Van Cleef &amp; Arpels&rsquo; icon of jewellery and luck, the Alhambra collection has reinvented itself consistently since it was launched in 1968

Fifty-seven years ago, <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/jewellery/van-cleef-arpels-new-reversible-pieces-transforms-with-grace-rings-necklaces-high-jewellery" title="Van Cleef &amp; Arpels' New Pieces Transform with Grace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Van Cleef &amp; Arpels</a> released its emblem of luck, the Alhambra collection. With the four-leaf clover as its starting point, the precious symbol endures and encompasses the ageless design and expert craftsmanship of the Maison. Four-leaf clovers first appeared in <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/jewellery/van-cleef-arpels-blooms-again-flowerlace-and-fleurs-d-hawai-collections-fine-jewellery-accessories" title="Van Cleef &amp; Arpels Blooms Again with the Flowerlace and Fleurs d&rsquo;Hawa&iuml; Collections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Van Cleef &amp; Arpels</a>&rsquo; records in the 1920s, and by 1968, the house debuted the Alhambra long necklace, which featured 20 motifs in creased gold, outlined with fine gold beads &mdash; the piece quickly found success: its daring juxtaposition of colours and materials, as well as day-to-night versatility reflected the style evolution that characterised the late 1960s and the 1970s.
In 1971, hard stones such as malachite and lapis lazuli appeared on <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/jewellery/van-cleef-arpels-introduces-alhambra-blue-agate-pieces" title="Van Cleef &amp; Arpels Introduces New Alhambra Pieces with Blue Agate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alhambra creations</a>, and by 1974, more stones like onyx, coral, turquoise and tiger&rsquo;s eye were used in the collection. Among the new icon&rsquo;s famous fans were French singer-songwriter and actress, Fran&ccedil;oise Hardy, who was pictured in 1974 wearing not one but two Alhambra long necklaces, German-French actress Romy Schneider, and the Princess of Monaco. Elegant white mother-of-pearl adorned Alhambra pieces in 1981, while blue agate and rock crystal found their way to the range in 1989 and 1994 respectively. By 1998, it wasn&rsquo;t just jewellery that bore the motif, Alhambra timepieces were unveiled by the Maison.

Today, there&rsquo;s truly an Alhambra for everyone &mdash; the original style with a beaded border is known as Vintage Alhambra; Pure Alhambra, launched in 2001, is a more minimalist take on the four-leaf clover design; Sweet Alhambra, released in 2007, features smaller, more delicate motifs; Magic Alhambra playfully incorporates motifs in assorted sizes; Lucky Alhambra, introduced in 2006, presents other lucky symbols such as butterflies, leaves and hearts.
A veritable icon of jewellery, the Alhambra collection has been refreshed again and again over the past 57 years, with its design vocabulary expanded through diverse materials, shapes, sizes and colours. We certainly can&rsquo;t wait to see what&rsquo;s next.

Van Cleef & Arpels Reinvents Luck with Their Alhambra collection

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