The Alhambra collection and Sèvres porcelain
Since 2012, Van Cleef & Arpels has collaborated with the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres on limited or exclusive editions of the Alhambra collection. This encounter unites the Maison's jewelry expertise with the métiers d’art perpetuated for over 250 years within the Manufacture. Through these creations, Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic symbol of luck is adorned with vibrant shades, from Sèvres blue to celadon green, and pink.
Thanks to a meticulous process, the material reveals the depth of its color and its refined luster.
Crafted from materials such as kaolin, porcelain takes shape in the Sèvres workshops following techniques passed down from generation to generation. The material is then hand-colored with pigments. Its creation requires about twenty steps, such as firing, polishing, and enameling. Throughout this meticulous process, the material reveals the depth of its color and its refined luster.
Biscuit creation
Small slab of blank porcelain
Application of the blue-grey tint
Putoisage for color uniformization
Drying and firing of colored porcelain
Once shaped, the porcelain motifs are united with their gold setting using a specific setting technique, developed by the Maison to adapt to the material's characteristics. Highlighted by Van Cleef & Arpels' emblematic double beaded contour, the Alhambra creations in Sèvres porcelain express the combination of jewelry savoir-faire and artisanal crafts in a precious interplay of materials.
