The Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant and Our Twenty Years of Autumn Obsession

There's something about the first crisp morning of September that makes jewellery lovers a bit feral. 

The leaves start turning, pumpkin spice returns, and somewhere in Paris, Van Cleef & Arpels is preparing to announce this year's holiday pendant. It's become as much a part of autumn as new coats and cashmere scarves, except considerably more expensive and infinitely harder to acquire.

The Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant tradition started back in 2005, you know, when low-rise jeans and layered tank tops were in. Twenty years later, it's evolved into something rather extraordinary. Each October brings a new iteration of the iconic Alhambra pendant, featuring a unique stone that defines that year's aesthetic. It's the jewellery equivalent of Beaujolais Nouveau, except people actually care about this one. 

Let’s dive in, shall we? 

The 2025 Release Just Dropped and We Need to Talk

Pink mother-of-pearl in rose gold. That's it. That's the tweet.

Until now, pink mother-of-pearl has been reserved exclusively for special orders and the Sweet Alhambra watch collection. This marks its first appearance in a Vintage Alhambra pendant available to the wider collecting community.

The Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant for 2025 is essentially jewellery democracy in action. The soft pink luminescence against warm rose gold creates something genuinely romantic without veering into saccharine territory. The signature diamond still sits at the centre, catching light.

It's the kind of piece that works with everything from your favourite jumper to that dress you save for proper occasions. Not that anyone needs justification to wear good jewellery on a random Tuesday, but still.

Why Is The World Going Gaga? 

Since 2005, the Maison has released these gorgeous yearly pieces, creating nearly two decades of limited editions that collectors track like rare stamps. Each Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant showcases the iconic four-leaf clover with a different stone each year, always featuring that crucial diamond at its heart.

The first release in 2005 was onyx. Elegant, understated, and, in hindsight, the beginning of something much bigger than anyone anticipated. 

Word spread slowly at first, then suddenly everyone wanted one. 

Now, securing a holiday pendant requires planning, patience, and ideally a relationship with your local boutique that extends beyond admiring things through windows.

Announcements typically arrive in early September, with releases following in October. It's become this peculiar ritual in the fashion calendar, less predictable than fashion week, more exciting than most product launches.

The Complete Archive: 2005 to 2025

Understanding the Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant phenomenon means looking at its evolution. Here's every single release since this tradition began:

Rose gold has done seriously well in recent years, which makes sense given its versatility and warmth against skin. 

But the real story here is the stones. 

Each year brings something different, sometimes a classic reimagined, sometimes a complete surprise.

The Van Cleef and Arpels holiday Alhambra pendant 2024 in guilloche was particularly clever. Two-tone metalwork isn't easy to execute well, and the guilloché technique added another layer of complexity. It's the kind of piece that makes other jewellers slightly envious.

What Goes Into Making These Pieces?

Every Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant starts months, sometimes years, before its release. The design team doesn't just pick pretty stones. They're looking for materials that photograph well, feel right for the season, and push the collection forward without alienating existing collectors.

Take guilloché work. This engine-turning technique creates geometric patterns by hand, requiring steady hands and years of training. When applied to the Van Cleef and Arpels holiday Alhambra pendant 2024 in guilloche, it transformed the piece from lovely to genuinely impressive. 

Light hits those patterns differently throughout the day, creating this almost hypnotic effect.

Stone selection is equally rigorous. For each holiday pendant, experts examine countless specimens. They're looking for optimal colour saturation, interesting patterns, and that indefinable quality that makes one stone stand out from hundreds of similar options.

The 18K gold settings undergo their own scrutiny. The beaded edge that defines the Alhambra silhouette protects the stone edges and adds textural interest. Every element serves multiple purposes.

How Do You Actually Wear These Things and Do Justice? 

The beauty of any Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant is its versatility. 

These pieces work layered with other Alhambra pendants or worn alone. They look right with jeans and cashmere, equally appropriate with silk and velvet.

For 2025's pink mother-of-pearl version, we’re thinking of soft autumnal tones. Camel coats, cream knits, blush silk, the rose gold plays beautifully with warm neutrals. But it transitions to evening when paired with black or navy.

Layering multiple holiday pendants creates genuinely interesting effects. The 2024 two-tone guilloché next to 2023's dark obsidian? That contrast between metals and stones creates visual interest without looking cluttered.

