Van Cleef & Arpels’ Perlée collection celebrates the past while looking to the future

Just over a century after storied maison Van Cleef & Arpels was born from the marriage of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, the Perlée collection came to life. While this collection may be just shy of two decades old, its roots go back much further in this celebrated house’s past.

In the 1920s and 1930s, delicate, soldered gold beads appeared on a number of Van Cleef & Arpels pieces. Decidedly modern in construction and elegantly decorative, they were key in establishing Van Cleef & Arpels as a timeless bastion of fine jewellery.

Named for the French word for beaded, these fine golden beads appeared in key Van Cleef & Arpels collections over the years. First, as a method of outlining stones or bringing attention to key design elements, they were then featured heavily in iconic collections like Couscous and Bagatelle, which date back to 1948, or Twist in the 1960s, which saw the golden beads paired with the red orange of coral, the deep blue of lapis lazuli and the azure of turquoise, alongside pearls in a playful twist. Then, in 1968, these little golden beads became a hallmark of what is arguably the house’s most distinctive shape: the Alhambra collection.

In 2008, though, the time came for the beads to have their own moment in the sun, and Perlée was born. Crafted from yellow, rose or white gold, the beads are first cast in wax and then reworked by hand to ensure perfect, consistent roundness. Astounding for both its uniformity and lustre, Perlée is a deceptively understated motif, seamlessly blending into your existing jewellery collection while still standing as a statement in its own right.

The collection is multifaceted and crafted for every occasion. Pieces like the Perlée diamonds ring, which sees brilliant diamonds carefully placed among the distinctive golden beads, the pearls of gold hoop earrings, and the couleurs pendant may become part of your daily collection, while statement pieces like the diamonds earrings, couleurs bracelet and Between the Finger ring will be those you reach for time and time again on special occasions.

Rounded out by elegant timepieces and statement rings, the Perlée collection is one that is both steeped in history while carving out a new path for a fabled house.

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