Why is Van Cleef so expensive? Jewelry pieces are an important part of popular fashion today – and they have always been so across generations. They are not just important pieces for adornment but carry symbolic significance that expresses an identity or position, a sort of communication for the person.
Given the fact that these pieces are one of the most spottable parts of your ornaments, you may just need to know the right ones to give you the right decorative and stylistic features – and of course, Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry can serve this purpose effortlessly.
What is Van Cleef and Arpels?
Van Cleef & Arpels is a French high jewelry, perfumes, and watchmaking company. It was founded in 1896 by Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels in Paris. Their jewelry pieces are innovative, artfully crafted with full diamonds and precious gemstones, and often feature flowers, animals, and fairies that continue to resonate with every passing second.
These artfully crafted innovative pieces are best described as having a mystery setting that uniquely carves them out from other jewelry brands. Their mystery setting makes it impossible for other jewelers to imitate. What is this mystery setting, one may ask? The answer lies in its artful construction.
Stones are set in a way that no prongs are visible, creating suspense as to how these delicate stones are held in place. This intricate process relies on gold rails that are less than two-tenths of a millimeter thick! These pieces, as already noted, are highly innovative, intricately complicated, as creating one clip utilizing the mystery setting can take up to 300 hours of work!
Van Cleef’s are high-end jewelry, watches, fragrances, and so on. But they are even more popular for their outrageous price tags! Every one of their pieces was originally designed to be a reserve of the nobles, and the tradition has been maintained to date in the form of outrageous price tags. Though efforts have been made to make these pieces affordable to their younger, slightly less affluent customers, the prices are still pretty on the high side.
Nonetheless, to the restricted class that can afford their pieces, buying them is more than just buying quality – it’s buying name and reputation. They are pieces which, though outrageously high, give their customers class and prestige, one they don’t mind spending all they have to lay their hands on and call their own. These pieces are incredibly detailed and made from high-quality materials that retain their values for a long time.
Is Van Cleef and Arpels Real Gold?
The answer is a resounding YES. Van Cleef jewelry is made with pure platinum or 18k gold lavishly radiating yellow, strong, and unalterable. And as noted on their website, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates the gleaming brilliance of gold in sunny jewelry and watch collections including Frivole and Alhambra, as well as in High Jewelry creations such as Zip necklaces.
And to preserve the gleam of these yellow gold pieces, Van Cleef & Arpels uses an 18-carat gold alloy, also known as 750 under the millesimal fineness system. All gold creations are stamped with a hallmark depicting an eagle’s head to certify their purity.
Cartier or Van Cleef and Arpels: Which is Better?
Choosing between these two jewelry designer brands is never a one-way approach or an easy task. These are brands that have stood the test of time, never losing the touches of their elegance, luxury, and class. Most times, sentiment and other personal considerations consciously and unconsciously play out in the choice to go for among the customers rather than any objective test which is not easy to make.
Cartier jewelry pieces obviously have a long history rooted in rich stories. However, both brands are known to be identified with celebrities and royalties. Cartier which was once referred to by England’s King Edward VII as “The jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers” equally holds its value as Van Cleef and Arpels, classy, etc.
Thus, the question of which is better between the two is a subjective one attended to by subjective answer depending on your individual taste. However, it seems like Van Cleef and Arpels is a more popular brand among younger people. Also, it is a delicate and beautiful piece of jewelry, great for layering, and can easily suit everybody perfectly, especially those who fancy nature, as it celebrates the energy and beauty of nature.
Do Van Cleef and Arpels hold its Value?
The answer is a big “YES.” Answering this question is important, especially when choosing jewelry as an investment, as knowing whether it will hold its value or not can guide you in making smarter decisions. Trendy jewelry loses its value much the same pace at which its trend loses its footing.
Van Cleef and Arpels pieces are timeless, their values unwashable given the quality and artfulness that go into their crafting that make them mysterious. Also, just a few pieces are produced annually. Indeed, Van Cleef is better summarized as a marvelous investment piece with excellent resale value should the owner choose to part with it.
Is Van Cleef Alhabra Worth It?
This question is best answered with the following facts about this masterpiece. Alhambra is one of the most influential collections to come out of ‘La Boutique’. These four-leaf clover pieces have been made from mother of pearl, malachite, coral, carnelian, and even diamonds.
The design has expanded to earrings, bracelets, pendants, chains, rings, and even watches. This symbol of luck has continued to flourish and grow since its conception, becoming a core part of the Van Cleef & Arpels DNA. Its necklace collection is available in a range of dazzling forms and colors, draping the neck with gold, precious, fine, or hard stones, and it is crafted to be worn in multiple ways to suit every occasion.
All together, underneath the Van Cleef & Arpel Alhambra collection, there are six sub-collections: Vintage Alhambra, Magic Alhambra, Sweet Alhambra, Pure Alhambra, Lucky Alhambra, and Byzantine Alhambra. Each of the collections has a unique take on the motif, exhibiting some of the most precious stones.
Why is Van Cleef and Arpels So Popular?
The popularity which Van Cleef and Arpels have enjoyed over the years and continue to enjoy is a working of many factors. These factors are by no means exhaustive; however, for this post, the following account for its popularity. Van Cleef & Arpels are known for their elegant designs and timeless nature which are recreated in every piece they made.
Through innovation, the collection, over the years, has grown tremendously, coming in a variety of models that utilize some of the most precious metals and stones that never lose their original appeal. What adds more to its appeal is the versatility of the collection which boasts the ability to layer the designs and have items that are easily transitioned from day to night. It’s simply classic, and as already noted, a symbol of luck to its teeming customers striving to identify with it the most.
How to Wear Van Cleef Necklace
Van Cleef Necklace can be worn in many ways to suit your fashion taste or every occasion. It can be traditionally worn long. It can also be made into a bracelet or doubled. Also, it can be worn like a lariat where you loop the motif through the chain or as a pendant combined with 5 to 10 motifs and so on.
In a nutshell, these are simply masterpieces that can be worn in multiple ways to suit diverse occasions, courtesy to their luxe features which come in a long range of forms and colors, long necklaces draping the neck with gold, precious and fine hardstones.
How to Know Original Van Cleef Bracelet
Van Cleef & Arpels is very consistent when it comes to signatures and hallmarks on their creations. All their jewelry pieces come with a trademark, serial number, and metal hallmark which you must be on the watch out for before you make that purchase.
Though the brand stamping has varied over the years, it should read either “Van Cleef & Arpels” or “VCA.” Any other marking apart from these is a sure sign of a fake. Also, the brand uses only 18 karat gold, so each piece should be marked “750” or “Au750″ signifying their purity.
Another area you should be on the watch out for is the serial number of the Van Cleef bracelet you want to buy. Each of their pieces comes with a unique serial. A supposed bracelet from this brand without a serial number is a big red flag. Also, before you make that purchase, you may need to call the manufacturer to confirm the uniqueness of the serial number.
Conclusion
Van Cleef and Arpels are so expensive, their price tags are outrageously high; however, these pieces are a class, a name, and identity that communicates its value which is not time-bound.
