Van Cleef & Arpels
{{Short description|Luxury jeweler}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Van Cleef & Arpels
| logo = Van Cleef Arpels logo.svg
| logo_size = 260px
| image = Van Cleef & Arpels Exhibition.JPG
| type = Subsidiary
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = {{sda|1896}}
| founder = Alfred Van Cleef
Salomon Arpels
| defunct =
| location_city = Paris
| location_country = France
| location =
| locations = 155 (2022)
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Catherine Rénier (CEO)
Julien Arpels
Louis Arpels
Claude Arpels
| industry = {{hlist | High jewelry | watches | perfumes}}
| products =
| services =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent = Richemont
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|vancleefarpels.com}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
File:Imperial Empress Crown 2.png Farah Pahlavi of Iran. She wore the crown in 1967 coronation ceremony.]]
File:HK Central Landmark Van Cleef & Arpels May-2013 ceiling.JPG
Van Cleef & Arpels is a French luxury jewelry company.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FODGSK7kObIC|title=Luxury Brand Management: A World of Privilege|last1=Chevalier|first1=Michel|last2=Mazzalovo|first2=Gerald|date=2012-05-18|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9781118171790|location=Singapore|language=en|access-date=19 October 2016}} It was founded in 1896 by the Dutch diamond-cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels in Paris.{{cite web|url=https://perfumesociety.org/170845-2/ |title=Van Cleef & Arpels love story |date=10 July 2018 |publisher=www.perfumesociety.org}} Their pieces often feature flowers, animals and fairies.
History
The Dutch diamond-cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels, founded the company in 1896. In 1906, following Arpels’s death, Alfred and two of his brothers-in-law, Charles and Julien, acquired space for Van Cleef & Arpels at 22 Place Vendôme, across from the Hôtel Ritz, where Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique shop.vancleefarpels.com The third Arpels brother, Louis Arpels, joined the company in 1913.{{cite web |title=Van Cleef & Arpels |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG136740 |website=British Museum |access-date=20 June 2021}}
Van Cleef & Arpels opened boutiques in holiday resorts such as Deauville, Vichy, Le Touquet, Nice, and Monte-Carlo. In 1925, a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet with red and white roses fashioned from rubies and diamonds won the grand prize at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts.{{cite journal| first=Amy| last=Serafin| title=The Family, The Jewels, The Legend| journal=France Magazine| date=Fall 2012}}
Alfred and Esther’s daughter, Renée (born Rachel) Puissant, assumed the company’s artistic direction in 1926. Puissant worked closely with draftsman René Sim Lacaze for the next twenty years. Van Cleef & Arpels were the first French jewelers to open boutiques in Japan and China.
Van Cleef & Arpels was charged with the task of making the crown of Queen Nazli of Egypt in the 1930s.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-23 |title=The Royal Treatment: Van Cleef & Arpels and the Royalty Who Wore Them |url=https://www.prestigeonline.com/id/style/jewellery/van-cleef-arpels-and-the-royalty-who-wore-them/ |access-date=2021-09-14 |website=Prestige Online - Indonesia |language=en-US}}
In 1966, Van Cleef & Arpels was charged with the task of making the crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi for her upcoming coronation in 1967. A significant challenge in creating the crown was that all the precious stones had to be selected from the Imperial Treasury of Iran, and none of the gems could leave the country, so the work had to be done there.{{CN|date=November 2024}} A team was sent to Iran to choose the major gems to use for the crown. After 11 months of work,{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/yjeanmundelsalle/2016/10/25/emeralds-are-the-gemstone-of-choice-in-van-cleef-arpels-new-fine-jewelry-collection/#609ba51f278d|title=Emeralds Are The Gemstone Of Choice In Van Cleef & Arpels' New Fine Jewelry Collection|last=Mun-Delsalle|first=Y-Jean|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en}} the company presented the empress with a crown made of emerald velvet set with 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, 105 pearls and 1,469 diamonds.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YztwygDqvvYC&q=van+cleef+&pg=PA46|title=Crown of Venus: A Guide to Royal Women Around the World|last=Lee|first=Jeffrey|date=2000|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=9780595091409|language=en}}
Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A. acquired the firm in 1999.{{Cite web |last=LUXUS + |date=2021-10-15 |title=A brief history of luxury: the crazy Richemont adventure |url=https://magazine.luxus-plus.com/a-brief-history-of-luxury-the-crazy-richemont-adventure/?lang=en/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Mag Luxus+ |language=en-US}}
Boutiques
Van Cleef & Arpels has 155 stores. Products are in standalone boutiques, boutiques within major department stores, and in independent stores. Standalone boutiques are present in Geneva, Zürich, Vienna, Munich, London, Milan, Shanghai and Paris, where the company has multiple locations, including its flagship store at Place Vendôme.
In the United States, the company operates standalone boutiques in Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Manhasset, Naples, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Bal Harbour, Chicago, Houston, McLean, King of Prussia, Short Hills, Aspen, Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa and Miami alongside their New York City flagship store, which was redesigned in 2013.{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Chai |date=11 January 2011 |title=Rolex and Van Cleef Play Mich Ave Retail Space Musical Chairs |url=http://chicago.racked.com/archives/2011/01/11/-the-new-year-is.php |access-date=2014-08-25 |work=Racked Chicago |publisher=}}{{cite journal |date=11 December 2013 |title=Blake Lively In Marchesa – Van Cleef & Arpels Celebrates The Redesigned New York 5th Avenue Flagship Maison |url=http://www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/2013/12/11/blake-lively-marchesa-van-cleef-arpels-celebrates-redesigned-new-york-5th-avenue-flagship-maison/ |journal=Red Carpet Fashion Awards |access-date=2014-08-25}} The Chicago boutique opened in 2001 at 636 North Michigan Avenue and moved to a larger location within the Drake Hotel in November 2011. They also operate boutiques within selected Neiman Marcus stores.