Chain length matters more than people realise. Most Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendants come on standard chains that sit nicely at the collarbone. But longer chains change how pieces sit, how they layer, how they move. Worth discussing with the boutique when ordering.

Let’s Talk Money, Shall We?

Pretending you aren’t dishing out wads of cash on these pieces would be silly. The Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant appreciates reliably, particularly pieces from early years or featuring unusual stones.

Market dynamics favour collectors who understand rarity and innovation. 

The 2013 malachite with its vibrant green patterns? Valuable because it's distinctive. 

The 2020 diamond guilloché? Valuable because it represents technical excellence. 

The Van Cleef and Arpels holiday Alhambra pendant 2024 in guilloche already shows strong secondary market performance.

Condition also matters enormously. Original boxes, certificates, receipts, keep everything! Unworn examples fetch premiums, though actually wearing beautiful jewellery seems rather the point.

The appreciation sweet spot typically occurs five to ten years post-release. Pieces transition from "recent" to "vintage," nostalgia kicks in, and availability tightens. But smart collectors buy what they genuinely love, treating appreciation as a pleasant bonus rather than the primary motivation.

How Do You Get Your Hands on One of These? 

Securing a Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant takes more than having funds available. 

Relationships with boutique staff matter. 

Regular purchases matter. 

Patience definitely matters.

VIP customers get first access, which makes sense from the Maison's perspective but creates obvious barriers. Building that relationship takes time. Express genuine interest in the brand's heritage. Be flexible about collection timing. Understand that high demand means waitlists exist.

Pre-owned markets offer alternatives for sold-out pieces. Work with reputable dealers specialising in Van Cleef & Arpels. Always make sure to get authentication certificates and provenance documentation. If pricing seems too good to be true, trust that instinct and walk out!

So, What Might Come Next?

Twenty years in, speculation about future Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendants runs rampant. 

Will the Maison introduce new motifs beyond Alhambra? 

Could there be size variations or format experiments?

The tradition's consistency is part of its charm. Collectors know roughly what to expect: the Vintage Alhambra silhouette, a unique stone, impeccable craftsmanship. Within those parameters, the creative possibilities remain endless.

Sustainability concerns might influence future material choices. Lab-grown stones or recycled metals could appear, though Van Cleef & Arpels seems committed to natural materials and traditional luxury.

Whatever direction the collection takes, the Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant will likely continue captivating collectors. The formula works, with limited availability, consistent quality, and just enough surprise each year to keep things interesting.

How Do You Care for These Properly?

Proper care means your Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendant could last generations. 

Store pieces individually in original pouches to prevent scratching. Keep them away from harsh chemicals, remove before swimming, cleaning, or applying perfumes.

Different stones need different approaches. Mother-of-pearl is relatively delicate and dislikes temperature extremes. Porcelain requires gentle handling. Research specific care requirements for your stone.

Like your favorite cashmere or that go-to pair of vintage jeans, fine jewelry deserves a little love and care now and then, especially when it’s from Van Cleef & Arpels.

Every few years, it’s worth giving your piece a moment to shine. A quick visit to a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique means you get professional cleaning, a careful inspection, and a little polish to bring back that fresh-out-of-the-box glow. 

They’ll check that clasps are holding strong, make sure every stone is sitting pretty, and gently restore that signature lustre. It’s subtle, but the difference is crazy. 

Twenty Years and Counting

The Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant tradition represents luxury at its finest. From 2005's onyx to 2025's pink mother-of-pearl, each piece tells a story of seasonal celebration and enduring elegance.

As autumn arrives and anticipation builds for each announcement, these pieces remind us why certain traditions endure. 

Whether you've been a lover of these pieces for a while or are just discovering this tradition for the first time, the world of Van Cleef and Arpels holiday pendants offers genuine fascination. Each piece represents exceptional luxury and a connection to twenty years of seasonal magic.

The beauty lies in how this tradition surprises us annually whilst remaining reassuringly consistent. 

A holiday pendant arrives each October. It will be exquisite. Yet somehow, each reveal still catches us off guard.

Here's to the next twenty years. May they bring materials we haven't imagined, techniques we've yet to discover, and that same flutter of excitement when September's announcement finally drops. 

Because in a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends, traditions like the Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant remind us that some legacies are worth collecting. 

Wanting to dip your toes in the world of Van Cleef and Arpels? Head on over to Love Luxury and explore our pre-loved and brand-new collection of luxury pieces. 

Happy shopping, lovelies!