Looking at the history of a luxury brand like Van Cleef & Arpels, you can generally expect to find a number of motifs that underpin the brand’s reputation, and that continue to appear across different collections and releases over the years. For some, it’s a logo or a concept – for others it’s a material or structural feature. For Van Cleef & Arpels, that recurring motif is the influence of nature, specifically flowers.
The relationship between the Van Cleef & Arpels brand and flowers is one that is richly celebrated across a multitude of collections. The various pieces that fall under the brand’s Flora collections showcase everything from realistic interpretations to abstract reimaginings of beautiful flowers – using precious stones and different colour palettes to create standout and infinitely popular items of jewellery.
Even those collections that aren’t directly linked with the Floral range take inspiration and influence from the elegance and symmetry of nature’s beauty. The Alhambra collection has become one of the brand’s most famous and widely recognisable motifs and, despite not depicting a floral aesthetic, owes its symmetrical shape to the underlying inspiration of nature and the seasons.
So, how does Van Cleef & Arpels use flowers as a core part of its process, and which floral-inspired pieces are the most notable and recognisable? Let’s take a closer look at how this high-end, coveted, and luxury brand draws its status from the natural world around us.
How Van Cleef & Arpels Uses Nature as an Influencing Factor
In a move that sets the brand apart from many others on the luxury market, Van Cleef & Arpels is not afraid to use colour – and it’s this that immediately gives the brand and each of its pieces an edge on the market. To browse the collections produced by Van Cleef & Arpels is to acknowledge and celebrate the intricate role of nature in inspiring and bringing to life each piece.
Whether it’s a three-dimensional representation of a bouquet or a fresh and unique perspective on the beauty of a blooming wildflower, Van Cleef & Arpels uses its historical connection with precious stones and colour to celebrate both delicacy and bold motifs. And you only have to look through one of its individual Flora collections to see just how much of the brand’s perspective is caught up in nature.
Ranging from the simplest of details to extravagant diamond-encrusted petals, each individual piece of jewellery produced by and for the brand is underpinned by the great outdoors. What’s more, it creates a lasting and eternal nod to the blooms, which are often fleeting and are so often silent in their beauty – immortalising the intricate details of each flower in much the same way as jewellery itself is intricate in its creation.
The Most Notable Floral and Flower-Inspired Van Cleef & Arpels Pieces
We’ve already mentioned one of the brand’s most famous collections, which, while not inspired directly by flowers, owes elements of its design and motif to nature and nature’s symmetry.
But, as you browse Van Cleef & Arpels’ multitude of alternative collections and pieces, ranging from the colourful to the subtle, you see not only floral motifs but direct recreations coming to life. The Flora section on Van Cleef & Arpels’ own website is sectioned into different creations, spanning six different individual ranges within the overarching collection. Perhaps one of the most famous is the Frivole collection, which uses heart-shaped petals and relies on precious metals with subtle, colourful details and light shapes that emanate flowers dancing in the breeze. Different stones are paired with different metals throughout this collection, which is considered one of the simpler and more subtle iterations of the Flora range.
Conversely, the Fleurette collection is much more ornate in its use of diamonds, covering the motif in a selection of diamonds that lend themselves to timeless elegance and unrivalled luxury. The silhouette is the focal point of this collection, which is underpinned by the delicacy of nature and the brand’s own historical interest in precious stones – creating another range of pieces that are coveted and sought after across the market.
Other floral-inspired collections include the Cosmos range, which boasts a similar aesthetic to the Alhambra range, with precious stones embedded into the surfaces of the petals; the Rose de Noel range with its intricate details, and the Lotus collection, which layers petals of different sizes to create dazzling items of jewellery.
Other Ways That Van Cleef & Arpels Celebrates the Natural World
Of course, as a luxury brand at the top of the market, Van Cleef & Arpels isn’t merely limited to the jewellery market. In fact, in 2021 it worked alongside a renowned Japanese photographer and filmmaker to create an exhibition that really heralded and breathed life into its fascination with flowers and the natural world.
The exhibition, which was hosted in Paris, combined over 100 Van Cleef & Arpels pieces with still portraits of flowers in various states of bloom – eternalising the natural beauty of florals and inviting people to appreciate the fleeting nature of the natural world’s own express beauty. Immersive and overwhelming in design, the exhibition itself mirrored the commitment of the brand to oversized and impactful creations – an excellent reflection of the brand.
Van Cleef & Arpels as an Investment
With all that said, is a floral piece – or indeed another item from the Van Cleef & Arpels collection – worth the investment?
As a luxury brand that is favoured by celebrities and investors alike, Van Cleef & Arpels remains one of the most unique and colourful brands on the market. Every piece it produces is underpinned by a connection with everyday items, recognisable motifs, and the beauty of nature – making the brand as relatable as it is elegant and timelessly stylish. If you’re looking for the perfect Van Cleef & Arpels piece to breathe life into your wardrobe, make sure to find a reputable reseller with access to professional valuation services as well as a broad selection of items, to ensure that your investment is protected.