The brand expanded to Australia in 2016, opening a boutique at Collins Street, Melbourne.{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/lifestyle/watches-and-jewellery/jewellery/australia-the-finishing-jewel-in-van-cleef--arpels-global-crown-20161202-gt2md7 |title=Australia the finishing jewel in Van Cleef & Arpels' global crown |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |first=Jacquie |last=Hayes |date=6 December 2016 |access-date=4 April 2017}} The following year, another boutique opened at Castlereagh Street, Sydney.{{cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/accessories/van+cleef+arpels+opens+largest+australian+boutique,41895 |title=Van Cleef & Arpels opens largest Australian boutique |publisher=Vogue Australia |first=Victoria |last=Gore |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=4 April 2017}} A second Melbourne boutique opened in 2018 in the Chadstone Shopping Centre.{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=Francesca |title=Inside Van Cleef & Arpels' newest Australian flagship boutique |url=https://www.vogue.com.au/vogue-living/design/inside-the-van-cleef-amp-arpels-newest-australian-flagship-boutique/image-gallery/2197b6604d58f8c70dc10d777242c913 |website=Vogue Australia}} They continued their expansion into Oceania in 2022, when a store opened in New Zealand on Auckland's Queen Street.{{Cite web |last=Denizen |first=The |date=2022-08-01 |title=The fascinating story behind the iconic jewellery maison that has just opened its first NZ store |url=https://www.thedenizen.co.nz/coveted/van-cleef-and-arpels-auckland-boutique/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Denizen |language=en-US}}
They also operate independent boutiques in the Middle East, South America and Asia.
Notable clientele
Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery has been worn by style icons and royalty such as Grace Kelly; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; Diana, Princess of Wales; Ava Gardner;{{cite web | url=https://www.understanding-jewellery.com/news-events/understanding-jewellery-in-the-news-tribune-des-arts-when-david-met-ava/ | title=Understanding Jewellery in the news: Tribune des Arts - when David met Ava - Understanding Jewellery }} Farah Pahlavi;[http://www.farahpahlavi.org/canvasmag.pdf The Queen of Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042743/http://www.farahpahlavi.org/canvasmag.pdf |date=5 March 2016 }}; The official website of Queen Farah Eva Perón;{{cite web| url=http://www.cooperhewitt.org/2011/05/25/reflecting-personalities-jewelry-on-the-famous-and-its-impact-on-design/ |title=Reflecting Personalities: Jewelry on the Famous and Its Impact on Design| publisher=Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum| location=New York |year=2011 |access-date=2014-08-25}} Elizabeth Taylor; the Duchess of Windsor; Queen Nazli of Egypt; Queen Camilla; Gwyneth Paltrow; and Reese Witherspoon. Top-ranked tennis players such as Grigor Dimitrov, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elina Svitolina also have sported Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.
Value
In 2010/2011, the company's estimated sales were €450 million in total sales and €45 million in watches.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVOuuPvDLVwC|title=Luxury Brand Management|last2=Mazzalovo|first2=Gerald|date=18 May 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-17176-9|location=Singapore|last1=Chevalier|first1=Michel|access-date=2014-08-25}}
A 1936 Van Cleef & Arpels custom jewelry piece with a "Mystery Setting" sold for $326,500 during an auction at Christie's New York in 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aXNQ5AJkxDWg |title=Hyperinflation Worries? Buy My Jewelry, Richemont's Rupert Says |first1=Thomas |last1=Mulier |first2=Keith |last2=Campbell |agency=Bloomberg News |date=13 September 2009 |access-date=2014-08-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106030458/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aXNQ5AJkxDWg |archive-date=6 November 2014 |df=dmy }}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |author= Alba Cappellieri|title=Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature, Love |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D-AoywEACAAJ
|publisher=Skira |date= 2023|isbn=9788857241777}}
- {{cite book |author= Sylvie Raulet|title=Van Cleef & Arpels |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySVOPgAACAAJ&q=%22Van+Cleef+%26+Arpel%22
|publisher=Universe/Vendome |date= 1998|isbn=9780789302014}}
- {{cite book |author= Vincent Meylan|title= Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miXnoAEACAAJ&q=%22Van+Cleef+%26+Arpel%22 |publisher=Antique Collectors' Club|date= 2014|isbn=9781851497706}}
- {{cite book |author=Éditions Xavier Barral |title=Van Cleef and Arpels: the Art and Science of Gems |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FHuPjwEACAAJ&q=%22Van+Cleef+%26+Arpel%22 |publisher=Éditions Xavier Barral |date= 2016|isbn=9782365110983}}
- {{cite book |author= Éditions Xavier Barral|title=Alhambra - Van Cleef| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKrxtAEACAAJ&q=%22Van+Cleef+%26+Arpel%22|publisher=Éditions Xavier Barral |date= 2018|isbn=9782365111911}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Van Cleef & Arpels}}
- {{Official|http://www.vancleefarpels.com}}
{{Richemont}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Cleef and Arpels}}
Category:Comité Colbert members
Category:Jewellery retailers of France
Category:Retail companies of France
Category:Watch manufacturing companies of France
Category:Fashion accessory brands