About Van Cleef & Arpels Brand
Van Cleef & Arpels, a prestigious French luxury jewelry and watchmaking Maison, opened their first boutique in 1906. Ever since, the brand’s jewelry has been worn and beloved by celebrities and royalty.
Founded by a daughter of a precious stone dealer and a son of a stone cutter, Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef, the brand was meant to be big the jewelry world. Press used to call the power couple union “The Maison based on love.”
Before Art Deco was pronounced as a style, VCA brand was known for their skillfully made, bold geometric pieces. Later, during the century, the maker mastered this design approach to the top-notch jewelry level. The experimental spirit, fearless usage of the exotic materials and truly unique gemstone combinations brought Van Cleef and Arpels to the top three of the jewelry worlds.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Van Cleef & Arpels’ philosophy is applying storytelling and thematic elements to their design. Many of the VCA collections draw inspiration from fairy tales and exotic locales, infusing each piece with a narrative. The brand’s Alhambra collection, for instance, features the iconic quatrefoil motif inspired by the four-leaf clover, symbolizing luck, health, fortune, and love. This mix of artistic expression and meaningful storytelling adds a unique depth to their designs, making Van Cleef and Arpels’ creations wearable works of art that resonate on an emotional level.
In order to make this prestigious jewelry affordable not only for a prestige clientele, Nadine Krakov Collection offers a wide selection of estate Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry without the high markups.
Shop for our Van Cleef & Arpels ring collection, Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and VCA earrings.
About Coral Jewelry
Once considered as a plant, coral acquired the nickname “garden of the sea”. In fact, coral is a branch formed by microscopic species called the coral polyp. It grows in the ocean and forms massive colonies.
In different cultures wearing coral has different meanings. In Slavic countries coral beads were a part of the national costumes. The ancient Romans believed coral protected their kids from danger. Same in Italy, where in the beginning of 20th century coral jewelry was believed to be an anti-evil eye protection.
Today coral is worn as a chic accessory with meaning and admired for its exceptional natural beauty. The silky coral texture and a variety of coral colors attract jewelry lovers all over the world.
The value of vintage coral jewelry is appreciated over time. Some coral jewels have historical or cultural significance, making it more desirable to collectors. Coral is beloved by the movie stars due to its bright and vibrant colors. Once worn for the red-carpet event, coral jewelry comes back to fashion. As you can see here, among our coral pieces we have truly intricate ones. The skill and artistry involved in creating these pieces also add to their value.
Coral value is also based on size, cut, color and polish. Generally, there is red coral, light and deep pink coral, and orange coral. Other colors such as brown, gold and even blue are more exotic. They are shown in conchiolin corals that grow not as branches but as concentric circles.
Mediterranean red coral is the most valuable due to its deep red color. It is harvested as deep as 200 meters in the sea. If you are looking for a classic Italian Cornicello color, then Mediterranean is your choice.
Pink coral is dense and covers the whole spectrum of hues, from close-to-white, pale pink to salmon red. It is mostly found near Japan.
Black coral is not truly black but rather very dark brown or nearly black. It is often polished to a high shine and can create striking, dramatic jewelry pieces.
Blue coral, also known as “Heliopora,” is a rare type of coral with a blue to blue-green coloration. It is used less frequently in jewelry but can be quite unique.
Due to its glassy, hard texture, coral is great for carving.
