For the past 10 years, Van Cleef & Arpels has participated in the fine art and antique fair, TEFAF, in Maastricht, an event bringing together masterpieces of various disciplines, from antique artwork to grand master paintings, and even High Jewelry pieces. From March 11 to 19, the Maison is highlighting six pieces from its Heritage collection and the  contemporary creations collections.

The Heritage collection features nearly 200 Jewelry and High Jewelry pieces and precious objects created by Van Cleef & Arpels between the 1920s and the 1990s that are available for sale. To discover more about the heritage collection, follow this link. 

On display for the very first time at TEFAF 2023, the influential Necklace 1971 piece exhibits an aesthetic typical of the 1970s. While the period is marked by a general fascination for Asia, Claude Arpels roamed the continent, driven by curiosity and a search for exceptional gemstones. This strikingly fluid necklace, plunging to the middle of the chest, stands out for its impressive sapphires and emeralds. The pendant, adorned with a generous engraved emerald, can be detached and worn as a clip. 

The second heritage piece to be displayed is the Pampilles clip, created in 1929. This clip expresses the predominant style of the times, Art Deco, while also demonstrating historicists influences. Named in reference to its cascading, drop-shaped diamond beads, the shower of diamonds sparkles on a discreet and mobile platinum mount, scintillating with every movement of the body. The fringes of round diamonds, varying in length, offer a realistic likeness of the cascade, a term also applied to an arrangement of gemstones in order of size.  A frequent jewelry convention in the 1910s, the fountain motif became a prevalent medium for the pure geometric lines and stylized forms of the Art Deco movement during the Roaring Twenties. 

The third one is the Écarlate clip dating from 1997. It reflects the tradition of Mystery Set pieces in the 1930s, this creations drew inspiration from the repertoire of couture. It portrays a precious handkerchief, extremely light and supple. Thanks to Traditional Mystery Set rubies, the crease of fabric and its characteristic rustling sound are almost perceptible. 

Through the contemporary High Jewelry selection, Van cleef & Arpels is inviting visitors to explore different ways of wearing jewelry. These creations reflect a selection of the Maison’s iconic sources of inspiration, such as nature and dance, all while underscoring its capacity to join gemstones in dazzling combinations. 

The butterfly, a symbol of nature’s metamorphoses, has been a key emblem of Van Cleef & Arpels since 1906. This Aglais Butterfly Between the Finger ring is suffused with warm tones generated through the use of engraved yellow gold and a refined gradient of colored sapphires. Beside the insect, a generous 9.79-carat oval spessartite garnet shines in all its glory, displaying an orange glow reminiscent of a majestic sunset on a summer evening.

An aesthetic signature of Van Cleef & Arpels since the Roaring Twenties, the  Médaillon abstrait transformable long necklace boldly blended colors and materials in the 1970s. It is made up of alternating jewelry motifs and orbs carefully beaded on a silk thread and interspersed with discreet knots, as well as a trimming of amethyst and onyx spheres. Ingenious clasp systems make this necklace fully transformable: of variable length, with or without the pendant; five distinct configurations ensure that the piece adapts to any situation or stylish whim. 

The last piece of this selection represents the Maison’s passion for dance. The first ballerina clips appeared in 1941 and have never ceased to impart an aura of grace and lightness in Van Cleef & Arpels’ creative tradition. This clip was inspired by the most romantic of ballets, La Sylphide (1832). The vaporous effect and the unprecedented volume of the dancer’s attire are recreated here by overlapping diamond-set surfaces. Meanwhile, the whirling movements and folds of the skirt come out in the border of pink sapphires, which seem to be set in motion thanks to the position of the dancer’s upper body.