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 & 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 & 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 chrysoprase jewelry
Chrysoprase is a captivating gemstone renowned for its vibrant green hue and translucent appearance. A variety of the mineral chalcedony, chrysoprase gets its distinctive color from the presence of nickel impurities. Ranging from apple green to a deep, rich green, the stone shows an apple-like glow.
One of the great features of chrysoprase is transparency. The light penetrates the stone and illuminates it from within. Combined with vivid color, this transparency provides chrysoprase a unique, eye-catching quality. The gemstone is typically cut into cabochons or beads to showcase its natural beauty.
Chrysoprase has been used for centuries in jewelry and decorative arts. The name comprises the Greek words “chrysos,” meaning gold, and “prason,” meaning leek, properly describing the stone's luscious green color.
The gemstone is sourced from various locations around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Tanzania, and the United States. Due to the chrysoprase's unique combination of color and transparency, the gem has been highly valued and widely used by such jewelry giants as VCA, David Webb, and Tiffany & Co.
