VELVET BOX SOCIETY
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Van Cleef & Arpels

On June 16th 1906 Van Cleef & Arpels opened the doors at number 22, Place Vendôme.   Esther Arpels married her cousin Alfred Van Cleef in 1895.  Their fathers had both entered the jewelry business after moving to Paris in the 1860’s.  Esther’s father was a salesman and Alfred’s father was a lapidary.  Alfred initially followed his father in becoming a lapidary before setting up his own retail company.  Eventually he and his his wife’s brother Salomon (also known as Charles) who was a diamond broker combined their businesses registering their company on February 10th 1906.  Two years later Esther’s brothers Jules (Julien) joined them and specialized in gemstones.  In 1912 her youngest brother Louis also joined and Esther also became involved in the business.  Three years after opening in Place Vendôme they opened a second boutique in Dinard  followed in 1910 by one in Nice and in 1912 Deauville.  They had a total of fourteen people on staff at the time.  World War I changed their business as many were called to be part of the war effort.  Émile Puissant met Esther who was a nurse during the war and later introduced to her daughter Renée.  The young couple went on to marry in 1918 and Émile joined the business.  They won a Grand Prix at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in 1925.  Émile passed away in 1926 and Renée joined as artistic director working closely with René-Sim Lacaze then designer.  In 1939 VCA exhibited very successfully at the New York World’s Fair.  A workshop soon followed but Paris was in turmoil as the onset of war and German occupation had forced most of the family to flee France.  Renee stayed behind to run the Place Vendôme boutique and it managed to remain open.  Renée withdrew to Vichy France, working from the branch there, before tragically taking her own life after the Germans invaded the Free Zone in 1942.  In 1944 the company was returned to the Arpels family with Julien’s sons Claude, Jacques, and Pierre as directors.   Success followed and in 1954 they opened a brand new concept, La Boutique, which focused on a younger clientele.  They became an ‘Official Supplier to the Principality of Monaco’ when Grace Kelly was married to the prince of Monaco.  In 1973, they became the first French jewelry company to open in Japan while continuing their expansion throughout Europe and the United States.  Jacques son Philippe and daughter Dominique joined the company and became the last generation to do so as the company was bought by the Richemont Group between 1999 and 2003.

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© COPYRIGHT 2017-2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. .All Rights Reserved. All trademarked names, brands, models, logos, images, and graphics are the sole property of their respective trademark owners and copyright and credit to their respective owners. Timberbrook Capital, Velvet Box Society, this site, including its owners, operators, and developers, is not affiliated with nor endorsed by any watch or jewelry brand manufacturer brand or any subsidiaries thereof, in any way Timbrook Capital, Velvet Box Society is not an authorized retailer of any watch or brand name jewelry manufacturer.  By Browsing, purchasing, or referencing our site for any reason the user  agrees to release all claims to and against Timberbrook Capital, its affiliates, owners, and employees.
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Latest Finds
    • Shop By Era
    • Engagement Rings
    • Stackable Bands
    • Cocktail Rings
    • Timepieces
    • Gentlemans Accessories >
      • Gentleman's Rings
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Necklaces & Pendants >
      • Charms & Pendants
      • Chains
    • Diamonds & Gems
    • Signed Jewelry
    • From The Vault
    • Gift Ideas >
      • Wedding Day Gifts
      • Wedding Party Gifts
      • Push Presents Gifts
      • Anniversary Gifts
      • Graduation Gifts
      • Birthday Gifts
      • Religious Gift Ideas
      • Sweet Sixteen Gift Ideas
      • Quinceañera Gifts
    • Birthstone Jewelry
    • Final Sale Items
    • Gift Cards
  • Custom
    • Custom Engagement Rings
    • Custom Jewelry
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Family Crest Jewelry
    • Design Process
    • Schedule Consultation
    • For The Trade
    • More For The Trade
  • Sell To Us
    • What We Buy
    • Ways To Sell
    • Expert Qualifications
  • Services
    • Appraisal Services >
      • Jewelry Insurance
      • SELL TO US
      • Appraisal Fee Schedule
      • Exchange
      • Gem Identification
      • Metal Analysis
      • Estate Appraisals
      • Authentication Services
      • Expert Witness & Court Related Matters
      • Museum Collection Services
    • Schedule Consultation
    • Custom Jewelry Design
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Jewelry Repair
    • Jewelry Restoration
    • Timepiece Repair
    • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
    • Find Jewelry For Me
    • Find a Watch For Me
    • Find a Diamond
    • Jewelry Rental
    • Insurance Replacement
    • Private Collection Management
    • Layaway Plan
    • Consignment
    • Wish List
    • Wholesale Inquiries >
      • Host a Trunk Show
  • The Brand
    • Our History
    • Our Experts
    • Our Values >
      • Corporate Responsibility
      • Sustainability
      • Military and First Responder Discounts
      • Kimberly Process
    • Jewelry School >
      • Makers Biographies
      • Educational Session
      • Eras of Style >
        • Ancient
        • Medieval & Renaissance
        • Baroque & Rococo
        • Georgian
        • Victorian
        • Edwardian
        • Art Nouveau
        • Arts & Crafts
        • Art Deco
        • Retro
        • Hollywood Glam
        • Mid-Century Modern
        • Brutalist
        • Art Organique
        • 1980's Jewelry
        • 1990's Jewelry
        • Contemporary
        • Simplistic
      • Diamonds & Gems >
        • Gemstone Education >
          • Gemstone Knowledge >
            • Approximate Gemstone weights
            • Carat to MM Conversion
            • Equivalents Chart
            • Gemstone Colors
            • Created, Synthetic & Simulated Gemstones
          • Gemstone Laboratories
          • All About Gemstones
        • Diamond Education >
          • Diamonds
          • Lab Grown Diamonds
          • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
          • Comparative Round Size Info
          • Diamond Carat Weight by MM
      • Counterfeit Jewelry & Watch Identification
      • Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Timepieces >
        • Watch Anatomy
        • Vintage Rolex
        • Watch Terms
      • Sizing Help >
        • Ring Width
        • Ring Size
        • Wrist Size
        • Necklace Length
        • Ankle Size
        • Earring Size Guide
        • Watch Size Guide
      • Styles, Finishes, & Fit >
        • Ring Designs & Fit
        • Men's Wedding Band Finishes
        • Band Width
      • Custom Jewelry
      • Metals
      • Engraving
      • Birthstones
      • Jewelry Care
      • Jewelry Terms
    • Press
    • Be Social
    • Gems by VBS The BLOG
    • Reviews
    • Advice >
      • The Courtship
      • The Engagement
      • The Wedding
      • After The Wedding
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Affiliate Program
    • The Archives: A Collection of Sold Items
  • Contact