Are Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets REALLY worth £3,750? Jewellery expert claims cult piece loved by Molly-Mae Hague and Amanda Holden only ‘cost £800 to make’
- The popular bracelets are part of brand’s Alhambra range, dating back to 1969
- Jeweller Elise Friedman told FEMAIL the bracelets probably cost £800 to make
- Pawnbroker James Constantinou said they maintain 70 per cent market value
- Read More: Is Cartier’s Love Ring REALLY worth £1,080? Expert unpicks TikTok claim that the cult piece only contains £115 worth of gold
When it comes to luxury jewellery, there are few brands more exclusive than Van Cleef & Arpels.
Since it was founded by Dutch diamond cutter Alfred Van Cleef in 1896, the French brand has been worn by some of the world’s most famous women – from the late Princess Grace of Monaco to Hollywood royalty Elizabeth Taylor.
But it’s the brand’s Alhambra range – featuring their distinctive four-leaf clover pendants – which have become their crown jewel among modern-day celebs.
In the past year, stars such as Molly-Mae Hague and Amanda Holden have all been spotted wearing the 18-carat gold bracelets.
Molly-Mae Hague, 23, pictured wearing a matching Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet and necklace to the Beauty Works launch party in London
The £3,750 bracelets feature five mother-of-pearl clovers on an 18k gold chain
While the Love Island star wore the mother-of-pearl design and matching necklace to the launch of her Beauty Works event in October last year, the mother-to-be was also given the brand’s £3,850 emerald Alhambra bracelet for her 22nd birthday by her boyfriend Tommy Fury.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Got Talent host Amanda Holden is often pictured wearing her gold designer bracelet while arriving at the Heart Breakfast Radio Studios in London most mornings.
But are the dainty bracelets really worth over £3,500 each? Well according to jeweller Elise Friedman, they probably cost less than a third of that to produce – not taking into any overheads into account.
Instead, she told FEMAIL that the ‘value’ of the pieces is really all about the brand name and their expertise.
Amanda Holden pictured wearing her £3,750 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet to present the Heart Breakfast Radio show on November 10, 2022
According to jeweller Elise Friedman , the ‘value’ of the pieces is really all about the brand name and their expertise rather than the materials used.
Left: Molly-Mae Hague as given a £3,850 emerald Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet from boyfriend Tommy Fury (pictured right) for her 22nd birthday
She explained: ‘A lot of that value does come from the designer name and distinctive design. I would think they cost £800 to make.’
However, the expert says the cost are driven up by the fact Van Cleef & Arpels make all of their jewellery in-house – meaning they don’t switch between cheaper manufactures like other brands,
Describing £3,750 was a ‘fair price’ for an 18-carat gold bracelet, she continued: ‘Van Cleef and Arpels are known to do everything in house. I believe they even make their own chains (which is quite rare in the jewellery industry!)
‘The mother of pearl [used for the clovers] is notoriously soft, and so very difficult to craft with such expertise.
’18 carat gold is 75 per cent pure gold, and 25 per cent alloying metals, as opposed to 9 carat which is 37.5 per cent gold and 62.5 per cent alloying metals. It’s more expensive because it’s more gold.
The Princess of Wales wore the French jeweler’s Alhambra necklace and earrings while attending a reception at the Baha Mar Hotel during the couple’s tour of the Bahamans in March 2022
Princess Grace of Monaco pictured in a necklace from the Alhambra Van Cleef & Arpels range in 1977
Is Cartier’s Love Ring REALLY worth £1,080?
Expert unpicks TikTok claim that the cult piece only contains £115 worth of gold.
’18 carat is the best for high jewellery because it has a high gold content, but also because it is long lasting, as opposed to 22 carat or 24 carat, where the gold gets knicks on it from everyday wear.’
What’s more, jewellery expert James Constantinou said that, unlike other fashionable acessories, items in the brand’s Alhambra range are usually resold for 70 per cent of their original price.
The founder of Prestige Pawnbrokers said: ‘Like many Haute Joallerie brands, Van Cleef and Arpels pride themselves in the quality of their jewellers work, making pieces that will last more than a lifetime.
‘Carefully designed using only the highest-grade materials and gem quality stones, each piece is meticulously overseen in each step of its’ creation by masters of the craft.
‘Over the years certain designs have become engrained in fashion, becoming a classic. The Alhambra motif has done just this, making itself a regular part of jewellery boxes all over the world.
‘Because of this, it is often sought after, and if anyone should decide to part with their own Alhambra piece, they will usually find that with all the correct packaging, hallmarks, and paperwork, they can often get back up to 70 per cent of the original purchase price.’
However if the designer bracelets aren’t within budget, Elise said independent jewellers can make a personalised alternative tailored to your taste.
She added: ‘They are beautiful and very wearable, exactly what makes them so popular with celebrities. If you are after a similar design but this is outside of your price range, there are some fantastic alternatives that can showcase your style in a different but still elegant way.’
Femail has approached Van Cleef & Arpels for comment.
If you enjoyed this story…
- Buy the perfect gift for the women in your life (or treat yourself)! Femail reveals the best Christmas presents for her – from a £14 disco bike bell to a £329 high-tech hair dryer
- From bold jewellery, the sparkly tops: How to wow from the waist up over the festive period
- Yes you can throw a classy party for peanuts! Prue Leith’s chic yet cheap canapés, Claudia Winkleman’s failsafe floorfillers and fool-your-guests wine for just a fiver
Source: Read Full Article