The Alhambra motif, emblem of luck, embodies a positive vision of life dear to Van Cleef & Arpels.
Since its creation in 1968, this collection has continuously evolved, introducing combinations of materials, various functionalities, and adaptations in motif sizes.
This year, the deep sheen of guilloché yellow gold pairs with the nuances of blue agate in the Sweet Alhambra watch and the Vintage Alhambra reversible ring.
A pendant and earrings, both in blue agate, complete the set.
The Alhambra collection demonstrates Van Cleef & Arpels’ jewelry savoir-faire and expertise.
It is particularly noted for its stone selection and rich palette of materials and hues.
Drawing on a traditional aesthetic that the Maison has employed since the 1910s to enhance watches, and since the 1930s to adorn cases, powder boxes, and Minaudières, the guilloché motif was introduced into the Alhambra collection in 2018 to mark its 50th anniversary.
Paired with ornamental stones or diamonds, its sunbeam-like streaks delicately texture gold surfaces and captivate the gaze with its luminous reflections.
Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates blue agate, first introduced within the Alhambra collection in 1989.
This variant of translucent chalcedony perfectly meets the Maison’s very strict selection standards, which prioritize pure material, intense color, and a lustrous surface.
To create harmonious ensembles, the clover motifs are then precisely matched to each piece. Slight natural variations in opacity can be observed.
They imbue the creations with their uniqueness and charm. Because of the microcrystalline structure of the gem, the different steps in the polishing process are particularly delicate.
A beaded contour—typical of Van Cleef & Arpels’ style— borders each motif, highlighting the combination of brilliant guilloché and deep blue agate.
Since its debut, the Alhambra collection has renewed the art of daily jewelry-wearing with creations that adapt to desires and silhouettes.
In 2023, the Maison introduced the Vintage Alhambra reversible ring, a transformative piece rooted in the tradition of convertible jewels that it cherishes.
Reimagined this year, its two faces—one in guilloché yellow gold set with a diamond, the other in blue agate— and double-beaded contour echo the collection’s aesthetic codes.
The body of the ring, made up of three rows of cascading golden beads, secure the central motif. Its mechanism rotates fluidly and consistently, and the interior features a half-round band of gold that gently hugs the finger.
The height of the close-set diamond on the guilloché motif is designed to ensure comfortable wear and preserve the stone’s radiance.
Each component of each piece is assembled and adjusted by hand.
Since their inception in 1998, the Alhambra collection’s watches have never ceased to evolve. Faithful to the Sweet Alhambra aesthetic, this new creation brings guilloché yellow gold and blue agate together.
Fifteen successive steps, including strict rough stone selection, meticulous material pairing, gem-setting, and casing of the movement and dial give life to this piece.
As if set in a precious jewelry case, the motifs are placed within a beaded setting whose structure is carefully crafted by jewelry artisans.
Its prongs, rounded to echo the golden beads, are skillfully folded down. A final polishing is performed to highlight the watch.
From the Maison’s inception, its creations have often been inspired by this value.
Jacques Arpels, who was fond of the notion that jewelry can act as a lucky charm, often picked four-leaf clovers from his garden at Germigny-l’Évêque to gift to his staff along with a copy of the poem, “Don’t Quit”, as an invitation to always keep hope.
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