History of the Van Cleef & Arpels Guilloche Design

Image courtesy: Van Cleef and Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) shines a spotlight on the guilloche design this holiday season. As we reported, this year’s Holiday Pendant features a rose gold guilloche pendant with a contrasting white gold setting.

While VCA’s Alhambra collection and Holiday Pendants are well known, some are less familiar with the guilloche motif. Let’s dive into the inspiration and history of this stunning design.

Image courtesy: Van Cleef and Arpels

Image courtesy: Van Cleef and Arpels

Image courtesy: Van Cleef and Arpels

Introduced by the Maison in the 1910s, VCA first used the traditional guilloche engraving to decorate gold accessories such as butterfly clips, watches, powder compacts, and cigarette cases. Guilloche is a stunning and precise technique inspired by – or taken from – goldsmithery and culinary arts. In those crafts, ultra-fine striations are delicately etched and arranged in a sunburst pattern. When light hits the engravings the effect is an interplay of light and movement.

After decades of hearing collectors rave about their fascination with the guilloche design, Van Cleef introduced guilloche into their historic Alhambra collection in 2018.

Image courtesy: @luxe.musings

Image courtesy: @luxe.musings

While the 2018 launch featured only the 5 motif bracelet, 10 motif necklace, and single motif earrings in 18k yellow gold, the iconic design can now be found on more than 30 products – including watches, rings, necklaces, and bracelets – throughout the brand’s offerings.

Image courtesy: @asafetypin

Image courtesy: @wjenga

In recent years VCA has moved to include rose and white gold guilloche pieces as part of its permanent collection. White gold guilloche was introduced in 2020, that year’s limited edition Holiday Pendant was white guilloche with a diamond center. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, in 2022 the House added a 5 motif bracelet, single motif pendant, and single motif earrings in white gold guilloche to their regular list of offerings.

Image courtesy: @rrluxelovers2.0

Image courtesy: Van Cleef and Arpels

Similarly, rose gold guilloche also was introduced in 2020 as part of the Sweet Alhambra jewelry watch with alternating pink mother-of-pearl motifs. Because of the increased demand for gold variations in the guilloche design, 2023 saw the addition of the 5 motif carnelian and rose gold Alhambra bracelet and reversible ring.

Image courtesy: @rrluxelovers2.0

Image courtesy: @nettleskristina

This brings us to the 2024 holiday pendant, the rose gold guilloche pendant with a diamond center and contrasting white gold setting. It’s an especially stunning piece for those who have yet to introduce guilloche into their collection – just look at how it pops!

Image courtesy: @korinnahollydiary

Image courtesy: @bless_vch

Image courtesy: @korinnadollydiary

As you can see, it’s an extremely versatile piece. It can stand out when worn against a brighter shade of pink or seamlessly blend in with a gold guilloche bracelet and earrings. The great thing about this year’s holiday pendant is that it’s two-tone. This would be an amazing addition for those who love mixing metals or those who love the guilloche collection in general.