Van Cleef & Arpels is synonymous with timeless elegance, artistry and luxury. With a legacy dating back to 1906, this prestigious French jewellery house captivated hearts with its exquisite designs. From the iconic Alhambra to the cottage-core designs, each is adorned by the most discerning clientele.
However, with such stunning pieces comes the responsibility of maintenance. Moreover, the most important question arises, “Does Van Cleef tarnish?”.
As a cherished investment piece, understanding how to preserve these brilliant Van Cleef pieces is crucial. You’re in luck! In this guide, we’ll explore the factors contributing to tarnishing and tips to maintain your pieces. So, let’s dive into the world of Van Cleef & Arpels and discover how to keep your jewels safe for generations to come!
What Is Van Cleef Jewellery Made Of?
Since its creation, Van Cleef & Arpels has imagined jewellery creations imbued with enchantment and poetry. The ornamental stones adorning each piece are selected according to stringent criteria. Each piece is crafted from a variety of high-quality materials reflecting the brand’s commitment to artistry and excellence. Here are some primary materials:
- Gold: 18k gold is primarily used; known for its rich colour and durability.
- Platinum: Used in exclusive pieces; known for its rarity and strength.
- Diamonds: Use various cuts and grades to make each piece. Moreover, ethically sourced stones are prioritised.
- Gemstones: Renowned use of sapphires, rubies and emeralds for exclusive pieces.
- Enamel: Particularly notable in Van Cleef’s Alhambra collection.
- Other Stones: Mother-of-pearl, carnelian, onyx, malachite, chalcedony, blue agate, tiger’s eye and turquoise.
Does Van Cleef Jewellery Tarnish
The short answer is yes. Even the most expensive pieces can tarnish without proper care. However, Van Cleef & Arpel's jewellery is extremely durable, allowing customers to wear it without worrying about damaging it.
Van Cleef's jewellery uses these materials, which are prone to tarnishing.
- Platinum: Highly resistant to tarnishing. However, it can develop scratches or slight discolouration over time.
- Gold: It can develop a patina due to exposure to sweat, chemicals or environmental factors.
- Enamel and Gemstones: Harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners can damage these precious stones.
How to Take Care of Van Cleef Dailywear Pieces
Your Van Cleef & Arpels daily-wear jewellery should be your pride and joy. Caring for your daily wear pieces ensures they remain as radiant as the day you acquired them. As these pieces are delicate, let’s discuss a few tricks to take care of them.
We recommend avoiding exposure to soap, chemicals, cosmetics or fragrances. This could affect the colour and overall form. Moreover, it is best to wait until the fragrances or cosmetics have dried before adorning your pieces. In fact it is advised to take stoned pieces off before showering and bathing to preserve the life of the stone.
Additionally, refrain from exposing your jewellery to chlorinated, salt or freshwater. Also, avoid wearing your pieces during sweaty activities such as gardening or sports.
Van Cleef & Arpels Stone Care
Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery celebrates nature’s most exquisite treasures, showcasing a stunning array of stones that elevate their beauty. Each gemstone requires gentle attention to maintain its brilliance.
Want to learn how? Keep on reading!
Mother-of-Pearl
The mother-of-pearl is a material produced by molluscs. To create these exquisite pieces, Van Cleef & Arpels selects the thickest, shiniest pieces with the highest iridescence quality.
Moreover, a strict colour palette featuring green and soft pink undertones is chosen. Mother-of-pearl is remarkable for its flat surface and its breathtaking iridescent reflections that bring it to life. Here is the best way to take care of these pieces:
- Casing: Store it in a jewellery case lined with cotton fabric to prevent scratching.
- Chemical Products: Avoid direct contact with lotions, hand sanitisers or perfumes to prevent harm to the mother-of-pearl’s top layer.
- Water: Avoid any contact with water.
- Cleaning: Mother-of-pearl pieces may be cleaned using a soft cloth.
Carnelian
Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony belonging to the microcrystalline quartz family. To create a piece, Van Cleef & Arpels selects a minuscule amount of rough stones. The carnelians comprise various opacities, shades and textures ranging from intense reds to vibrant oranges.
