Van Cleef and Arpels is a renowned French jewelry brand founded in 1896. It is known for its intricate and stunning designs, which often feature precious gemstones such as diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds.
Over the years, the brand has created some of the most exceptional jewelry pieces, which are highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will look at the top five most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold, analyzing their designs, rarity, and price.
Pink Orchid Bracelet
The Pink Orchid Bracelet is a stunning piece of jewelry from Van Cleef and Arpels, featuring a floral design adorned with approximately 24.50 carats of pink and white diamonds. The bracelet weighs around 150 grams and is crafted from platinum.
It was sold at Christie’s auction in 2010 for a whopping $2.59 million, making it one of the most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold.
The Pink Orchid Bracelet’s design is inspired by the delicate pink orchid flower and features an intricate layout of diamonds used to highlight the petals and leaves of the flower. The piece’s rarity and the high-quality diamonds used in its crafting contributed to its high price tag.
Zodiac Set
The Zodiac Set is a collection of twelve pendants crafted from gold and adorned with diamonds that depict each of the zodiac signs. Each pendant is unique, featuring a distinct design inspired by the corresponding zodiac sign. The set was sold for $3.97 million at a Christie’s auction in 2013.
The Zodiac Set’s exceptional craftsmanship is what makes it one of the most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold. Each pendant features a design that accurately represents the corresponding zodiac sign, making it a highly coveted and rare piece of jewelry.
Zip Antique
The Zip Antique is a unique piece of jewelry that Van Cleef and Arpels created in 1951. It features a fully functional zipper design crafted from yellow gold and paved with diamonds. The necklace can be worn as a necklace or zipped to form a bracelet.
This unique design makes it one of the most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry pieces ever sold, fetching $4.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2011.
The Zip Antique’s unique design and intricate craftsmanship make it a highly sought-after piece of jewelry. Its functional zipper design is a rarity in the world of jewelry, and its exceptional quality helped drive up its price significantly.
Piguet Sapphire Ring
The Piguet Sapphire Ring is a stunning jewelry piece, featuring an 8-carat Burmese sapphire and a 1.5-carat diamond set in a platinum band. The ring also features smaller diamonds, adding to its overall beauty.
The ring was sold at a Christie’s auction in 2015 for an incredible $5.3 million, making it one of the most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold.
The exceptional quality of the Burmese sapphire used in the Piguet Sapphire Ring is what makes it so valuable. The rarity and rich hue of the sapphire, coupled with its superior craftsmanship, are what contributed to its high price tag.
Ludo Hexagone Sapphire Bracelet
The Ludo Hexagone Sapphire Bracelet is a stunning piece of jewelry featuring a hexagonal design adorned with 1,500 sapphires and diamonds. The bracelet was created in 1935 and sold at a Christie’s auction in 2016 for an incredible $6.16 million, making it one of the most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold.
The Ludo Hexagone Sapphire Bracelet’s design is inspired by the geometric shapes of the Art Deco period and features an intricate combination of sapphires and diamonds. Its rarity and exceptional craftsmanship contributed to its high price tag.
Conclusion
Van Cleef and Arpels have created some of the most exceptional jewelry pieces over the years, which are highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike. The top five most expensive Van Cleef and Arpels jewels ever sold are not only incredibly beautiful but also rare, unique, and exceptional in quality.
From the Pink Orchid Bracelet to the Ludo Hexagone Sapphire Bracelet, these pieces showcase the brand’s ability to create exceptional jewelry that is not only valuable but also incredibly beautiful and unique. These pieces will continue to be coveted by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts for generations to come.
