10 mars 2023

The Van Cleef & Arpels « Spirit of Beauty » fairy clip, a high jewelry jewel

Created in 1941 by the Maison Van Cleef & Arpels, the clip of the little « Spirit of Beauty » fairy is also the mascot of the École des Arts Joailliers. A high jewelry jewel composed of 162 diamonds, 43 emeralds, and 6 rubies, for a height of 10.5 centimeters and a total of 40.7 carats.

In the 1940s, the Maison Van Cleef & Arpels embraced the theme of fairies and created a series of unique pieces. The fairy represents amusement, femininity, light, hope, and joy. Moreover, in 1941, people needed to cling to positive things as they were going through a dark period with the Second World War. Although fairies have probably existed since prehistoric times, they still have the power to transform everything into a fairy tale…

Fairies continue to be a source of inspiration for people, even for the greatest in the world. You can admire this exceptional creation and drawings from the fairy collection at the École des Arts Joailliers, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, at 31 Rue Danielle Casanova, 75001, in Paris. Free and open access.