Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Earrings Diamond Gold

About Alhambra Collection First introduced in 1968, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra collection has become one of the most recognizable and enduring designs in fine jewelry. Named after the intricate archways of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the collection draws on Moorish architecture and the natural symmetry of four-leaf clovers - long associated with luck, love, health, and fortune. The motif quickly became a signature for the maison, emblematic of both timeless design and a subtle sense of optimism. The Vintage Alhambra line features clover-shaped motifs framed in delicately beaded gold edges, a defining detail that adds warmth and texture. Over the decades, Van Cleef & Arpels has reimagined the collection in a wide range of materials—white and gray mother-of-pearl, malachite, carnelian, chalcedony, onyx, tiger’s eye, and diamond pavé—each adding its own character and depth to the design. A particularly rare and technically ambitious variation includes the use of exotic woods such as letterwood. Incorporating wood into fine jewelry required expertise beyond the traditional workshop. Van Cleef & Arpels collaborated with a cabinetmaker and an inlayer to achieve the correct finish and stability. Sourcing the right machinery—one previously used in the restoration of Louis XIV’s residence—was part of the process of refining and cutting the dense wood to fit seamlessly into the Alhambra shape. Loved for its versatility and symbolic charm, the Alhambra remains the most sought-after collection in the Van Cleef & Arpels archive—an enduring icon worn by royalty, collectors, and jewelry enthusiasts for over five decades.