Van Cleef & Arpels Elevates the Iconic Alhambra with a Transformable Poise

“To be lucky, you have to believe in luck.”

—Jacques Arpels

There are few motifs in fine jewelry as instantly recognizable, or as unassumingly poetic, as Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra. Created in 1968 and inspired by the four-leaf clovers Jacques Arpels once plucked from his garden, it has become a symbol of luck and an emblem of grace.

This year, the Maison unveils a new chapter in the Alhambra story: transformable creations where the magic of metamorphosis meets the art of everyday dazzle. At the heart of the launch are two finely crafted necklaces and a pair of smartly engineered reversible rings, each designed to be worn differently.

The necklaces arrive in two distinct colorways, both anchored by the Alhambra motif along a softly shimmering guilloché gold chain. In rose gold, shades of white and silvery-grey mother-of-pearl offer a gentle warmth; in white gold, the pairing of blue chalcedony and pearlescent sheen evokes something cooler, more ethereal. Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature golden beading encircles each clover-shaped motif, subtle and tactile.

What elevates these pieces is their engineering complexity: a removable segment, discreetly integrated into the design, allows each necklace to be worn at full length, shortened, or reimagined as a bracelet. It’s a technical finesse achieved only through countless iterations, all in pursuit of a simple elegance.

The rings follow suit, offering a wearable duality that shifts with ease. One side reveals the soft polish of chalcedony or mother-of-pearl; the other, a singular diamond set against radiant guilloché gold. A gentle twist engages the rotating mechanism, allowing for a seamless transition between two expressions of the same piece. Finished with a triple-beaded edge, the rings are sculptural yet understated.

Completing the release is the pièce de résistance: the first-ever Alhambra watch. A miniature canvas of guilloché white gold hosts alternating motifs of diamond, chalcedony, and mother-of-pearl. The dial is striated, evoking a delicate textile effect.

True to the Maison’s uncompromising standards, each creation is the result of meticulous craftsmanship in every detail. Stone selection is exacting: chalcedony is prized for its tonal depth and delicate veining; mother-of-pearl for its natural luminescence. Guilloché engraving is employed both for texture and its subtle play of light.

“More than ever, the enduring elegance of Alhambra creations couples with their versatility,” says Catherine Renier, President of Van Cleef & Arpels, “a core value of the collection since its inception.”