Editor’s Note
This article explores the unexpected trend of Major League Baseball stars wearing vintage Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry on the field, blending high fashion with America’s pastime.
Van Cleef & Arpels, the French maison known for its delicate, old-world craftsmanship, has unexpectedly emerged as the jeweler of choice among a growing number of MLB stars. Vintage pieces from the brand’s Alhambra collection, a series of clover-shaped pendants first introduced in 1968, have suddenly become a fixture on the field.
Retailing for over $9,000 and long associated with icons like Grace Kelly and the Princess of Wales, the 10-motif piece now adorning ballplayers is available in stones such as onyx, malachite, carnelian, and mother-of-pearl.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas may have been the first to adopt the trend. His Instagram feed suggests the onyx Alhambra necklace entered his rotation early in the year, and he’s rarely seen without it. Rojas also cycles through an array of earrings, including matching onyx Sweet Alhambra studs and mother-of-pearl Sweet Butterflies.
On the other side of the country, Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero joined the club this summer, debuting his own onyx necklace. He’s known to mix in tennis necklaces, chunky chains, and beads, plus two matching Alhambra bracelets on off days.
It’s not uncommon for every few years MLB players to become enamored with a certain necklace or bracelet. In the late ’00s and into the ’10s ballplayers wore Phiten and Power Balance accessories with the pseudoscientific belief they would somehow improve their performance. The science was always muddy on those products claims, with Power Balance actually having to walk back their marketing. While Van Cleef & Arpels certainly isn’t marketing performance enhancement to ballplayers, it’s no coincidence these pros are drawn to the onyx, which is said to have protective and grounding qualities that could allure superstitious athletes.
Then there’s Joc Pederson, the Texas Rangers outfielder who famously turned a strand of pearls into a viral postseason symbol in 2021. Since signing his $37 million deal with the Rangers in December, Pederson has acquired at least three Alhambra necklaces. He wore onyx to his introductory press conference, switched to malachite for his official team portrait, and most recently sported a mother-of-pearl edition at a July game against the Angels, according to Town & Country.
Whether the Alhambra’s lucky clover sign carries deeper meaning or makes a simple fashion statement, players know every detail counts. Why not let good taste be part of the uniform?