The clover-shaped design is a popular trend in items of jewelry, and is in fact the signature of Van Cleef & Arpels. In this article we take a brief look at this famous jewelry company.

Van Cleef & Arpels is a high-end jeweler that is renowned for their handcrafted custom jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, watches and brooches are some of their most popular items, and will cost the customer anything from $16,000 to a cool half million.

The brand was founded when Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a precious stone dealer, married Alfred Van Cleef, who came from a long line of stone cutters. Their talents were merged, and after going into business with brothers Julien and Charles Arpels, they moved to America to seek their fortune. The first Van Cleef & Arpels boutique opened in the Rockefeller Centre in 1939, and they later moved to their current location at Fifth Avenue.

The clover design, as mentioned above, is a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels piece that is a symbol of love. The four corners of the lucky clover represent love, health, prosperity and happiness, and was inspired by the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. The original Alhambra collection was launched in 1974, and another release of retro pieces was made in 2001.

Van Cleef & Arpels use the ‘mystery setting’ in their finest pieces - so called because there is no visible bronze holding the stones in, giving them an almost ‘floating’ appearance. The company is also renowned for their zip necklaces, which were originally created for the Duchess of Windsor in 1939, and can be worn open or closed, just like a real zipper. The latest Van Cleef & Arpels collection is entitled ‘California Reverie’, and is influenced by Hawaiian sunsets and the beautiful gardens of the islands.

By using only the highest grades (grades D and E) of diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels pieces stand out in a crowd. Natural stones are not heated treated, and the jewelry is handcrafted in either 18k gold or platinum. The brand continues to grow, and celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Eva Mendes have been spotted wearing the luxury pieces at high-profile events.