Market Value
The Alhambra collection is the most classic and popular design from Van Cleef & Arpels, and in the jewelry resale market, Alhambra is one of the most sought after collections, especially necklaces and bracelets, reports Rebag’s buying team. There are lots of stone types, design variations, and limited editions within the Alhambra collection, and in general they retain investment value pretty well, with the resale price retaining an average of 85 percent to 100 percent of retail value. Some styles, usually limited editions or discontinued styles, can even sell higher than retail value.
At Rebag, the most sold styles include Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace, Sweet Alhambra Pendant Necklace (smaller than Vintage Alhambra), Vintage Alhambra 10 Motifs Necklace, and Sweet Alhambra Bracelet. Regarding stone types, Mother of Pearl and Onyx are the most sold so far.
Van Cleef & Arpels itself performed very well despite the pandemic taking the hold of the world in early 2020. Vogue Business reported on July 3, 2020, that jewelry spending is still promising despite sales being down. “There are going to be probably less visible fireworks, fewer beautiful events, but the true and long-term relationship with clients and collectors remains and is probably even stronger than before,” said Van Cleef & Arpels CEO Nicolas Bos during a Richemont earnings call on March 31, 2020, according to Vogue Business. Later last year, in a December 2020 New York Times article with the headline “Even in a Pandemic, Fine Jewelry Is Selling,” Compagnie Financière Richemont, the Swiss luxury group that owns Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, stated that the results for the six months ended September 30, 2020 Jewelry sales in the second quarter grew by 4 percent at actual exchange rates compared with the prior year. The article also reported that Johann Rupert, Richemont’s chairman said “successful digital initiatives and the continued appeal of iconic collections,” are why jewelry managed to survive Covid-19. On January 20, 2021, Yahoo Finance! reported that Richemont stated a 5 percent increase in quarterly sales led by strong growth at its jewelry brands in Asia and the Middle East.
The resale market looks just as promising. Clair, Rebag’s appraisal system, reports that there is “no offer price change vs 6 months” for a number of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry pieces, including the Vintage Alhambra 20 Motif Necklace 18K yellow gold and onyx, the Vintage Alhambra 20 Motifs Necklace in 18K white gold and mother of pearl, the Vintage Alhambra 5 Motifs Van Cleef and Arpels Bracelet in 18K yellow gold and onyx, the Magic Alhambra 2 Motifs Van Cleef and Arpels Earrings in 18K yellow gold and mother of pearl, a Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Ring in 18K yellow gold with coral and diamond, and an Alhambra 100th Anniversary Pendant Necklace in 18K yellow gold and mother of pearl magic.
One 2017 New York Times article stated that a woman purchased a limited edition malachite Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace — only 100 were produced — a decade before and that she sold it for more than $12,000 — twice as much as what she initially paid for it. According to Andrew Brown in a report on The Coveteur, CEO of WP Diamonds and Gemma by WP Diamonds, if in near-perfect condition, “Most Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets and necklaces and Cartier Love bracelets are the best and fastest sellers and typically resell for 75 percent or more of retail.”
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Timeline
1968: The first Alhambra long necklace is created in yellow gold. The quatrefoil motifs are lined with gold beads.
1971: Maison Van Cleef & Arpels incorporates hard stones like Malachite and lapis lazuli into the Alhambra collection.
1972: Onyx and coral are used in the Alhambra collection.
1973: Tiger’s Eye becomes a part of the Alhambra collection
1974: The bold blue of turquoise finds its way into the Alhambra.
1981: The Alhambra features mother-of-pearl.
1983: Following the debut of mother-of-pearl into the Alhambra collection, Maison Van Cleef & Arpels adds grey Mother-of-Pearl.
1985: Two new stones are introduced in the Alhambra collection — carnelian and diamonds on yellow gold.
1989: Blue agate is highlighted in the latest Alhambra pieces.
1994: Rock crystal is introduced to the Alhambra.
1998: Van Cleef & Arpels launches Alhambra watches.
2001: Pure Alhambra creations makes its debut; The original style is with the beaded border is reintroduced as Alhambra Vintage.
2006: Lucky Alhambra, which features several charms, and Magic Alhambra — which combines different sized quatrefoils in one piece — join the family. The milky chalcedony gemstone is featured in the Alhambra.
2007: Van Cleef and Arpels Sweet Alhambra creations, cute miniature versions of signature Alhambra motifs, debuts.
2012: Sèvres porcelain and Letterwood join the Alhambra family.
2018: Maison Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Alhambra with new combinations of materials.
