LUCK HAS BEEN A perennial guiding light for Van Cleef & Arpels, inspiring some of its most iconic creations. Fourleaf clover motifs first appeared in the Maison’s archives in the 1920s, embellishing select creations over the years alongside other symbols of good fortune including wooden talismans, charms, and benevolent fairies. Jacques Arpels, nephew of the founding couple and avid collector, would often pick four-leaf clovers in his back yard, offering them to his employees as good luck charms.

In 1968, the four-leaf clover-inspired Alhambra jewelry collection established itself as a timeless symbol of luck with Van Cleef & Arpel’s introduction of its first Alhambra long necklace, composed of 20 clover-shaped motifs in creased yellow gold and trimmed with gold beads. Over the years, the Alhambra collection has introduced new aesthetics to its offering, each providing an imaginative interpretation of the iconic motif so dear to Van Cleef & Arpels. A celebration of the Maison’s creativity, its pure lines and distinctive beaded silhouette are brought to life with a broad palette of natural materials, from carnelian and tiger’s eye, white and gray mother-of-pearl, to white gold and diamonds.

Vintage Alhambra pieces, which reflect the collection’s original aesthetic, are complemented by elegant variations of motif symbols, colors, and sizes and stand out for their eminently recognizable style.

Van Cleef & Arpels vintage Alhambra bracelet, five motifs in yellow gold and malachite, available through vancleefarpels.com.