Inspired by The Grand Tour, a historical odyssey through the major cultural centres of Europe,
Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest high jewellery collection takes us on an incredible, sweeping journey where history, geography and gemstones collide.
London
The journey of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Le Grand Tour begins in London, where Canova’s statue at the sumptuous Chatsworth House inspired the Dea Eterna Clip, boasting an oval-cut 3.47-carat pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, a grey cultured pearl and diamonds. The Josiah Necklace and Earrings were inspired by the heart of London, where baguette and round-cut diamonds drape around the neck or hang elegantly from the ears, culminating in remarkable oval-cut sapphires. Elsewhere, the rose gold Elizabeth Earrings (their name derived from the iconic monarch) with detachable pendants, feature two triangle-cut pink spinels, alongside coral and sparkling diamonds.
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Rome
The mythological horn of plenty inspired Van Cleef & Arpels to create the Cornucopia Clip where a rubellite immediately attracts the gaze, surrounded by diamond leaves, amethysts, rubies and spessartite garnets and finished with bouqiets of sapphire flowers, spessartite garnets and diamonds. The Escale Antique bracelet is another marvel inspired by Rome, fashioned from rose gold, it boasts emeralds, tsavorite garnets and diamonds in an intricate, botanical pattern.
Naples
Over to Naples where Van Cleef & Arpels’ Ninfe Necklace depicts a floral crown, like those in the mosaics of the ruined Nymphaeum in Herculaneum. Comprising links of gadrooned rose gold, diamonds and pink sapphires, the centre of the creation is a composition of leaves in rose and white gold, diamonds and red and pink ‘angel-skin’ coral. These surround a striking cushion-cut rubellite, subtly accentuated by two oval-cut rubellites. The Symphonie Florale Clip, was inspired by the hanging gardens of Ravello, and boasts white and rose gold, a breathtaking collection of spessartite and tsavorite garnets, a pink, mauve sapphire and diamonds.
The Alps
Transporting us to The Alps as winter ends, the blossoms come into bloom and Edelweiss gently awakens, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Etoile des Glaciers Clip features a stunning cluster of sapphires, white and yellow diamonds, designed to represent a rare and protected plant species that only thrives in high-altitude environments.
Paris
Inspired by the refined ladies-in-waiting of the court of Louis XV, Van Cleef & Arpels created the Eclat Mystérieux Necklace with Traditional Mystery Set emeralds, mauve sapphires white cultured pearls and diamonds. While its Lucendi Earrings suggest an elaborate, 18th Century chandelier and are rendered in rose and white gold with two oval-cut rubellites, mauve sapphires and diamonds. Elsewhere, its jaw-dropping Noeud Royal Ring heroes a cushion-cut pink sapphire set in white gold and surrounded by diamonds.
