Van Cleef & Arpels Beauty

Considered one of the most prestigious luxury jewellery houses in the world, Van Cleef & Arpels is the epitome of elegance, creativity, and timelessness. For centuries, the Parisian brand has stood out for its exceptional savoir-faire and its unique story, that of Estelle Arpels, daughter of a precious stone dealer, and of Alfred Van Cleef, whose father was a diamond dealer. The young couple created a company and in 1906 founded the House of Van Cleef & Arpels. On June 16th of the same year, the brand settled on the Place Vendôme in Paris, just across from the Ritz. The boutique was run by Charles, Estelle's brother, who partnered with the couple. Two years later, Estelle's two other brothers, Louis and Julien, joined the team, propelling the label to foreground. The Maison asserted its decidedly modern style and seduced the women of high society. Between 1926 and 1939, its artistic direction was taken over by Renée Puissant, daughter of the founders, in collaboration with René Sim Lacaze, a renowned designer. Together they refined the Van Cleef aesthetic and crafted pieces that would become iconic like the Minaudière clutch and the Passe-Partout necklace. In 1933, the Serti Mystérieux, a stone setting technique without visible metal, was debuted and became the brand's signature. The iconic Cadenas watch was also released at this time. Hidden in an elegant bracelet, the watch allowed its wearer to check the time in full discretion. The creations continued and became mythical, like the Zip necklace, which Renée Puissant designed, inspired by the Duchess of Windsor. Its particularity? Once fastened, the jewel transforms into a bracelet with a pompom and a pull tab in gold or platinum. Thanks to its collection "Le Pont des Amoureux" or "The Lovers' Bridge", an anthology of complex watches, Van Cleef won the Grand Prix of Watchmaking in Geneva in 2010. The Maison is also known for its excellent perfumes. "First", the first perfume by a jewellery brand was created in 1976 by Jean Claude Ellena, and remains a classic to this day. Inspired by a pendant from the luxury Snowflake collection, its elegant, feminine curves echo the company's jewellery. Its magnificent floral bouquet of jasmine and citrus exists both as an eau de Parfum and as an eau de Toilette. Van Cleef & Arpels remains a leader of dreams and luxury.