Van Cleef & Arpels

Profile

Known for its intricate yet whimsical pieces, luxury French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels calls a jewel-box boutique on Fifth Avenue its New York home. Etched into the intimate shop's tea rose walls are images from nature�dragonflies, flowers, and vines�that are often at the heart of Van Cleef's collections. Each year the jeweler introduces two new high jewelry lines playing off a central motif (inspirations include the lost city of Atlantis, the ballet, lace, and a day in Paris). Though each line is unique, collectors and fashionistas can expect to find multi-tiered necklaces, diamond-encrusted bracelets, and delicate pins shaped like flowers, animals, and fairies. And as always there's Van Cleef's iconic alhambra; this oft-copied, four-leaf clover charm adorns many items throughout the shop. Van Cleef also has a Heritage Line comprised of vintage pieces the store has bought back from customers. Upstairs, an archive holds bound orange ledgers detailing decades' worth of workshop orders, including hand-drawn renderings and more than a few celebrity names. — Amy Wilkinson

Key Departments

Wedding Rings

This legendary jeweler’s landmark Fifth Avenue store is packed with glamorous, classic engagement rings. It also carries a selection of lighter but equally feminine bands that appeal to younger, less traditional tastes. Engagement rings from $3,950.

Related Stories

Featured In

• Pearl Jam (9/20/04)