Additionally, the carnelian colours are balanced by lapidaries using secret techniques to obtain pristine polish. You’d be surprised to know just how easy it is to take care of your Carnelian pieces:
- Chemicals: Avoid direct contact with lotions, hand sanitisers or perfumes.
- Activities: Avoid partaking in sports while wearing carnelian pieces.
- Water: Refrain from submerging the jewellery in water at any cost.
Onyx
Onyx is a relatively deeper, richer black variation of chalcedony. Maisons select stones with an intricate, homogeneous texture. Moreover, polishing onyx enhances the stone’s overall sparkle.
Want to know a fun fact? Only pure stones with uniform hues are used to make Van Cleef & Arpel onyx pieces. Here are the best ways to take care of them:
- Storage: Store the onyx piece in a jewellery case lined with soft fabric.
- Extra Care: Chemical products dull the onyx’s colour, diminishing its shine. Avoid direct contact with harsher chemicals like perfumes or abrasers.
- Water: Direct contact with water does not harm the onyx stone.
Malachite
Malachite is formed by interacting with carbonate-rich water and copper minerals. It is best known for its deep green colour with lighter bands, reflecting light beautifully. Van Cleef & Arpels carefully selects the most vivid shades of green comprising harmonious banding.
As the malachite evolves, it turns matte. To protect it, follow these steps:
- Casing: Store it in a fabric-lined case, separate from other jewellery pieces to protect its radiance.
- Humid: Avoid storing the malachite pieces in a humid setting.
- Water: Keep away from direct water and abrasive chemical sources. Chemical products can whiten the malachite’s protective surface.
- Shocks: Avoid partaking in heavier sports activities like swimming, badminton, tennis or squash while wearing these pieces.
- Cleaning: You may gently clean it with a soft, dry cloth.
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a stone from the quartz family. It features a stunning blue hue, setting it apart from other stones. Moreover, it is recognisable for its homogeneous, translucent colour. Additionally, Van Cleef & Arpels selects a chalcedony with bright, softer undertones ranging from pastel blue to softer lavender.
To take care of your pieces, follow these care recommendations:
- Abrasiveness: Keep it away from harsher abrasives and chemicals such as cleaners, detergents or air fresheners.
- Dailywear: Avoid spritzing any dailywear lotions or perfumes on the chalcedony pieces.
- Storage: Keep the jewellery in a separate compartment.
- Cleaning: You may clean the stone with soap water and a soft-bristled brush followed by gentle drying.
Blue Agate
Agate, a variety of chalcedony made of quartz microcrystals, comes in a range of colours. Van Cleef & Arpels selects only the most uniform hues and shades. Lapidaries use special techniques to balance the stone’s colour and achieve the perfect polish. This is relatively difficult due to the challenging structure of microcrystalline.
Slight variations in opacity are common and add to the charm and uniqueness of each agate. Here’s how to take care of them:
- Banding: Water exposure can enhance the visibility of the stone's natural banding. Avoid any contact with water to preserve its flawless appearance.
- Storage: Keep the blue agate pieces in a fabric-lined jewellery box to prevent scratching.
- Humidity: Avoid exposure to humid areas such as a shower, hammam or spa.
- Cleaning: You may quickly clean the stone with water and dry it with a soft cloth. Avoid submerging the agate in the water.
Tiger’s Eye
A stone from the quartz family, the tiger’s eye is characterised by its chatoyant effect with its brown and yellow bands. The stone reveals a silky shine that changes according to light reflections.
The stone comprises warm shades ranging from deeper brown to warm honey hues. Each tiger’s eye stone features a seamless blend of dark and light bands. Here is how you can take care of your pieces:
- Storage: Store the tiger’s eye separately to its blue agate, chalcedony and malachite counterpoints.
- Positive Points for Lining: Storing your jewellery in a lined case protects it from scratches and abrasions.
- Chemical Exposure: Avoid direct exposure to perfumes, lotions, shampoos, conditioners or hand sanitisers.
Turquoise
Want to buy a permanent jewellery piece? We recommend getting your hands on a turquoise set by Van Cleef & Arpels. Turquoise is an ornamental stone made up of aluminium and copper.
