World-famous celebrities like Demi Moore, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Celine Dion have worn it. Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts and Elizabeth Taylor were sprinkled with it when receiving their Oscars. Favoured by royals like Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran even wore it on her coronation day. It is, of course, none other than Van Cleef & Arpels.
Alfred van Cleef and Salomon Arpels established their eponymous company in 1896. With their fellow designers and artisan craftsman they developed high-end jewellery with a signature French design flair combined with a strong contemporary influence. Despite various technical advances in the jewellery making process, the company has stayed true to their iconic style for over a century now.
VCA are well-known for their innovative designs. In Passe Partout Jewel, they are true to the literal meaning “go anywhere” by offering one transformable set which can be worn as clips, a bracelet, a necklace or even as a belt. They also have a Zip Necklace which can be zipped into a bracelet. “This is one of my favourite pieces because it has a really avant-garde vision with its unusual zip fastener which gives it a masculine sense. This shape requires a high degree of craftsmanship which is why it took about 15 years to produce the first one,” said CEO Nicholas Bos.
“In our history, we are inspired by culture and natural beauty” shares Heritage director Catherine Cariou, which can be witnessed in VCA’s Bird Clip and Pendant, Bouquet Clip Egyptian Inspiration Bracelet, Peony Clip and Roses bracelet. These authentic contemporary designs have led them to be one of the most prominent high-end jewellery houses. “These jewels were designed decades ago, but they have the timeless value to keep them still relevant and contemporary to current fashion, ” she closes.