Bonhams - exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery achieves spectacular results at Bonhams Paris jewels sale

2025-10-17

Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr presented Paris Jewels on 16 October 2025. The 180-lot live sale featured a collection of striking Van Cleef & Arpels designs across the decades, dating from the 1930s and 1960s to the present day, presented alongside exquisite jewellery of diamonds and coloured gemstones including emeralds, rubies and sapphires from notable houses including Cartier, Boucheron, Bulgari, Harry Winston, Graff, Tiffany & Co., Seaman Schepps, Mauboussin, and Georges Braque.

The top lot was a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ‘Rubans’ clip brooch, circa 1937. The ‘Rubans’ brooch is an example of an exceptional piece rooted in the Art Deco style, designed as an openwork stylised bow, set with baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds. The brooch sold for €178,200, more than eleven times its pre-sale estimate of €15,000-25,000.

The 180-lot sale made a total of €1,826,500 with 88% sold by lot and 94% sold by value.

Marine Girardet, Bonhams Head of Jewellery, France, commented: “Paris Jewels placed the spotlight on the world of Van Cleef & Arpels with designs spanning the decades from Alhambra in mother-of-pearl, malachite and onyx to early jewels dating from the 1930s and 1960s that showcased the maison’s exceptional craftsmanship and technical abilities in creating sophisticated jewels. The sale achieved figures above the pre-sale estimates with the highlight being the stylish ‘Rubans’ brooch dating from 1937, that saw fierce competition from international buyers.”

Another notable lot was a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ‘Heritage Pelouse’ earclips, circa 1965. Each of bombé design earclip was set throughout with circular-cut rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds. The earrings sold for €53,740, more than three times its pre-sale estimate of €15,000-25,000

Other notable Paris Jewels highlights included:

A Van Cleef & Arpels Coral ‘Alahambra’ sautoir. Composed of twenty coral 'Corallium japonicum' quatrefoil motifs, connected via yellow gold faceted cable-link. The sautoir sold for €48,640, more than six times its pre-sale estimate of €8,000-12,000.

A Van Cleef & Arpels Chrysoprase Alhambra sautoir, designed with twenty chrysoprase quatrefoil motifs to a yellow gold faceted cable-link chain. The sautoir sold for €35,840, more than double its pre-sale estimate of €12,000-18,000.

A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ear clips, circa 1935. The ear clips are designed in the bombé style and pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds set between baguette-cut diamonds. The earrings sold for €40,960, five times its pre-sale estimate of €8,000-12,000.