French High Jewelry Maison, Van Cleef & Arpels, announces the launch of six radiant and refined Perlée creations, in line with the collection’s joyful, sparkling nuances. The Maison exclusively launches this collection for its Middle East clientele, two months ahead of the official global release, perfectly coinciding with the season of Ramadan. These creations can be styled together with other Perlée novelties, offering countless enchanting combinations to create one’s own unique style. These are available at Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques in the region from 1st April 2021.

Today, with Perlée, Van Cleef & Arpels brings to life a joyful and feminine collection made up of Perlée signature, Perlée diamonds, Perlée clovers, Perlée couleurs and Perlée pearls of gold. Three Perlée sweet clovers bracelets, along with as many rings, feature scintillating motifs amid gold of varying hues, embodying an iconic Van Cleef & Arpels style. 

Born in 2008, the Perlée collection draws its aesthetic design and its savoir-faire from the history of Van Cleef & Arpels. Accenting stones and motifs in the Maison’s creations since the 1920s, golden beads grew more ample as of 1948, increasing in number and shifting in dimensions to fashion necklaces, bracelets, rings and watches.

Starting in 1963, a period characterized by supple, fluid shapes, golden beads took on an exuberant quality and were wound into the Twist collection. Appearing in straight rows or twisted compositions, they serve to accentuate pearls and ornamental stones. In 1968, these glistening globes were incorporated into the Alhambra collection, enhancing the iconic good-luck motifs with a golden contour.

Ever since its creation, Perlée has had a signature design feature: a boarder of smooth, sparkling beads of gold. Featuring in the 1950’s Couscous collection, the golden beaded creations were inspired by a voyage that the Arpels family took in 1948 to Morocco, leading them to discover one of this land’s most cherished treasures, the couscous dish. This traditional dish is made out of wheat that is moistened and tossed with fine wheat flour until it forms little round balls, which later on inspired the softness and elegance of the Perlée collection. 

The Perlée Collection takes its circles of gold beads from the history of the Maison combining graphic and harmonious lines, with roundness and femininity. It embodies Van Cleef & Arpels’ savoir-faire, refined in the Maison’s workshops for over 100 years. For instance, the round bead setting technique that we find in Perlée jewelry today was mainly found on Ancient Egypt-inspired jewels in the 20s and also found in many other Van Cleef & Arpels collections. Moving on to the 40s, the Maison introduced “The Couscous Collection” which gained a lot of popularity in the 50s, and featured astonishing necklaces, earrings, bracelets, as well as some unique wrist watches. “The Twist Collection” was the second line of the Couscous Collection, and was introduced in the 60s featuring new stones such as lapis lazuli, carnelian, coral, pearls and jade. Furthermore, “Alhambra” was also another collection that used the golden beads technique on the edges of its creations, which showcases the Maisons’ craftsmanship and design versatility. 

With the Perlée collection, the Maison imagines feminine creations bearing evocative names: Perlée pearls of gold, Perlée couleurs, Perlée diamonds, Perlée clovers and Perlée signature. This collection offers an elegant selection of pieces that can be mixed and matched at will. Their diversity enables every woman to express her personality in unique and ever-changing adornments, to suit any mood. 

Founded at Paris' 22 Place Vendôme in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels came into being following Estelle Arpels' marriage to Alfred Van Cleef in 1895. Over the decades, the excellence and creativity of the High Jewelry Maison established its reputation across the world. With a blend of inventiveness and poetry, Van Cleef & Arpels perpetuates a highly distinctive style that has produced numerous signatures: the Mystery Set technique, the Minaudière, the transformable Zip necklace and the Alhambra motif. Its selection of Pierres de Caractère, exceptional gems that instill an emotion, and the savoir-faire of its Mains d’Or, the virtuoso craftsmen of the workshops, have given birth to enchanting jewelry and watchmaking collections. Whether inspired by nature, couture, dance or imaginary worlds, the Maison opens the gate to a timeless universe of beauty and harmony. It currently operates over 135 boutiques globally, including 14 locations in the Middle East with the newly opened Dubai Opera Boutique.