Paris

You have now entered the first section, which is dedicated to Time. The section is divided into eight spaces, five of which have been inspired by Italo Calvino’s values – Lightness, Quickness, Visibility, Exactitude, and Multiplicity. The Maison’s creations are also presented in terms of three other themes: Paris; The Elsewhere; and Intersections with Fashion, Dance and Architecture. The themes are useful for contextualizing the iconic pieces created by Van Cleef & Arpels over the years and should help you to understand how they integrate into the history of jewelry.

At the turn of the 20th century, Paris was more than a city. It was a major center for the arts, fashion, and elegance itself. Paris was also the birthplace of artistic movements such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco. It was here that Haute Couture defined the aesthetics of an entire century, and important writers, painters, architects, and artists flocked to exchange ideas. And it was here in Paris that Van Cleef & Arpels was founded. The history of the Maison begins with a wedding: in 1895, Alfred Van Cleef married Estelle Arpels, cementing a bond between two families closely involved in the Parisian jewelry business. On June the 16th, 1906, Alfred Van Cleef and his brother-in-law Charles Arpels inaugurated their boutique on Place Vendôme, close to several fine fashion and jewelry houses.