The Timeless Van Cleef Bracelet

If you have a pulse on the next luxury products, follow celebrity news closely or enjoy playing or watching sports, you may heard of these beauties. Elegant chain bracelets, adorned with four-lobed motifs constructed from precious metals and colorful stones. These pieces are simple, but far from understated. They’re suited for the red carpet, but equally at home when they’re complementing luxurious casual and athletic fits.

You guessed it! Today, we’re talking about Van Cleef & Arpels^®—specifically their Alhambra Collection bracelets. This glamorous, evocative and colorful jewelry brand has adorned the wrists of royalty and celebrities alike for more than a century. Their recent meteoric rise in popularity left many fine jewelry collectors curious to learn more about their intricate design and how they’re made, why the brand’s work is so beloved, and how to get access to their most signature of styles. Let’s dive in!

When Did Van Cleef & Arpels Become Popular?

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Van Cleef & Arpels arrived on the fine jewelry scene suddenly. In many ways, they simply aren’t as famous compared to brands such as Tiffany and Cartier. The truth is, though, that this is no young upstart brand. Van Cleef & Arpels have been a powerhouse in jewelry design and a top pick for society’s elite ever since they were founded by Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels, in 1923. In all those years, they’ve always had a solid gold reputation for excellence, artistry and taste. But what’s behind their recent surge to the front of the fine jewelry market?

Colorful, Luxurious Design

The playfulness and color of Van Cleef & Arpels’ designs is one reason for their recent bump in recognition. Following a prolonged season of quiet luxury, many fine jewelry fans are looking to update their style to something just a little bit more eye-catching. Ready to meet the demand was Van Cleef & Arpels’ classic Alhambra bracelet, first sold all the way back in 1968. The Alhambra ticked all the boxes, with its iconic balance of delicate shapes and vivid precious stones.

Celebrity Status

Of course, it takes more than great design to move the needle in fine jewelry. That’s where Van Cleef & Arpels’ association with glamour and excellence comes into play.

For decades now, Van Cleef & Arpels has been connected with many royals including Grace Kelly, Princess Fawzia of Egypt, Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, Duchess Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla. No less regal are its celebrity collectors, including top stars such as Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon and Mariah Carey.

The Alhambra bracelet even featured heavily at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adorning the wrists of elite athletes such as fencing gold medalist Edgar Cheung Ka Long and tennis doubles gold medalist Jasmine Paolini, among others.

Variety and Limited Editions

The final factor contributing to the Van Cleef Alhambra bracelet’s popularity is its variety and exclusivity. Many of the iconic fine jewelry bracelets from other brands, such as the Cartier Love bracelet, are quite limited in their options.

The Alhambra bracelet stands in a class all its own. How so? First, it comes in a variety of metals, including:

• • • • • 18k yellow gold
        • 18k rose gold
        • 18k white gold

It’s also crafted from a wide selection of stones, including:

• • • • • Carnelian (red/orange)
        • Tiger Eye (gold/brown)
        • Malachite (green)
        • Agate (blue)
        • Onyx (black)
        • Mother of Pearl (white)
        • Diamond (White)

What’s more, Van Cleef & Arpels also released limited edition versions of the Alhambra motif for the holidays, providing even more selections for dedicated collectors. Past limited release pendants included light green celadon, pink porcelain and black obsidian.

Finally, as if all the variety in materials wasn’t enough, Van Cleef & Arpels also offers several design variations, including:

• • • • • Vintage Alhambra—the classic five motif design
        • Sweet Alhambra—available with one or six motifs
        • Pure Alhambra—four motifs with smooth borders
        • Magic Alhambra—five different-sized motifs in an asymmetrical configuration
        • Byzantine Alhambra—three smooth, all-metal motifs

Together, all these options combine to create hundreds of unique bracelets, with something to suit everyone. Still, thanks to the iconic simplicity of the Alhambra motif, each and every piece remains instantly recognizable as Van Cleef & Arpels.

Other Van Cleef & Arpels Bracelet Styles

Of course, as a fine jeweler known for innovation and artistry, the Alhambra bracelet is far from the only bracelet design Van Cleef & Arpels are famouse for. If you’re intrigued by the brand, but curious what else they have to offer, keep an eye out for their other designs on The RealReal including:

• Perlée Bracelets
  • Couleurs—A metal pearl-textured open-top cuff featuring diamonds and precious stones on the ends
  • Diamonds—A bangle-style bracelet that is available with one, three or five rows of metal pearls and diamonds
  • Clovers—A bangle-style bracelet featuring a repeating, diamond-embellished, four-leaf clover motif
  • Sweet Clovers—A slimmer version of the Perlée Clovers bracelet
  • Pearls of Gold—A bangle-style bracelet featuring a single row of metal pearls
• Fauna Bracelets
  • Lucky Spring—A chain bracelet adorned with one or more motifs
    • The single motif styles feature either a ladybug motif or a plum blossom motif.
    • The five motifs style features two tulip motifs, one plum blossom motif, one ladybug motif and one leaf motif connected by chain.
  • Sweet Butterflies—A chain bracelet adorned with a single butterfly motif
• Flora Bracelets
  • Frivole—Uses a three-leaf clover motif
    • The seven flowers bracelet is an open-top cuff with overlapping clover motifs.
    • The five flowers bracelet features three single clover motifs and one double clover motif connected by chain.
    • The mini bracelet features a single clover motif on a chain.
  • Lotus—Features a single five-petal lotus motif on a chain.
• Ludo Bracelets—Metal mesh cuffs made with either brick-shaped or hexagonal links and various jeweled embellishments.
• Bouton d’or Bracelets—Flexible bands formed from interlocking rows of paillette motifs.

Find Your Next Van Cleef Bracelet on The RealReal

There’s no better way to score a great deal on a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet than on The RealReal. Here, you can find dazzling styles, including iconic options from the Alhambra Collection, for up to 90% off.

Make your luxury dreams come true! Shop for Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry today.