Editor’s Note
This article explores the origins of Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic Alhambra motif, tracing its symbolic connection to luck and hope back to the personal philosophy of Jacques Arpels.
From the adage “Hold fast to your dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly” to what is now the most iconic symbol of good fortune in jewelry. Jacques Arpels, a second-generation member of the Van Cleef & Arpels family, would pick four-leaf clovers in the garden of his estate in Germigny-l’Évêque, northeast of Paris, and gift them to employees along with the English poem “Don’t Quit,” encouraging them to hold onto hope. Blessing and wishing are core values of the Maison’s jewelry creation, bringing joy to people. In 1968, clusters of four-leaf clovers were transformed into the first-ever Alhambra jewelry collection: a long necklace featuring 20 yellow gold clovers held by gold beads, becoming a lovely and sparkling presence in people’s lives.
The Alhambra collection is perpetually refreshed with variations in gold craftsmanship, gemstone selection, size, and design. Interestingly, beyond the annual limited-edition Vintage Alhambra pendant launched since 2000, the collection can be further divided into several distinct sub-lines, each with its own ingenuity. Examples include:
– **Vintage Alhambra**: The classic line launched in 1975, faithfully interpreting the first piece from 1968. Initially crafted in 18K gold and onyx, its distinguishing feature is the uniform size of the clover motifs, edged with gold beads.
– **Magic Alhambra**: This line’s characteristic is the use of Alhambra motifs in varying sizes (including a large size of about 26mm, the classic 15mm, and the sweet 9.5mm), presented in asymmetrical designs for a more dynamic and lively feel. It also offers a wider variety of gemstone choices, such as carnelian and tiger’s eye, white and grey mother-of-pearl.
– **Sweet Alhambra**: Compared to other sub-lines, its four-leaf clover motifs are smaller and more delicate in size, as sweet as the name suggests.
– **Lucky Alhambra**: This line incorporates heart, butterfly, and leaf motifs alongside the clover, offering richer colors and a playful style.
Creating a single four-leaf clover requires at least 15 steps, including gemstone cutting, polishing, crafting the bead-set surround for the setting, and jewelry assembly. This craftsmanship is also a highlight of the new pieces. This season introduces five new creations, featuring material combinations such as “guilloché rose gold, grey mother-of-pearl, white mother-of-pearl,” and the首次应用 of “guilloché white gold, chalcedony, white mother-of-pearl.”
The new collection also emphasizes “transformability,” another historical jewelry tradition of Van Cleef & Arpels. In the early 1920s, Van Cleef & Arpels distinguished itself with transformable designs, which became a trend from the 1930s onwards, successfully infusing elegant jewelry with versatile charm—for example, a brooch that could be separated into multiple elements.
The newly launched long necklace is the first piece in the Alhambra collection to offer multiple ways of wearing. It utilizes detachable components to transform into a short necklace and a bracelet. The four-leaf clover motif on the ring features a movable hinge, allowing it to rotate smoothly for reversible styling. Finally, a four-leaf clover adorned with hour and minute hands, combined with eight other lucky clovers in guilloché white gold, chalcedony, and diamonds, forms a new bracelet-watch hybrid.
Below are the details and prices of the 2025 new VCA Alhambra jewelry and watches:
– **Magic Alhambra Transformable Long Necklace**, 15 four-leaf lucky motifs (converts to short necklace). 18K white gold, set with chalcedony and white mother-of-pearl. Suggested price: NT$1,280,000.
– **Vintage Alhambra Reversible Ring**. 18K white gold, set with chalcedony and diamonds. Suggested price: NT$230,000.
– **Sweet Alhambra Watch**. 18K white gold, set with chalcedony and diamonds. Suggested price: NT$1,290,000.
– **Magic Alhambra Transformable Long Necklace**, 15 four-leaf lucky motifs (converts to short necklace). 18K rose gold, set with grey and white mother-of-pearl. Suggested price: NT$1,190,000.
– **Vintage Alhambra Reversible Ring**. 18K rose gold, set with grey mother-of-pearl and diamonds. Suggested price: NT$218,000.