First off, the name. Van Cleef and… Arpels. It’s a mouthful, honestly. But it kinda *sounds* expensive, doesn’t it? Turns out, it’s literally just the dude, Alfred Van Cleef, and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels. Like, a real family affair. They officially kicked things off in 1906, which is, like, *ages* ago. Makes you wonder what kinda jewelry people were rocking back then. Probably not the same stuff as today, duh.
They were total pioneers, though. Always innovating, always trying new things, or so I read somewhere. I mean, you gotta stay on top of your game in the luxury market, right? Speaking of which, have you seen their Alhambra collection? The one with the clover shape? Classic! It’s *everywhere*, from celebrities to my cousin Sarah who somehow afforded a knockoff (don’t tell her I said that). But honestly, even the knockoffs are kinda cute. But still, nothing beats the real deal, I guess.
And then there’s the Perlée collection. It’s like, a modern twist on the Alhambra? It’s got this beady border thing going on. Not my personal favorite, but I can see the appeal, especially if you are into more like, understated bling.
Oh, and speaking of bling, they do more than just Alhambra. They are a real powerhouse in jewelry design. Like, they’ve been a top pick for the, um, “society’s elite” for like, ever. I wonder what kind of crazy commissions they’ve gotten over the years. Imagine designing something for royalty! Talk about pressure.
They even have perfumes! I saw something about Orchidee Vanille. I haven’t smelled it myself, but apparently, it’s a “Floral fragrance for women” launched in 2009. Mandarin and lychee? Sounds kind of yummy, actually. It’s Randa Hammami who did it. I have no idea who that is, but kudos to her! Anyway, this is about jewelry, not perfumes, so… back to that.
