Double the magic, twice the charm
A celebrated icon since 1968—a creation representing the pinnacle of Van Cleef & Arpels’ savoir-faire—the Alhambra is a motif cherished by Parisians. Unfolding quietly but beautifully, the Alhambra creations are always drawing inspiration from the vitality of nature, luck and positivity, fostering feminine beauty at every corner. Always blooming in adversity, the four-leaf clover motif that’s adorned with a border of golden beads has seen beautiful reinterpreations over the years—in sizes, materials and functions.
Whether it’s the chosen ornamental stones—onyx, malachite, mother-of-pearl and more—, the number of motifs accounted for or the presence of diamonds, it is nevertheless a tingle of joy when the Maison introduces novelty craftsmanship. This year, the Maison is stepping into a new light by unveiling a gleaming guilloché yellow gold with the nuances of blue agate with the Sweet Alhambra watch and the Vintage Alhambra reversible ring.
Meet Van Cleef & Arpels’ newest Alhambra Blue Agate:
First introduced in 1989, the Blue Agate is one of the overlooked colours in the Alhambra collection—an underdog to say the least. But, when combined with guilloché yellow gold, the jewellery becomes unmissable. The luminous lustre weaves a spell that makes it charming, delicate and beaded with beauty.
Van Cleef & Arpels unveils two new creations this month. The first is a reversible Vintage Alhambra ring featuring two distinct faces: one side displays guilloché yellow gold accented by a central diamond, while the other reveals polished blue agate. Both are mounted on a rotating clover atop a triple-row band of golden perlée beads. This marks only the second reversible ring in the Alhambra collection, following the carnelian and rose gold guilloché version released in 2023.
The second new release is the Sweet Alhambra watch, composed of nine clover motifs in blue agate and guilloché. The timepiece is cleverly integrated into a larger clover at the centre. Creating this piece involves 15 meticulous stages—from sourcing and matching agates to gem-setting and assembling the tiny watch movement within the clover motif—resulting in a poetic fusion of haute joaillerie and horology.
Together, these two pieces showcase Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature blend of technical mastery and poetic design. Whether worn as a statement ring or a delicate timepiece, each creation highlights the Maison’s continued innovation within the Alhambra collection, honouring tradition while embracing modern elegance.
