Van Cleef & Arpels Introduces New Alhambra Designs Featuring Blue Agate and Guilloché

The world of Alhambra jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels is a captivating realm of exquisite craftsmanship and timeless elegance. The iconic four-leaf clover designs, symbolizing good luck and positivity, have enchanted since their introduction in 1968. Over the years, the Alhambra collection has blossomed into a multifaceted language, attracting both devoted collectors and aspiring enthusiasts alike.

The Alhambra collection offers a spectrum of styles, each with its own distinct allure. From the

Vintage

line, which faithfully echoes the original 1968 design, to the

Pure

collection with its larger, smooth surfaces, the

Sweet

collection’s dainty charms, and the statement-making

Magic Alhambra

, there’s a design to resonate with every taste. Each piece can be further personalized with a selection of motifs, ranging from one to twenty, and adorned with precious stones or crafted entirely in gold.

In the realm of ornamental stones, Alhambra pieces are meticulously crafted with white or grey mother-of-pearl, carnelian, onyx, malachite, chalcedony, tiger eye, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. For all-gold designs, Van Cleef & Arpels offers a variety of finishes, including the intricate open-worked style of the

Byzantine Alhambra

, the rare beauty of hammered gold, and the radiant geometry of

guilloché

gold.

This year, Van Cleef & Arpels unveils an exciting new addition to the Alhambra family: a luminous blue agate stone set against the brilliance of guilloché gold. This captivating pairing brings a vibrant, contemporary touch to the collection while honoring its rich heritage. While blue agate has been featured in the Alhambra range since 1989, it remains one of the lesser-sung stones. Van Cleef & Arpels selects and meticulously matches each blue agate, ensuring a deep, consistent color and a luminous surface achieved through a delicate polishing process.

Guilloché, a traditional finishing technique often seen in watchmaking, has been employed by Van Cleef & Arpels since the 1910s. This intricate technique, characterized by its delicate, geometric patterns, first graced the maison’s timepieces and, in the 1930s, found its way onto precious lifestyle objects like cases, powder boxes, and minaudières. In 2018, Van Cleef & Arpels introduced guilloché to the Alhambra collection to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

This month, Van Cleef & Arpels unveils two new designs that seamlessly blend the elegance of blue agate with the refined artistry of guilloché. The first is a

Vintage Alhambra reversible ring

, offering two distinct faces on a single rotating clover. One side showcases guilloché yellow gold adorned with a central diamond, while the other side reveals the captivating blue agate. This stunning ring, set upon a band of three rows of golden perlée beads, is only the second reversible Alhambra ring ever created, following the debut of a carnelian and rose gold guilloché model in 2023.

The second novelty is a

Sweet Alhambra watch

, composed of nine blue agate and guilloché clovers, with the watch mechanism gracefully integrated within a larger motif. This exquisite piece is the result of a meticulous fifteen-step process, encompassing everything from selecting the rough stone to pairing and matching the cut agates, gem-setting, and casing the watch’s movement and dial within a diminutive clover. This enchanting creation is a testament to Van Cleef & Arpels’ mastery in blending the worlds of fine jewelry and exquisite watchmaking.