Princess Grace’s Jewels

Van Cleef & Arpels are presenting special edition pieces of the iconic Vintage Alhambra collection, as owned by Princess Grace of Monaco. The pieces will include a sautoir and bracelet in yellow gold and malachite, and a pendant in yellow gold and coral with a diamond centre.

They will be available only in London, from the opening of the exhibition Grace Kelly: Style Icon at the Victoria & Albert Museum, 17 April – 26 September 2010, an exploration of the style of a great beauty, the glamorous Hollywood actress Grace Kelly who became Princess Grace of Monaco.

The Vintage Alhambra collection, born in the Flower Power years of the late 1960s, comprises the good luck symbol of the emblematic Alhambra clover delicately outlined in rich beaded gold, set with a variety of delicate and exquisite stones. Over time the iconic motif, originally rendered in yellow gold has also been set with white mother of pearl, diamonds, turquoise, tiger’s eye, chalcedony, onyx, coral and cornelian.

In the early 1970s Prince Rainier purchased for Princess Grace, who loved the association of orange and green, a coral and a malachite sautoir which she often wore together. Princess Grace, who was always an admirer of Van Cleef & Arpels, became a great muse of the Maison when, a few days after their engagement, HSH Prince Rainier of Monaco went to the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique in New York to choose a “souvenir” for his fiancée.

The new special edition pieces will be stocked in both the New Bond Street and Harrods boutiques. Vintage Alhambra 5 motif bracelet, yellow gold and malachite £2,500. Vintage Alhambra pendant, yellow gold and coral with diamond centre £2,350. Vintage Alhambra 20 motif sautoir, yellow gold and malachite £10,000.