Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Van Cleef & Arpels

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History

Creation

1906

Headquarters

Paris, France

History

The story begins as most fairy tales end with a heaven sent wedding between Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef. Estelle is the daughter of a precious stone wholesaler and the sister of expert gemmologists. Alfred is the son of a diamond merchant from Amsterdam. The year is 1896, the die is cast, their adventure will be enriched over the year by fidelity, feminity, glamour and excellence. Today, the spirit of the family is alive: creativity and craftsmanship are pillars of the Van Cleef & Arpels soul expressed through the technical mastery with the Mystery Setting or the expertise in the art of transformations.

1896 Estelle Arpels marries Alfred Van Cleef

1906 Alfred Van Cleef and his brother-in-law, Charles, register the name « Van Cleef & Arpels ». The shop settles into 22 Place Vendôme Paris

1918 Van Cleef & Arpels creates the first Chatelaine, a jewel that is worn at the waist with a watch fastened to it

1923 Creation of the first Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet watch (white and yellow gold -leather strap)

1926 Renée Puissant, daughter of Alfred Van Cleef, becomes Artistic Director

1930 Invention of the Minaudière

1933 Van Cleef & Arpels patented the Mystery Setting

1935 Invention of the Ludo bracelet

1936 Creation of the Cadenas bracelet watch

1939 Opening of an office in New York, at Rockefeller Center

1949 Pierre Arpels designs the PA 49 watch

1972 Inauguration of the « Boutique des Heures », Place Vendôme Paris

1974 Alhambra design becomes emblematic of the Van Cleef & Arpels style

1991-96 Launching of Roma, Fantasy, Instrumentum, Traveler, Façade, 12&12 collection

2000 New interpretation of the Cadenas watch

2004 Launching of the Monsieur Arpels collection and Ludo bracelet variations

2005 Launching of the Secret watch and Alhambra Vintage collection

2006 Celebration of the centenary – Lauching of the Complications Poétiques

2007 Launching of the Lady Arpels Féerie watch and of the masculine complication watch Midnight in Paris

2008 Lancement de la collection Charms

For the future

Van Cleef & Arpels’ contemporary watch creations are the finest expression of a successful union of exceptional watch making and high fashion jewellery. Audaciously innovative and stylish, Van Cleef & Arpels watches feature classic forms enhanced with rare and original new features. By reinterpreting its own great classics, applying the jeweller’s art to watch cases and dials, and creating complications that surprise and delight, Van Cleef & Arpels confirms its talent as a master jeweller in the world of fine watches.