Treasured Travels: Van Cleef & Arpels Launches Le Grand Tour Collection

The art, architecture, and storied history of Europe’s most famous cities have long been a boundless source of design inspiration. Van Cleef & Arpels’s new Le Grand Tour high jewellery collection continues this tradition by embarking on a historical journey through Europe’s cultural heart.

“At the beginning of the 20th century, when Van Cleef & Arpels was founded, curiosity for other cultures, periods, and forms of art was a way to fuel one’s imagination and give rise to innovative creations. We followed the trail of our predecessors and chose cities that were renowned stops historically,” says Nicolas Bos, the brand’s president and CEO.

Making their way through London, Paris, Rome, Venice, the Alps, and other birthplaces of European culture, the collection’s pieces act as precious souvenirs by honouring each of the Grand Tour’s stops.

One of the primary sources of inspiration, according to Bos, is the antique jewellery style unique to each region—Roman, Etruscan, Medieval, or Renaissance—combined with the jeweller’s own legacy of craftsmanship.

The Grand Tour adventure begins in London, with a sculptural diamond and lapis lazuli clip taking cue from Chatsworth House, the opulent residence of the Duke of Devonshire. From there, it’s off to 18th-century Paris, with rose gold chain earrings evoking the chandeliers in the boudoirs of the royal ladies-in-waiting.

The Alps give inspiration both to a tourmaline necklace that recalls the cold beauty of ice caves and to a flower clip evoking blooming meadows. A romp through the landmarks of Italy brings forth a jewelled clip inspired by the horn of plenty of ancient Rome, while the Chant des gondoliers necklace and earrings speak to the enchanting Venetian canals.

Of special significance are the landscape bracelets—a nod to watercolour paintings in journals and travel books that transport the wearer from one scene to another. In the words of Bos, the resulting lineup creates “a colourful sketchbook that invites us to dive into destinations and gemstones.”

Van Cleef & Arpels also recently opened the doors to its first flagship store in Canada. With a design inspired by a Parisian apartment, the 2,500-square-foot boutique on Toronto’s Bloor Street marks an important step in the brand’s evolution in North America.