Love

If it wasn’t for love, Van Cleef & Arpels – and this exhibition – wouldn’t exist. Love is indeed central to the story of the Maison’s creation: at the end of the 1800s Estelle Arpels met Alfred Van Cleef. They married in 1895, uniting their names and their destinies. A few years later, in 1906, Alfred founded the Maison with Estelle’s brothers in Paris’ Place Vendôme. Ever since, love has infused the Maison’s creations: did you know that the first Van Cleef & Arpels jewel was a heart set with diamonds?

The Maison’s pieces have embodied tenderness in various ways over time. As messages or gifts of love they have played a role in the legendary love stories of 20th-century celebrities and members of royal families. Among the most recurrent motifs are delicate lovebirds, sweet Cupids, and symbolic flowers such as forget-me-nots.