A 'MYSTERY-SET' RUBY, EMERALD AND DIAMOND 'DEUX FLEURS' CLIP BROOCH, BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

Items which contain rubies or jadeite originating … Read more

Details

A 'MYSTERY-SET' RUBY, EMERALD AND DIAMOND 'DEUX FLEURS' CLIP BROOCH, BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
The twin flowerheads mounted with mystery-set ruby petals and brilliant-cut diamond pistils to the emerald leaves with baguette-cut diamond detail, 7.1cm long, with French assay marks for gold, in Van Cleef & Arpels grey suede case
Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, no. M38715

Special Notice

Items which contain rubies or jadeite originating in Burma (Myanmar) may not be imported into the U.S. Please be advised that a purchasers inability to import any such item into the U.S. or any other country shall not constitute grounds for non-payment or cancellation of the sale. With respect to items that contain any other types of gemstones originating in Burma (e.g., sapphires), such items may be imported into the U.S., provided that the gemstones have been mounted or incorporated into jewellery outside of Burma and provided that the setting is not of a temporary nature (e.g., a string). VAT rate of 20% is payable on hammer price and buyer's premium

Brought to you by

Angela Berden

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

aberden@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2526

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

Emblematic of Van Cleef & Arpels style and technical inventions, this 'Pavot' brooch celebrates the art of the jeweller, showcasing their famous 'Mystery Setting'.

The secret behind the 'Mystery Setting' is a delicate lattice of gold or platinum 'threads', each less than two tenths of a millimetre in diameter. The calibré-cut gemstones are selected according to very strict criteria, as they have to fit precisely into where they will be placed. A special groove is cut into the stones and they are 'threaded' onto the lattice. Each gem takes about 90 minutes in preparation, and the lapidary can spend hundreds, even thousands of hours creating just one single jewel. Once the gems are set, the lattice is perfectly covered with gemstones. Both the preparation of the lattice and the stones require incredible skill and dexterity.

More from Important Jewels

View All