The steps to a fabulous creation

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:39:37 +0000

Design
The initial emotion

The solitaire is the quintessential expression of jewelry and is one of the most delicate and subtle pieces to design. This is why the same designers who conceive high jewelry pieces are called upon to create engagement rings.

From the first sketch, to the minutely detailed gouache drawings, the jewelry comes to life in the Van Cleef & Arpels workshops on Place Vendôme, Paris, like a work of art. The sensitive and precise designs celebrate the spirit of the Maison by revisiting its main themes of inspiration: nature, couture and poetry.

Gems
An avowed passion for exceptional gems

Rare and mysterious, symbolizing purity and constancy, the Van Cleef & Arpels diamond is a model of perfection. Each diamond selected by Van Cleef & Arpels must comply, in the very least, with the most stringent quality criteria outlined for GIA certification. It is then assessed by our gemology department who, in addition to verifying the combination of the highest standards of clarity and brilliance, examines each stone individually. These experts only select those diamonds that have the fire, charm and unique character demanded by Van Cleef & Arpels for its solitaires.

Sculpture

The birth of a delicate sculpture
The work takes three-dimensional form in the Van Cleef & Arpels workshop in the hands of the model-makers, who produce an astoundingly accurate wax sculpture. It takes many hours to finely model the wax in a way that ensures each mounting displays the most beautiful proportions. This delicate wax is then melted to produce the ring’s platinum mounting.
Conceived as a homage to the stones that is it about to enhance, the elegant mountings receive our utmost care and attention.

Jewelry
A perfect mount for a unique stone
After melting, long hours of manual work are required to assemble the platinum components together, which will form the final ring. The work of true artists, it involves individually sculpting and refining the adjustments to ensure that the stones are housed perfectly.
The shaping of the invisible parts is essential to ensure that the visible parts are as beautiful and radiant as possible. This is the sign of the greatest jewelers.

Setting
Meticulous setting to embrace the stone

The balance and positioning of the stone will not tolerate even the slightest imperfection. The Van Cleef & Arpels craftsmen draw on the brand’s centuries-old tradition of high jewelry making to ensure that when setting a stone, the metal disappears, highlighting the gem. Meticulously rounded prongs are a sign of the finest settings and glorify the diamond’s natural radiance.

Polishing
Polishing to perfection

The ring will undergo three polishing stages to ensure its optimum brilliance. Using a high jewelry technique, every surface of the precious platinum is hand-polished with brushes and linen fiber, even its most hidden surfaces. As with all pieces of jewelry, the unique care taken with even most the unperceivable parts of the ring will enhance its final overall brilliance.

Inspection
Under the expert’s fervent eye

No compromise is made when it comes to seeking perfection. At each stage in its production, every solitaire undergoes close inspection by a quality controller, the expert among experts. Thus, each Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring carries the promise of eternity with it.