i got inspired to tell this story when I saw videos analyzing watches from Michael Rubin’s all white party.
I always say this thing, marry someone that you love and can make a fortune with.
I never say this but I’m wise so you can assume I say it😡
The love is the strongest emotion there is and it is also the greatest motivator. Once you love a person, the money you both make together and the lifestyle that affords you, you can never ever be broke.
better don’t say I don’t tell you guys anything, I’m giving you people tips now
If you don’t believe me, lemme tell you a story.
I assume that every body who reads my newsletter is a baddie, and every baddie loves the four leaf clover jewelry design, right? But most people can’t afford it, the original that is.
I certainly cannot. Yet🤭
so we’d mostly likely go for dupes.
Story story…
Once upon a time…
Today’s story is a love story about the origin of four leaf clover design and a little insight on why such pretty jewelry is so expensive.
There was an artisan and diamond broker in the 1800s who had a son named Alfred Van Cleef. Sometime in 1895, he fell in love and married the daughter of precious stones dealer, Estelle Arpels.
the bride and groom
the real definition of marry rich😩
Because of their mutual love for each other, family, and the jewelry business, soon after the wedding, Alfred partnered with Estelle’s brother, Charles, and they started a jewelry business named Van Cleef and Arpels. They opened their first boutique at 22 Vendôme, Paris and have never moved from there, rather they opened branches in the fashion capitals of the world as the business grew. Julien and Louis, Estelle’s other brothers, joined the business and the family business was passed to Julien’s sons, Pierre, Jacques, and Claude.
The Madison’s, as they are often addressed, first piece was a diamond heart which was mentioned in the records of sales to have been sold in 1906.
the diamond heart
One of the first orders placed was a scale model of the Varuna, a 19th century Boston pilot boat. Besides the fact that it was handcrafted from wood, precious metals, and precious stones, it also contains an electric bell to call the butler.
lmao, orishirishi. kmt🙄.
the Varuna
The Maison continued to create bespoke pieces crafted from pure jewels and precious stones and metal and were awarded the Grand Prize at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris for their Roses bracelet, set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds.
the Roses bracelet
Renée Puissant, daughter of Alfred and Estelle, became the Artistic Director at Van Cleef and Arpels. In collaboration with lead-designer René-Sim Lacaze, she created a bold, distinctive, eminently recognizable style for Van Cleef & Arpels. Several of their iconic creations came into being thanks to these two, including the Cadenas watch, the Minaudière, the Passe-Partout and the Mystery Set
Renée Puissant and René-Sim Lacaz
the Minaudière
In the late 1930s, Wallis Simpson asked Renee to create a zipper necklace for her. The Maison turned to innovation for inspiration on a practical way to make a gold and bejeweled working zipper. In 12 years, the Zip Necklace was finally completed. The necklace can be worn as an open necklace or a closed bracelet. This was the epitome of fashion and innovation in that decade. One of the perfected pieces was made of has 150 diamonds, 300 sapphires and took 600 hours of handcrafting. It also costs about $1,500,000 from an independent jeweler.
lmaoooo this money, i MUST make it😭
the Zip necklace/bracelet
The 1960s were filled with various creations associated with class and royalty. From the Diamond Ballerina, to the coronation crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, the Maison created astonishing and timeless pieces, the best of them all being the Alhambra collection.
Inspired by the family mantra, “to be lucky, you have to believe in luck”, the Maison created a motif which was and authentic icon of luck inspired by the four leaf clover and embellished with a wide range of precious stones jewels like rubies, Mother of Pearls, diamonds, etc.
the emeralds and the Mother of Pearls chile😍😍😍
This collections is one one of the oldest and most produced luxury jewelry collections in the world. It is now worn by many celebrities and notable personalities.
(From the top; L-R) Mariah Carey, Jayda Cheaves, Lebron James, Adele, Kate Middleton, Queen Camilla
A key source of inspiration for the Maison is love and this has permeated its creations from the beginning: from the first piece mentioned in the sales records from 1906 is a diamond heart to the years that followed with many creations designed to accompany famous love affairs, like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco, the marriage of Princess Fawzia of Egypt with Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the future Shah of Iran, etc.
Expressions of love stand out as a constant in each of the Maison’s collections. One of the popular items at the New York store is the, Lovebirds clips portraying a poetic celebration of love and togetherness and symbolising couples and family.
Anyway, forget all the orishirishi I was saying before, I just wanted to tell you guys what I learnt on tiktok🤭. Now you know, till next week😘
so fetch