VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

In 1896, the merger of Alfred Van Cleef and brothers-in-law Charles and Julien Arpels, lovingly forged an exquisite jewelry house with close ties to fashion. Known for exceptional gems and craftsmanship, in 1942 the Frenchman opened its first New York boutique. Today, Van Cleef & Arpels notably claim more than 45 international boutiques. Their inspired aesthetic of jewels and nature was the foundation of George Balanchine’s ballet, Jewels, which premiered at Lincoln Center in 1963. In 1976, Van Cleef & Arpels became the first jewelers to launch an exclusive fragrance—First. Additional launches included Gem, Birmane, Zanzibar and Murmure, and the Tsar and Van Cleef lines.