It all started in the 18th Century, when Pierre Arpels started his journey in the world of emeralds. His amazement with this precious stone allowed him to write a saga in his own words, it was in fact the language of jewelry.
He travelled to Iran and designed many jewelry sets featuring emeralds for the country’s first Empress, H.I.H Farah Pahlavi. The Duchess of Windsor was also one of the first clients to mark the special bond between Van Cleef & Arpels and emeralds. Madly in love with her, King Edward VIII showered her with the house’s jewels, which he purchased in Paris. Other ladies have also shown their love for VC&A emerald and diamond jewels, such as Princess Faiza of Egypt – the sister of King Farouk, H.H Princess Sita Devi from India, the Maharani of Baroda who preferred to wear European jewelry with her magnificent saris and Princess Salimah – the first wife of the Aga Khan IV.
The Emerald saga continues with this high jewelry collection entitled “Émeraude En Majesté”, which features more than 1400 carats of emeralds carefully selected by the house’s expert gemologists. From Colombia to Zambia, the types of precious stones used in this collection follow a set of criteria that makes them unique. A deep intense green shade sets these gems apart and revives emotions from the first sight.
It took the house over ten years to assemble these treasurable stones that have inspired this collection, highlighting its expertise in high jewelry-making. The “Émeraude En Majesté” is an ode to this exceptional gem, which reveals all its beauty and character through opulent jewelry pieces that stand out by their undulating lines and abstract motifs.
Among the different cuts and forms of emeralds used in this collection, some engraved ones exude a singular charm and evoke the Indian ornamental tradition that has constituted a source of inspiration for the house since 1920s. Remaining true to Van Cleef & Arpels’ style and values, this collection sees a combination of freedom, mastery, poetry, structure, vitality and harmony.
The Photo Gallery below will guide you through this regal high jewelry collection.
