Iconic jewelry with intriguing stories and concepts you need to know about

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra

Luck at Van Cleef & Arpels – the four-leaf clover served as the inspiration for the craftsmen at Van Cleef & Arpels in creating the iconic Alhambra collection. The name derives from the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, where Moorish quatrfoil motifs (four intersecting circles) adorn its magnificent architecture. "To be lucky, you have to believe in luck" – this motto guided Jacques Arpels, the nephew of one of the brand's founders. He was enamored with the concept of joy and optimism. It is said that he famously gifted his employees four-leaf clovers gathered from his family garden.

In Western tradition, each leaf of the clover is believed to represent something specific. The first leaf stands for wealth, the second for health, the third for love, and the fourth is the lucky charm. Jacques's personal belief in luck inspired Van Cleef & Arpels to create a collection where the four-leaf clover, bordered by golden beading, is featured on luxurious sautoirs.

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany T

Beyond the blue box with the white ribbon and the windows of the flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York, made famous by the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," there are other iconic symbols of Tiffany & Co. One of them is the T motif. John Loring, who served as the creative director from 1979 to 2009, introduced this design element to the brand’s history in the 1980s. The designer played with the initial letter of the company's name in the form of two facing T-shaped motifs. Records of this design are preserved in the archives. This element became a signature of Tiffany & Co., making the brand's pieces instantly recognizable. Over the years, the Tiffany T collection has embodied the company's core values: freedom, happiness, love, and strength.

In 2013, Francesca Amfitheatrof took over as creative director and launched the updated Tiffany T line. The sleek bracelets, cuffs, rings, and necklaces, inspired by the letter "T," became "unapologetically modern" while remaining timeless classics. Tiffany T has transformed into an iconic collection and a primary symbol of style. In 2019, Tiffany & Co. added vibrant colors to the collection – pieces made of 18-carat yellow and white gold blossomed with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, onyx, opal, and tiger’s eye.

BVLGARI B.ZERO1

The BVLGARI B.Zero1 collection was introduced in 1999 and has since become one of the most recognizable and popular lines. It symbolizes modernity, strength, and energy. This design was inspired by the architecture of the Colosseum in Rome, which serves as a source of inspiration for many BVLGARI collections. The name B.Zero1 is as symbolic as the model itself: B stands for BVLGARI, and zero1 represents the zero point of an infinite beginning. To convey the smooth geometry of the Colosseum, the craftsmen used the Tubogas method. This technique for processing precious metals was developed by the company in the 1940s and popularized through Serpenti watches and bracelets. The method is named after the industrial gas pipes of the 1920s. Using this technique, the craftsmen transformed long strips of gold into a spiral with a hollow cylindrical core without soldering. The wide central band of the B.Zero1 is adorned on both sides with the BVLGARI logo. The rings from this collection are made from high-quality materials such as gold, silver, ceramic, and steel, allowing everyone to find their perfect option.