Bracelet, 1925, platinum, sapphires, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Creations from
the 1920s and 1930s

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HIGH JEWELRY

Creations from
the 1920s and 1930s

As we swing through the Jazz age, Van Cleef & Arpels presents innovative creations from the 1920s and 1930s, alive with Art Deco style.

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.

 

Both elegant and ingenious, these pieces are a tribute to Art Deco. The era bears the mark of Renée Puissant, Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels' daughter. As the Maison's Artistic Director from 1926, she shapes the style of these decades with the help of talented Designer René Sim Lacaze. 

Transformable necklace, circa 1933, platinum, one cushion-cut HVS1 diamond of 10.06 carats, gray natural pearls, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.
Transformable necklace, circa 1933, platinum, one cushion-cut HVS1 diamond of 10.06 carats, gray natural pearls, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Transformable necklace, circa 1933

Geometric shapes meet new techniques in this age, creating pieces which complement the style of the time.

Bracelet, 1928, Platinum, emeralds, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.
Bracelet, 1928, Platinum, emeralds, diamonds. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

Bracelet, 1928, Platinum, emeralds, diamonds

Stepping away from the world of Art Nouveau, which favored a realistic depiction of flowering ornaments, Art Deco takes the stage in the 1910s. Embracing the purity of geometric shapes and stylized forms, this undoubtedly modern approach signals the start of a new age of elegance.

    Catalogues Van Cleef & Arpels, 1922

    Catalogues Van Cleef & Arpels, 1922

    Catalogues Van Cleef & Arpels, 1927

    Catalogues Van Cleef & Arpels, 1927

The flowy, sleeveless gowns of the Jazz Age have a perfect companion, the Art Deco bracelet. Worn on the wrist or 'à l'indienne' on the upper arm, it always gives the flapper silhouette a touch of sparkle.

    Passe-Partout Collection advertisement, 1939, Archives Van Cleef & Arpels

    Passe-Partout Collection advertisement, 1939

As time passes with a flourish, from one decade to the next, innovation and artistic creation come together in the 1930s. Inventions like the Minaudière™, the Mystery Set™ and the convertible Passe-Partout jewel put Van Cleef & Arpels at the heart of style.

    Ludo Hexagone bracelet, 1937, yellow gold, round diamonds, round rubies, rose gold, Mystery Set rubies. Heritage collection, Van Cleef & Arpels.

    Ludo Hexagone bracelet, 1937

    Drawing featuring a Ludo hexagone bracelet with Mystery Set rubies, circa 1936, Van Cleef & Arpels Archives

    Drawing featuring a Ludo hexagone bracelet with Mystery Set rubies, circa 1936

It is 1934, and the world of couture joins the world of jewelry, resulting in the creation of the first Ludo™ bracelets. It is named after one of the founders of the Maison, Louis Arpels, whose very nickname, Ludo, lives on in this iconic creation, reminding of a belt.