Each selected piece comprises a radiant colour palette ranging from pastel blue to intense hues. It is crucial to avoid picking a stone with brown veins. To make your jewellery last forever practically, here are the best ways to take care of it:
- Turning Green: Turquoise stones are sensitive to sunlight. Moreover, direct exposure can turn it green.
- Absorption Levels: These stones are highly absorbent. Keep away from soap and creams.
How to Clean Van Cleef Jewellery
To preserve the shine and beauty of your Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery, you must perform daily cleaning. As mentioned above, each gemstone has unique characteristics and requires specific cleaning.
However, cleaning gold jewellery is easy. Since 18k stainless gold does not change in contact with water or gold, you must run it under water and soap to clean it. Dry it off with a dry cloth.
How to Properly Store Van Cleef Pieces
Properly storing your Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery is key to preserving its elegance and ensuring its timeless allure remains as is. These pieces are crafted from precious materials and require special care. Here’s a concise table outlining the best storage method to prevent your Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery from tarnishing:
| Stone | Storage Method |
| Gold | Store in a soft cloth or separate pouch to avoid exposure to chemicals. |
| Diamond | Keep in individual pouches or lined boxes to prevent scratching. |
| Turquoise | Store in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. Prevent discolouration by storing it away from moisture. |
| Tiger’s Eye | Store in a box or soft pouch, away from excessive heat. |
| Chalcedony | Keep in a cool, dry place free from heat or moisture. |
| Blue Agate | Store in a soft pouch to avoid scratches. |
| Malachite | Store in a dark place to prevent the green from dulling. |
| Carnelian | Store in a fabric-lined pouch, away from heat or moisture. |
| Onyx | Keep in a soft cloth bag and avoid harsh sunlight exposure. |
| Mother-of-pearl | Store in a lined box to prevent scratches. |
Lesser-Known Care Tips
Now that you know about basic care tips, do you want to know more? Good! Here are some in-the-vault care tips you may have never encountered before, discussed ahead.
1) Rotate Your Jewellery
Avoid wearing the same jewellery pieces every day to minimise exposure to oils, sweat and environmental elements. Think of it like a “resting period” for your pieces.
2) Silica Gel Packs
Store small silica gel packs to absorb extra moisture and prevent tarnish caused by humidity. Moreover, it can keep animals away from your jewellery.
3) Anti-Tarnish Cloths
Wrap each jewellery piece in anti-tarnish clothes. Additionally, you can purchase anti-tarnish pouches to reduce exposure to moisture or air.
4) Avoid Latex
Refrain from storing your jewellery near latex gloves or bodysuits. The sulfur content accelerates gold tarnishing.
5) Rubber Bands
Rubber bands contain sulfur content. Therefore, avoid wrapping your jewellery pieces in rubber bands.
FAQs
1) Is Van Cleef Waterproof?
No, Van Cleef & Arpel's jewellery is not designed to be waterproof. Exposure to water can damage the delicate stones like turquoise or malachite. It is best to avoid contact with water to preserve the integrity of your pieces.
2) Do Van Cleef Bracelets Tarnish?
Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets are crafted from high-quality materials like 18k (Is it carat or karat?) gold, which is naturally resistant to tarnishing. However, they can dull over time if exposed to chemicals and moisture. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help preserve their brilliance.
3) Can You Wear Van Cleef in the Shower?
No. It is best to avoid wearing Van Cleef jewellery in the shower, as exposure to water can damage its natural shine and tarnish it.
4) Do Van Cleef & Arpels Necklaces Tarnish?
Yes. Persistent exposure to sunlight, water, air or harsh chemicals can cause Van Cleef & Arpels necklaces to tarnish.
Our Takeaways
Understanding the nuances of caring for Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery goes beyond routine maintenance. It’s an invitation to appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that define this prestigious brand. From the delicate shimmer of mother-of-pearl pieces to the vibrant hues of the malachite gemstones, each piece tells a unique story.
By applying the care tips outlined in this blog, you should be able to prevent your pieces from tarnishing for centuries to come. Whether you’re a devoted collector or just starting your journey into the world of high-end jewellery, mastering the art of care deepens your connection to these timeless treasures.
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