Van Cleef & Arpels - Jewels & Jadeite Hong Kong Sunday, May 28, 2017 | Phillips

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    • Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, numbered N.Y.55540

    • Size 6¾

  • Catalogue Essay

    While the modern round brilliant-cut and cushion shape went through an evolution that lasted centuries, marquise shape which has an elongated outline and pointy ends does not share similar history. Legend has it that King Louis XV commissioned the court jewellers to fashion a diamond resembling the irresistible lips of one of his most famous royal mistresses, Marquise de Pompadour. Rumoured to be uncommonly pretty even when she was a child, Marquise de Pompadour’s beauty was equally matched by her wits and talent. She played a key role in making Paris the capital of style and arts in the 18th century.

  • Artist Biography

    Van Cleef & Arpels

    French

    When Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels fell in love, their marriage paved the way for iconic jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels to become a symbol of unification. With their background in precious stone dealing, the Arpels found their perfect match in the Van Cleefs, a family of expert stonecutters. In 1906, Estelle's brother Charles established the company name with Alfred's help and opened shop in the Place Vendôme in Paris. To this day, this Parisian neighborhood is associated with turn-of-the-century luxury.

    The Van Cleef & Arpels aesthetic has always had its finger on the pulse of worldwide trends: For example, the house took inspiration from Tutankhamen upon the Egyptian king's discovery in the 1920s, which spurred a global phenomenon marrying Egyptian Revival and Art Deco motifs. Over the decades, Van Cleef & Arpels has produced intricate watches, earrings and necklaces with a signature elegance that mirrors contemporary tastes. 

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633

A Fine Diamond Ring, Van Cleef & Arpels

Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, numbered N.Y.55540
Size 6¾

Estimate
HK$3,200,000 - 3,800,000 
$400,000-500,000

Contact Specialist
Terry Chu
Head of Jewellery, Asia, Senior Director
+852 2318 2038

Jewels & Jadeite

Hong Kong Auction 29 May 2017