“To be lucky, you have to believe in luck”… this is what Jacques Arpels used to say – highlighting the importance of this quality held dear by Van Cleef & Arpels. In 1968, the Alhambra collection was born and soon established itself as an emblem of the house. That year witnessed the rise of the first Alhambra necklace, which combined yellow gold with the pure lines of the Alhambra motif.

This harmonious design was an immediate success. Van Cleef & Arpels’ tradition of excellence came alive in a piece that truly embodied the expertise of a high jewelry maison. Its creation required a blend of skills, bringing together the lapidaries, jewelers, stone-setters and polishers. Knowing that nature is a constant source of inspiration for VC&A, throughout its history, the collection has included beautiful materials such as mother-of-pearl, turquoise, onyx, malachite or bois d’amourette – also known as letterwood. Along with diamonds, every precious stone used in this collection has been chosen according to the highest standards of quality and only 1% of the material is chosen to create the future Alhambra motifs.

Now you must be wondering how these stunning pieces are made, right? First, a lapidary meticulously shapes the stone and polishes it in order to reveal all its nuances and sheen. The gold is then melted to give form to its pearled setting, and hand-finished by a jeweler. If the creative process includes diamonds, the setter employs the snow-setting technique to reduce the space between the stones. In this case, round diamonds of different diameters cover the surface of the piece, producing a stunning play of light. As a final touch, the whole piece is polished to bring out the luminosity of every detail – giving birth to a jewel that stands the test of time.

A palette of natural breathtaking stones adorned this collection, from bois d’amourette and chalcedony to carnelian, diamond, lapis lazuli, malachite, mother-of-pearl, tiger’s eye, onyx, pink gold and turquoise – leaving no place for any elegant woman of any taste to ask for more. And just like the rich variety of stones, the Alhambra family is rich in lines for every woman who loves jewelry to find her match. While the Vintage Alhambra is a faithful reproduction of the very first Alhambra jewel created in 1968 and features equally sized motifs emphasized by a border of golden pearls, the new Alhambra is graced by harmonious and smooth lines. The Magic Alhambra line adds a new feel to the family with its daringly asymmetrical Alhambra motifs, while the Byzantine Alhambra pays tribute to the iconic motif in its purest form. For those who prefer subtle and small pieces, the Alhambra family also includes the Sweet Alhambra jewels, which embody this lucky motif in miniature form.

Such pieces were gracefully worn by exceptional women, such as French singer Françoise Hardy in 1974, actress Romy Schneider who wore an Alhambra long necklace in Michel Deville’s film, Le Mouton Enragé, and Princess Grace of Monaco whose collection included a rich variety of Alhambra long necklaces. So why don’t you add yourself to this list? Visit the Photo Gallery below to take a look at the latest Alhambra jewels!