Left: A Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ‘Rubans’ clip brooch, circa 1937, estimate of €15,000-25,000, Right: A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ‘Heritage Pelouse’ earclips, circa 1965, estimate of €15,000-25,000. Images courtesy of Bonhams.
PARIS – Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr will present Paris Jewels on 16 October 2025. The 180-lot live sale features a collection of striking Van Cleef & Arpels designs across the decades, dating from the 1930s and 1960s to the present day, presented alongside exquisite jewellery of diamonds and coloured gemstones including emeralds, rubies and sapphires from notable houses including Cartier, Boucheron, Bulgari, Harry Winston, Graff, Tiffany & Co., Seaman Schepps, Mauboussin, and Georges Braque.
Marine Girardet, Bonhams Head of Jewellery, France, said: “Paris Jewels puts the spotlight on the world of Van Cleef & Arpels with designs spanning the decades from Alhambra in mother-of-pearl, malachite and onyx to early jewels dating from the 1930s and 1960s that showcase the maison’s exceptional craftsmanship and technical abilities in creating sophisticated jewels. A sale highlight is the ‘Rubans’ brooch that has stood the test of time and remains as stylish today as when it was first imagined in 1937.”
French luxury jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in 1896 by Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels in Paris. Their jewels often feature flowers, animals and fairies and in 1968, the maison created the first Alhambra necklace, composed of 20 clover-shaped motifs, that have gone on to become a symbolic design of the maison.
Paris Jewels includes an exceptional collection of Alhambra designs presented alongside early Van Cleef & Arpels jewels dating from the 1930s and 1960s.
Van Cleef & Arpels sale highlights include:
- A Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ‘Rubans’ clip brooch, circa 1937. The ‘Rubans’ brooch is an example of an exceptional piece rooted in the Art Deco style, designed as an openwork stylised bow, set with baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds. Offered with an estimate of €15,000-25,000.
A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ‘Heritage Pelouse’ earclips, circa 1965. Each of bombé design earclip is set throughout with circular-cut rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds and is offered with an estimate of €15,000-25,000.
