NEWSROOM

"Long necklaces by

Van Cleef & Arpels", an exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland

Exhibition - July 28, 2025

Tassel long necklace, 1970. 18K yellow gold, amethysts, coral, diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.

From June 27th to September 26th, 2025, the Maison presents the "Long necklaces by Van Cleef & Arpels" exhibition, in Les Salons de Genève. A dozen of creations and archives from the patrimonial Collection are displayed, highlighting the Maison's jewelry savoir-faire and aesthetic sense during the 1970s.

 

Echoing the 1920s sautoirs, the 1970s long necklaces respond to the fashion vogue for loose and colorful tunics. Inspired by the Arpels family's travels around the Mediterranean Sea and Asia, these  precious chains combine stylized motifs in openwork and textured yellow gold with a varied palette of gemstones diverse in both size and colour.

Long necklace design, circa 1970. Van Cleef & Arpels Archives.

Long necklace design, circa 1970

Van Cleef & Arpels Archives

Tassel long necklace design, circa 1970. Van Cleef & Arpels Archives.

Tassel long necklace design, circa 1970

Van Cleef & Arpels Archives

Long necklace design, circa 1970. Van Cleef & Arpels Archives.

Long necklace design, circa 1970

Van Cleef & Arpels Archives

Jewelry design represents the initial phase in the creative process and serves as a reference for the craftmen involved later in the production. Every detail is specified: plays of light, touches of yellow gouache to suggest the texture of gold, shapes of links, or the stones' cut.

The Pompon sautoir from 1970 is a reinterpretation of creations of the same name, that were popular in the 1920s. Thus, it is reinvented with more imposing forms and the use of ornamental stones in bright colors, blending, for example, coral and amethyst. These pieces draw inspiration from couture, a universe dear to Van Cleef & Arpels since its creation, and reflect the movement of textile materials, trimmings, or decorative ornaments.

Crisscross necklace, 1970. 18K yellow gold, tiger's eye. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.

Crisscross necklace, 1970

Yellow gold, tiger's eye

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection

Brazza ring, 1972. 18K yellow gold, 18K white gold, 18K rose gold, tiger's eye. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.

Brazza ring, 1972

Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, tiger's eye

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection

Necklace, 1973. 18K yellow gold, jade, lapis lazuli, diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.

Necklace, 1973

Yellow gold, jade, lapis lazuli, diamonds

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection

Earrings, 1973. 18K yellow gold, jade, lapis lazuli, diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.

Earrings, 1973

Yellow gold, jade, lapis lazuli, diamonds

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection

The Crisscross necklace from 1970 and the Brazza ring from 1972 are adorned with tiger's eye and showcase the diversified textures of gold. The tiger's eye, a quartz with russet tones, was particularly prized during that decade.

In the early 1970s, another stone captivated the Parisian jewelers: Chinese jade. From 1972 onward, Van Cleef & Arpels presented a series of oriental-style creations, adorned with finely sculpted green, mauve, and white jade. This material was cherished for its color, translucency, and polished appearance.

 

This set, crafted in engraved jade, lapis lazuli, and hammered yellow gold, reflects the Maison's interest in decorative arts and Chinese techniques.

  • "Long necklaces by Van Cleef & Arpels", an exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland

     

    Dates: from June 27th to September 26th, 2025

    Opening hours

    From Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 6:30pm

    Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm

    Location: 31 rue du Rhône, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland

    +41 (0)223 11 60 70

     

    Free entry without reservation