Prestige Hong Kong

LUCKY BLUE

Count yourselves blessed ŵ the latest additions to Van Cleef & Arpels’ beloved Alhambra collection in blue and gold are absolutely delightful.

The Alhambra motif, created in the image of a four-leaf clover, has been the symbol of luck since the motif ’s inception in 1968 – for Van Cleef & Arpels, for women and men – and indeed, as the Paris Games 2024 has shown, for Olympians too.

And ever since then, the maison’s jewellery designers have added to the Alhambra collection, challengin­g themselves to find new ways of reinventin­g their designs. In 2022, the pieces debuted in guilloché white gold, while last year saw the addition of four new pieces in rose gold paired with carnelian. This year, the 2024 collection completes the set by introducin­g a Sweet Alhambra watch and a reversible ring in guilloché yellow gold combined with blue agate, in addition to a pendant and matching earrings.

Introduced by Van Cleef and Arpels in 1989, blue agate is a member of the quartz family of minerals, getting its name from the Achates River in Sicily. The chalcedony typically symbolises inner peace, grounding those who wear it – making it the perfect addition to any who wears it in this bustling city.

With one side in guilloché yellow gold set with a diamond and the other in blue agate, the reversible ring takes the concept of transforma­tive jewellery to a new level. With its effortless rotation, the ring easily transforms from a more classical gold look to the more playful blue. After its debut in 2023, this is the second year in which Van Cleef & Arpels has created a reversible ring in the Alhambra collection.

The Sweet Alhambra watch showcases nine four-leaf-clover motifs – including the watch face itself – placed within the beaded setting. Meticulous­ly crafted by jewellery artisans, the beads, gems and stones come together to create their masterpiec­e. The addition of the intricate guilloché motif, its sunbeam-like streaks instantly recognisab­le as the work of Van Cleef & Arpels, combined with the allure of blue agate, creates a stylish, everyday piece for watch and jewellery lovers.