold, onyx
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Alhambra long necklace, 1979
Yellow gold
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Meeting with immediate success, the Alhambra collection has continuously expanded and renewed itself over time. Its aesthetic codes are rooted in the Maison's heritage and notably illustrate its taste for golden beads. The double beaded contour that borders each motif has become a true stylistic signature, characteristic of Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Alhambra collection
A timeless aesthetic
Constantly renewed, the Alhambra collection lends itself to multiple variations. The stylized shape of the motif allows it to evolve over the decades, while remaining true to its original spirit. The creations bear witness to the Maison's creativity, from the first long necklace in 1968 to the watches that appeared in 1998. More recently, reversible rings and transformable long necklace illustrate this ability to adapt to the silhouettes and aspirations of different eras.
The Alhambra creations form harmonious combinations to suit every mood
With the secret pendant watch, time is revealed in a precious hide-and-seek
All bordered with golden beads, Alhambra creations can be combined according to desires, forming harmonious and radiant sets that reflect the style of the person wearing them.
A lucky harmony
Since 1968, the collection has reinvented itself through different motif sizes that embody the value of luck dear to the Maison. In addition to the Vintage Alhambra aesthetic, which perpetuates its original design, there is notably Magic Alhambra, whose motifs of different sizes are arranged asymmetrically. The Sweet Alhambra aesthetic, for its part, is distinguished by the delicacy of its miniature formats.
Light flows seamlessly on the guilloché white gold motifs, thus sparking elegant reflections
The radiance of yellow gold combines with the iridescence of white mother-of-pearl
The collection’s emblematic beaded contour adds a rounded relief to the finish
The dial is adorned with an elegant beaded contour, enhancing the brilliance of the mother-of-pearl
A polychrome identity
Bearing witness to its tradition of excellence, Alhambra creations are adorned with a myriad of stones and materials selected according to the strictest criteria. Gold—yellow, rose, or white—is polished, textured, or guilloché. The precious metal is worked in association with ornamental stones, organic materials and diamonds.
Carnelian
From intense red to the brightest orange, this variety of chalcedony is also appreciated for its beautifully translucent material.
Blue agate
It offers a palette from light blue to intense azure. The Maison selects the most uniform and homogeneous specimens with great care, meticulously polished.
White mother-of-pearl
Chosen for the evenness of its surface and the consistency of its iridescence, this material illuminates creations with its shimmering reflections.
Gray mother-of-pearl
With its color palette ranging from gray to silver, gray mother-of-pearl is prized for the depth of its cameo.
Chalcedony
It is distinguished by its material and the softness of its nuances, ranging from gray to intense blue and lavender tones.
Onyx
Its black is rich and deep. Van Cleef & Arpels selects stones of great purity, with an intense and uniform color.
Tiger's eye
This stone features warm shades, ranging from honey to deep brown, and presents a beautiful harmony of light and dark bands, straight and regular.
Malachite
Its deep green is streaked with light and dark lines that bring a subtle vibrancy to the stone.
A new chapter
A precious material prized for over 3500 years, enamel makes its entry into the Alhambra collection. A new set, composed of five jewelry creations, is thus adorned with a vibrant pink enamel, the result of several years of research and development within the Van Cleef & Arpels Workshops.
The pink enamel sautoir, paired with the bracelet, adorns the silhouette with a vibrant plays of colors
Magic Alhambra earrings combine guilloché yellow gold with the vibrant pink hue of enamel
Jewelry savoir-faire at the service of creations
From the creation of the motifs to the setting and polishing, various expertises follow one another to bring the creations to life. The adjustment of the motifs within their setting, adorned with a double beaded contour, required particular precision. Its regular curves are the result of meticulous jewelry work and polishing.
A thorough polishing enhances the regularity and brilliance of the double beaded contour
During setting, the motif meets accurately its gold mount
On the back of the motif, the claws are rounded into a ball shape to ensure a soft touch on the skin or clothing
The clasp is decorated with the Maison's monogram to complete the piece with a refined touch
The chain is faceted to accentuate its luster
During setting, the prongs are gently folded down. On the back, they are rounded to ensure soft contact with the skin or clothing. Each element contributes to the beauty of the whole: the chain connecting the motifs is thus faceted to enhance its brilliance. Finally, the clasp adorned with the Maison's monogram completes the piece with a signature refinement.
