Van Cleef & Arpels: Redefine the Limits of the Possible " Even the brightest genuine beauty is changeable, but true love is timeless. Especially if it is immortalized in expensive exclusive jewelry of the famous Van Cleef & Arpels house. Especially for the design exhibition "Design Days Dubai", a French house whose legendary name is consonant with luxury, elegance and ever-changing love will demonstrate how jewelry masterpieces instantly come to life in warm female hands.
Feelings in a diamond cut
Following the tradition, Van Cleef & Arpels is going to surprise the guests of the exhibition with the elegance of collections and originality of ideas. Amazing metamorphoses will occur in front of the public. It will be possible to observe how the famous Barcarola diamond necklace, decorated with an emerald-eyed lion figurine, donated by Elizabeth Taylor spouse Richard Burton, magically changes shape and design. A necklace with 44 ancient emeralds of the 18th century, framed by 745 diamonds of the Indian princess Salima Aga Khan, easily turns into a bracelet and pendant thanks to smart technology.
Each diamond placed in necklaces, rings, brooches and tiaras exudes subtle rays of light. This is a poetry of feelings that flared up in Paris at the end of the 19th century and today illuminate the boutiques of Van Cleef & Arpels around the world with bright highlights.
Edward VIII, leaving the throne and the state for love, chose the decorations of this House as a confirmation of his feelings, showering Wallis Simpson with precious gifts for 35 years of married life.
Prince of Monaco Rainier III Grimaldi presented a symbol of his love and devotion - an engagement set from Van Cleef & Arpels - to the Queen of Hollywood cinema Grace Kelly, making her the princess, and House - the official supplier of the Principality of Monaco.
The origins of the belief that the jewelry of the French manufacturer bring happiness and longevity of love lead to a blessed union of the creators of the Jewelry House themselves. The history of their relationship began in 1895, when young lovers Estelle Arpels, daughter of a gem dealer, and Alfred Van Cleef, son of a diamond broker, decided to get married. Their young entrepreneurial zest, passion for jewelry, but most importantly, deep affection, led to the creation of a family business. In 1906, Alfred Van Cleef, along with the brothers Estelle, Charz, Julien and Luy, opened the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry house.
Strategically located on Place Vendome, opposite the Ritz Paris Hotel, which hosted Russian aristocrats and financial tycoons from the New World, the House quickly gained fame in wide elite circles, creating competition with the largest jewelry manufacturer Cartier at that time. While Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques began to open outside of France over time, the House did not change its original address, remaining to be adjacent to the headquarters of Chanel, Cartier and Chaumet.
New stars
The latest to Estel's family-owned jewelry business was Luy's younger brother. Standing out with an attractive appearance, a subtle sense of humor and impeccable taste, he fit perfectly into the circle of the French aristocracy. Thanks to natural charm and perseverance, he managed to win the heart of the Russian beauty Helena Ostrovska, who grew up in Monte Carlo.
The model, known for shocking outfits, excited the elite of Paris with its unusual beauty and elegance. Adoring diamonds, Helene could wear them even on shoes, justifying herself with the fact that "they fit any suit." Together, the couple, Luy and Helene, became an icon of the French House style, and in the future they lit the star Van Cleef & Arpels among the many lights of New York.
In the late 30s of the 19th century, Luy's intuition and entrepreneurial genius turned House's eyes on a promising, rapidly developing America. The United States was also an excellent refuge for the whole family during World War II. Before settling on the famous Fifth Avenue, the first Van Cleef & Arpels boutique was opened in sunny Florida, in the resort town of Palm Beach. Stepping ahead of his time, the House selected the most talented craftsmen who combined the experience of Old Europe with the trends of the New World.
The jewelry of the Ballerina and Fairy Clips series became symbols of this troubled era. Like reflections of hope and joy in the dark days of war, these airy diamond fairies and ballerinas, framed by rubies and emeralds, give out graceful pa. The Dragonfly vintage brooch from this collection was honored to adorn the Sharon Stone outfit, which specially ordered it for the Academy Award.
The American period had a beneficial effect on the development of family business. The company quickly adapted to new conditions, expanding the horizons of jewelry activity. New smelting of gold and platinum, previously unknown gems and skillful technology, provided the House a new explosion of popularity.
Nature of transformation
With the new milestones of modern history, the concepts of House Van Cleef & Arpels have also been modified. Art deco trends, intricate products from the East, the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the development of haute couture culture, rapid revolutions in the world of fashion, war, Hollywood - all this was reflected in the era and left its imprint on jewelry ... But the main symbol of change in jewelry - the magic of transformation, the VCA masters embodied in jewelry, creating multifunctionality technology: with a slight movement of the hand, the necklace can be turned into a bracelet or from one product - several can be made, each of which can be worn power.
Works of those times, a transformer necklace “Passepartout” and a vintage watch “Castle” (Cadenas), the idea of which was presented by the Muse of the House of the Duchess of Windsor, can be seen at Design Days Dubai. King Edward VIII, the chosen one who abdicated the English throne, became the inspiration for the creation of the Zip jewelry masterpiece, which in fact is the avant-garde zipper lock made of platinum and baguette-shaped diamonds. The concept of precious transformers “Passepartout” was developed in 1940 by the daughter of the company’s founder, Rene Puissan, and the idea was created by the Duchess of Windsor when she turned to the VC&A masters with an unusual request - to sew a zipper in one of her dresses, which at that time was perceived as something avant-garde and unusual. A few years later, with her light hand appeared the first jewelry transformer "Lightning", made of gold and decorated with a diamond pave. The creation of precious lightning was perhaps the most important achievement of jewelers in the niche of jewelry couture.
The technical focus of the precious designer was that when unbuttoned, it was a luxurious art deco necklace, and when buttoned, it was a beautiful bracelet
The necklace bracelet "Lightning" soon became the hallmark of the jewelry house. For more than 50 years, the company has been releasing new variations of the necklace bracelet. In 2004, the “Envol” transformer was created from the “A Midsummer Night's Dream” collection, which amazes with the grace and beauty of diamond butterflies, the smaller of which serves as a clip for changing the length of the jewelry, and the larger one can be worn separately. In 2006, a Zip Pompon jewelry zipper made of platinum and white diamonds was presented at the Tuileries Paris Pavilion. Multifunctionality is the main hallmark of Van Cleef and Arpels. Thanks to this principle of the House, every woman can choose an ornament to any image and style.
The Socrates necklace chosen for the Dubai exhibition can be worn with two flowers or one, turning the other into a hairpin and decorating the hairstyle with an unusual accessory.
Despite the changing trends, the House created its unforgettable style, inspired by nature. Dynamic, constantly changing, it has an element of transformability, and this, in turn, is the sister of the idea of renewal and eternal youth.
These and other demonstration creations by Van Cleef & Arpels are an ode to true eternal love that can change, but never lose its charm and strength. Like the kings and queens, the legends of Hollywood, and just two lovers once expressed their feelings. Visitors to the exhibition, collectors and jewelry connoisseurs can find a reflection of their deep feelings in the pure stones of Van Cleef & Arpels.
