15 motifs Lucky Spring long necklace

Prized for millennia in Crete, Central Asia and the Far East, carnelian has inspired myriad beliefs and legends. Ancient Egyptians saw the stone as a symbol of life, endowed with the power to facilitate the soul’s journey to the next world.

With its warm nuances, carnelian also denotes joy and happiness. Van Cleef & Arpels mainly uses Brazilian carnelian in its creations, a variety of stones remarkable for their translucency and their deep, uniform color, as well as their gleam. Lapidaries often strive to harmonize the colors of carnelian gems; each expert has his or her own techniques to achieve the perfect hue.

To protect the stones from damage or scratching, the Maison recommends storing carnelian pieces in a fabric-lined box separate from other jewelry.

MOTHER-OF-PEARL

A material dear to the Maison, mother-of-pearl is produced naturally in certain shells. It illuminates jewelry creations with its glistening reflections, imparting a spirit of femininity, softness and protection. Particularly prominent in the Alhambra®, Deux Papillons and Rose de Noël™ jewelry collections, mother-of-pearl also adorns Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces.

For white mother-of-pearl, the Maison looks primarily toward Australia, which produces a variety renowned for its even surfaces and subtle iridescence. Australia also provides the Maison’s gold mother-of-pearl, selected for its warm hue, satiny surface and lustrous overtone. Finally, gray mother-of-pearl, known for its harmonious gray-silver tones and captivating glow, comes from French Polynesia.

To ensure proper upkeep of its creations, the Maison recommends cleaning mother-of-pearl with pure water or a soft, dry cloth. Contact with cosmetic products should be avoided. Mother-of-pearl is a delicate material that must be stored in a box lined with cotton fabric.

ONYX

Onyx is among the most sought-after ornamental stones in jewelry-making: with its fine texture and rich, deep black color, it has stood out as a prized gem since Antiquity and was particularly stylish in 1930s Art Deco jewelry. Van Cleef & Arpels uses the black tint of onyx to set off the sparkle of diamonds and the gleam of gold, particularly in the Alhambra® and Rose de Noël™ collections.

One variety of onyx features white bands or veins on a black base; if the structure is made up of uniform layers, it can be transformed into stunning cameos.

The Maison predominantly works with Brazilian onyx due to its superior quality, as well as its brilliantly reflective mirror-like surface. To create its pieces, Van Cleef & Arpels selects only the purest stones presenting the most intense shade of black. Lapidaries often strive to harmonize the colors of onyx gems; each expert has his own techniques to achieve the perfect hue.