“To be lucky, you have to believe in luck”
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" To have luck, you have to believe in luck" said Jacques Arpels, second generation of the famous Van Cleef and Arpels. Jacques used to collect four-leaf clovers from his garden and give them to his collaborators as a sign of good luck.
The four-leaf clover appears in the archives around 1906, along with "touch wood" jewels and other talismanic charms. As on other occasions, this highly successful design was born to give the public the opportunity to approach the maison with more democratic pieces and a more casual look.
So no glitter or intricate interlocking pieces.
The version as we know it today was officially born in 1968, first as a long gold chain ( sautoir ) studded with empty four-leaf clovers outlined with gold pearls.
The four-leaf clover has the same shape as the geometric motif of the quadrilobe, a figure created by four overlapping circles, often used in Arabic art and architecture.
This connection will provide the name to the collection, Alhambra , from the palace, a jewel of Moorish art in the city of Granada.
The great success of the collection will lead it to be declined in many ways, mixing hard and precious stones, demonstrating the incredible skill of the maison's artisans.
Since the 1970s we have seen the Alhambra on princesses and actresses, Grace of Monaco owned several versions.
Below Romy Schneider wearing an Alhambra sautoir in Michel Deville's film Le Mouton Enragé, released in 1974.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has appeared in public several times wearing a Magic Alhambra set, a necklace and earrings in mother-of-pearl and gold.
Recently pairing it with a red McQueen dress at the coronation concert.
Apparently Jacques Arpels was right, you have to believe in luck, so the Maison continues to innovate and carry forward its legacy by enriching and diversifying the collection.
