Van Cleef & Arpels

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Known for its intricate yet whimsical pieces, luxury French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels calls a jewel-box boutique on Fifth Avenue its New York home. Etched into the intimate shop's tea rose walls are images from nature—dragonflies, flowers, and vines—that are often at the heart of Van Cleef's collections. Each year the jeweler introduces two new high jewelry lines playing off a central motif (inspirations include the lost city of Atlantis, the ballet, lace, and a day in Paris). Though each line is unique, collectors and fashionistas can expect to find multi-tiered necklaces, diamond-encrusted bracelets, and delicate pins shaped like flowers, animals, and fairies. And as always there's Van Cleef's iconic alhambra; this oft-copied, four-leaf clover charm adorns many items throughout the shop. Van Cleef also has a Heritage Line comprised of vintage pieces the store has bought back from customers. Upstairs, an archive holds bound orange ledgers detailing decades' worth of workshop orders, including hand-drawn renderings and more than a few celebrity names. — Amy Wilkinson

Key Departments

Wedding Rings

This legendary jeweler’s landmark Fifth Avenue store is packed with glamorous, classic engagement rings. It also carries a selection of lighter but equally feminine bands that appeal to younger, less traditional tastes. Engagement rings from $3,950.

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