Chronicling the Craftsmanship of Van Cleef & Arpels

If there is one high-jewelry house that has made education its core value, it’s Van Cleef & Arpels under the leadership of visionary CEO Nicolas Bos. The launch of a 670-page encyclopedic publication covering the maison’s creations from 1906 to 1953 continues that legacy. The first installment in a two-volume set, the book is a tour de force from Van Cleef’s art historians and the heads of its heritage department.

Authors Émilie Bérard, Mélodie Le Lay, Cécile Lugand, Marion Mouchard, Florie Sou and Solène Taquet have put 700 jewels, objets d’art and timepieces into historical, artistic and cultural context. The book presents each of the featured pieces alongside in-depth text about the inspirations, materials and techniques that went into making them.

The Van Cleef & Arpels Collection (1906-1953) highlights key moments in the history of the French company, which opened its first boutique at Place Vendôme in 1906. It includes milestones such as the Grand Prix for jewelry at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, and the maison’s entry to the US market in the 1940s. It also puts the spotlight on trailblazing innovations like transformable jewels and the mystery setting.

Van Cleef & Arpels has released the catalog as a free online resource, complete with multimedia materials. The companion volume, covering the second half of the 20th century, is due out in two years.

Main image: The Van Cleef & Arpels Collection (1906-1953). (Van Cleef & Arpels Collection)

This article is from the July-August 2024 issue of Rapaport Magazine. View other articles here.