Van Cleef & Arpels has unveiled new creations in its Perlée collection that reassert its rounded aesthetic. 

Three Between the Finger rings give pride of place to hard stones, while a diamond-set pendant and matching ear studs display varying shades of gold. 

Faithful to the tradition of the beaded contour so dear to the maison, they all suggest associations – bold or delicate – that can be composed to suit every occasion.

The Perlée collection dates from 2008, yet golden beads have been part of Van Cleef & Arpels’ history since the 1920s. The maison used a thin thread of metal grains to outline the motifs of certain jewels, such as the Egyptian-style pieces in vogue following the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922. 

From 1948 onwards, gold beads became a style in their own right and blossomed on numerous Van Cleef & Arpels collections. An example can be found in the yellow gold necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches of the astonishing Couscous collection – born out of by a trip to Morocco by the Arpels family.

The 1960s’ taste for soft, fluid shapes gave rise to the Twist collection – which combines gold beads, coral beads and cultured pearls in a delicate spiral – and the Alhambra motif, fringed with an elegant beaded contour. In 2008, the gold bead aesthetic inspired the Perlée collection. 

Since then, the Maison has continually reinvented it with evocatively named creations: Perlée pearls of gold, Perlée couleurs, Perlée diamonds, Perlée clovers and Perlée signature.