Why is Van Cleef & Arpels so expensive?

Van Cleef & Arpels has embodied the excellence of French High Jewelry for over a century. The high price of its jewelry is explained by a combination of different unique pieces that make the reputation and value of the maison.

Precious and rare materials

Like many jewelry houses, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry is made with precious materials, which are intrinsic values. 

For metals, this concerns gold, whether yellow, white or pink... as well as platinum...

For stones, this includes diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, but also very high quality ornamental stones such as mother-of-pearl, turquoise, malachite, coral or even lapis lazuli. 

These materials, and in particular the stones, are rigorously selected, meeting the best possible quality (and therefore rarity) according to their evaluation criteria, which justifies a significant part of the final price. 

Artisanal know-how and exclusive techniques

In addition to its materials, the Maison Van Cleef & Arpels high price can be explained by the innovative techniques of the Maison and the patents it has filed, including the famous "mystery setting" invented in 1933, which allows stones to be fixed without visible prongs, thus creating a perfectly smooth and luminous surface that does not reveal the metal. 

Other techniques, such as guilloche engraving, require meticulous craftsmanship, accessible only to the finest jewelers. This exclusive expertise, passed down from generation to generation, is evident in each piece.

Iconic design and creativity

Just like other Houses, the price of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry depends on the positioning of the Maison but also its notoriety - its name - with iconic models that are quickly recognizable and widely desired. Among them, we find the Alhambra collection, inspired by the lucky clover, which has become a true icon of luxury.

Exclusivity and heritage value

The rarity of pieces, and particularly the limited editions produced, are once again driving up the price of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. Some vintage pieces often increase in value over time, and their price has doubled in just a few years on the second-hand market. The rarest variants can fetch high prices at auction.

On the same topic, you might also like to read
What is the value of a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels necklace?
Van Cleef & Arpels: the Alhambra, the emblematic