Mother-of-pearl, that vibrates in contact with light, is an organic material imbued with vitality. Extracted from the interior of certain shells and carefully selected by the Maison, it has illuminated Van Cleef & Arpels' creations since its foundation in 1906.
Thanks to marquetry work, mother-of-pearl has been highlighted on boxes and cases from the 1920s onwards. The mother-of-pearl's iridescence is combined with other organic materials such as coral, or ornamental stones like malachite. The meticulously composed ensemble thus recreates a miniature decor or a shimmering landscape.
From the 1970s onward, the Maison has celebrated nature's vitality, a cherished source of inspiration, through floral and animal creations. They are adorned with mother-of-pearl's iridescence, which is worked into a slightly convex polished finish to recreate the fur of a rabbit, the wings of a dragonfly, or the velvety texture of flowers.
Gracefully counting the hours, the Maison's watch creations have been distinguised by mother-of-pearl's iridescence since the 2010s. Sculpted, guilloché, or worked in marquetry, mother-of-pearl accompanies the passing time playing with light and lines.
Sometimes white, sometimes gray, pink, or golden, mother-of-pearl distinguishes itself through its iridescent shimmer that ranges from pink to green. The four variations of mother-of-pearl have adorned the iconic Alhambra lucky charm since the 1980s.
Luck is in sight
