Antique jewelry glossary

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Van Cleef and Arpels
(VCA)

A leading French jewelry firm, founded in 1906 by Julien, Louis, and Charles Arpels and their brother-in-law Alfred van Cleef, all descendants of jewellers and diamond dealers.

Its main shop is at 22 Place Vendôme, Paris, and it has branches in London, New York City, and fashionable resorts, catering for a clientele seeking jewelry of original design and high quality.

In 1930 it created the first minaudiêre, the name being trade-marked by it. The management, which now includes the three sons of Julien Arpels, Claude, Jacques, and Pierre, has opened boutiques for less expensive articles and for watches.