For the first time, the Perlée™ collection welcomes a new palette of cheerful, colorful materials. Gold and hard stones bring an unprecedented sparkle to these creations, which can be combined as desired.
A hymn to color
Since its creation, the Perlée collection has been distinguished by its graceful gold pearls, sketching light, refined jewels. Embodying the House’s savoir-faire, they shimmer in unison with exquisite variations. Through this symphony of pieces inviting associations, the Maison celebrates a joyful femininity, imbued with delicacy. Today, six new creations – in yellow gold, onyx, malachite, tiger’s eye, carnelian or turquoise – complete the collection with dazzling hints of color. Set majestically atop a ring, malachite, tiger’s eye and onyx enhance the sunny brilliance of yellow gold, also featured on an all-gold model. In delicate harmony, the warm hue of carnelian responds to the softness of rose gold. Finally, turquoise and white gold form a luminous duo, blending gracefully with the Maison’s other white gold creations. Van Cleef & Arpels, which has dared to combine bold materials since its creation, brings the poetry of stones and their nuances to the delicate world of Perlée.
Natural, lucky materials
Inspired since its origins by nature, the House draws its finest materials from it. In the Van Cleef & Arpels tradition of excellence, these materials are selected according to the strictest quality criteria.
Carnelian: a red-orange variety of chalcedony, carnelian was one of the first stones used in jewelry, and is found in many cultures: Crete, the Orient, Central Asia… The funeral dress of Pu-Abi, the Sumerian queen of the third millennium BC, was adorned with carnelian ornamentation. The Egyptians saw it as a symbol of life, and attributed to it the power to facilitate the passage of the soul on its journey to the other world. With its warm hue, carnelian also conveys values of joy and happiness. For its creations, the Maison selects mainly Brazilian stones, remarkable for their deep, even color.
Turquoise: considered a jewelry stone for thousands of years, turquoise first appeared in Europe via Turkey during the Renaissance, earning it the name “Turkish Stone”. Over the ages, its distinctive hue, evocative of the sky or sea, has given it the status of a sacred or protective gem. Prized by the Pharaohs in Egypt, used for cult objects and Aztec jewelry, turquoise was also set on seals to bring prosperity. In Europe, it is offered as a token of affection, thanks to its forget-me-not hue. It is thus traditionally associated with generosity and friendship. In the Van Cleef & Arpels collections, turquoise comes from America and is chosen for its exceptional, perfectly uniform blue. Malachite: an opaque stone of singular beauty, malachite evokes the vitality of nature with its deep green, criss-crossed by light and dark veins. Its decorative qualities made it a particularly sought-after stone in 19th-century Russia, for the decoration of palaces and churches. Once considered a talisman, it was recommended to protect children and travellers. La Maison takes care to select stones with straight, regular striations (main source: Australia), to achieve an elegant result.
Tiger’s eye: Tiger’s eye is a “shimmering” stone, named for its mordant hues that play with the light. Alternating bands of gold and brown, it is reminiscent of a feline’s iris. Because of this mysterious aspect, it had the reputation of being the stone “that sees all”, and Roman soldiers wore it for protection in battle. The tiger’s eye selected by Van Cleef & Arpels comes mainly from Australia or South Africa and is characterized by a regular, harmonious alternation of colors.
Onyx: according to Roman mythology, one day Eros cut the nails of the sleeping Venus with an arrowhead. All parts of her divine body being immortal, they were transformed into stone, giving birth to onyx. Used in Antiquity, this material is also present in the Van Cleef & Arpels collections. Originating mainly from Brazil, it is distinguished by its deep, rich black and polished surface, reflecting light like a mirror.
White gold: distinguished by its sober, luminous aesthetic, white gold infuses the Maison’s creations with timeless elegance. In our workshops, the metal is carefully polished and rhodium-plated to reveal its full brilliance. It is then appreciated for the purity of its reflections and blends perfectly with diamonds, whose brilliance it enhances.
Yellow gold: associated in many civilizations with the sun and divinity, yellow gold has been used by mankind since ancient times, notably for sacred and royal objects. Through its creations, Van Cleef & Arpels strives to highlight this prestigious metal. Crafted from gold beads and carefully polished, the 18-carat gold used by Van Cleef & Arpels retains its radiance, a symbol of radiance, year after year.
Rose gold: evoking the tenderness of feelings, the rose gold used by Van Cleef & Arpels is born of a subtle alloy of gold, copper and silver, unique to the House. Delicately polished or creased according to Van Cleef & Arpels’ emblematic savoir-faire, it gently reflects the light, bringing a warm, feminine glow to the creations.
Perlée couleurs, all the excellence of Van Cleef & Arpels craftsmanship
From the selection of materials to the meticulous polishing of the gold, each Perlée couleurs ring benefits from the unique expertise of the Maison. The craftsmen’s know-how is expressed through a succession of gestures, patiently executed by hand, that require rigor and precision. One by one, the pearls that make up the ring are taken up by the polisher, who gives them their shimmering appearance and ensures that the gradation between the different sizes is respected. The hard stones, meticulously adjusted at the top, are selected according to Van Cleef & Arpels’ strictest criteria. Each pearl is positioned according to the specific characteristics of its material. The striations of malachite and the reflections of tiger’s eye breathe life and movement into the jewel, while onyx, carnelian and turquoise are revealed in all their color intensity. In keeping with Van Cleef & Arpels’ tradition of excellence, this exacting standards and attention to detail give each Perlée couleurs jewel the emotion of a rare piece.
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