Van Cleef and Arpels gold and diamond parure matching necklace and bracelet VCA

Antique jewelry object group: parure (matching set of jewellery)

This extraordinary Van Cleef and Arpels (VCA) jewellery set can be assembled in different fashions. It consists of four separate 'Tube de Gaz'-bracelets (also called "tubogas"), that can be connected to each other in various lengths according to your desire. This offers you the possibility to combine them into one long necklace or to leave it as a shorter necklace while wearing the remaining parts as bracelets. Furthermore, a more luxurious as well as a more modest pendant come with this set. Both comfortably slide across the 'Tube de Gaz'-parts and can so serve as the finishing touch to your necklace. The modest pendant can also be worn as an extra decoration for your bracelet as well.

Apart from all possibilities of combining these individual items into your most desired jewellery piece(s), we can formally state that each item is crafted by Van Cleef and Arpels and is a genuine part specifically belonging to this parure. It's our pleasure to share our findings, which lead to that conclusion:
-Two bracelets carry the engraving 'Van Cleef & Arpels' and the other two bracelets carry their series number '1.138.C.S.'.
-The clasps of the bracelets and of the necklace show the maker's mark referring to Master of Péry & son, who is known for his work for Van Cleef and Arpels.
-Only the two pendants don't bear a hallmark directly referring to VCA. However, their honey comb design is iconic for the "Van Cleef and Arpels Ludo Hexagone" collection, appointing the signature hexagon pattern and named after Louis Arpels -called "Ludo" by his closest friends.
Besides their typical VCA design, we deduct from the remnants of a closure typical for a double-clip on both pendants that they originally formed together a Van Cleef and Arpels double-clip. Traditionally, the VCA signatures are placed on the closure of a jewel, which in this case were partly removed in order to create two separate pendants out of the double-clip, specially adjusted to become part of this VCA parure. Presumably, that's how the VCA signatures on the transformed pendants were sacrificed in the process. Besides that, we did find the remains of two hallmarks on the back of the luxury pendant: one we would recognize as "the French owl", the other is unfortunately illegible.

Condition: very good condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: France

Style: Vintage Fifties (of the twentieth century)
  -  See also: Fifties (of the twentieth century) or more info on styles

Period: ca. 1950
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Style specifics: A typical jewellery piece for the 1950's is the so-called 'tube de gaz' or 'tubogas' necklace (French for 'gas tube'). Besides being an iconic piece of that era, it's also a statement example that not all necklaces are made out of links. A 'tube de gaz' is traditionally made from two long twisted U-shaped wires, twisted into each other. One side of the necklace is round and the other side is flat. Another designation for jewellery made according to this technique is the 'rat tail'.

Source of inspiration: Honey comb - We can see this pattern in the pendants.

Material: 18K pink gold
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Brand: VCA - Van Cleef & Arpels

Extra information: Van Cleef & Arpels: Their first jewellery store was founded in 1906 by Charles, Julien and Louis Arpels, in partnership with their brother-in-law Alfred Van Cleef. They soon reached international recognition and in 1942, they had the possibility to open another store in New York on the famous Fifth Avenue.

Referring to the "Ludo Hexagone" collection to which the pendants of this parure belong and which originally entered the collection as a double-clip. This specific collection by Van Cleef & Arpels first appeared in 1935 and was named "Ludo Hexagone" after the hexagon pattern and its designer Louis Arpels, who was known to his friends as "Ludo".

Diamond(s): 28 old European cut diamonds with an estimated weight of ± 3.36ct. (colour and clarity: F/I, vs/i).
34 single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with an estimated weight of ± 0.85ct. (colour and clarity: F/H, vs/si).

Total diamond count: 62 pcs.

Total diamond weight: approx. 4.21 crt.

- All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since stones are not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting. Also we have all diamonds screened by the IJGC - lab (www.ijgc-worldwide.com) for whether they are natural or synthetic, and all diamonds in this jewel are 100% guaranteed to be natural!

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Signature:
The maker's mark of Master of Péry & son, who worked a lot for VCA, is visible on the clasps of the bracelets and necklace. (See detailed photos and literature references added in the photo gallery.)

Engraving:
-On two of the bracelets, we find the engraving 'Van Cleef & Arpels'.
-On the other two bracelets, we can find their series number '1.138.C.S.' engraved.

Hallmarks:
The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head (that was in use in France from about 1838). Also the French owl and illegible remains of a hallmark on the back of the luxury pendant. (See detailed photos added in the photo gallery.)
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions:
-Total length of the 4 bracelets together as a large necklace: 73,10 cm (28,78 inch) -wearable double around the neck,
-Length of each bracelet separately: 17,10 cm (6,73 inch); 18,30 cm (7,20 inch); 18,40 cm (7,24 inch); 19,30 cm (7,60 inch),
-Please mind that you can combine the bracelets to form a necklace with the length of your desire, so alternative lengths are possible depending on how you combine the bracelets.
-luxury pendant (L x W) 4,20 cm (1,65 inch) x 2,55 cm (1,00 inch),
-modest pendants/slider (L x W): 1,65 cm (0,65 inch) x 2,55 cm (1,00 inch).

Total weight (4 bracelets + two pendants): 160,10 gram (102,94 dwt)

Reference Nº: 19231-0279

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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