The 1930s and 1940s are often described as a golden age for Van Cleef & Arpels. The firm debuted iconic designs, which bolstered the reputation of the Maison worldwide. One collection from this period was referred to as ‘Hawaii’ jewels. This collection was presented at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and there it gained international recognition.

The magnificent collection the Maison presented at the Fair was designed for posterity. ‘Hawaii’ jewels were composed of red, blue and white forget-me-not flower bouquets set with rubies, sapphires and diamonds. The tri-colored scheme symbolized the allied flags at the time of the Liberation. The collection became very popular after World War II – worn as a renowned token of ‘freedom-at-last’ by the Élegantes set worldwide.

This collection of ‘Hawaii’ jewels were previously from the Collection of Doris Duke offered at Christie’s New York in November 2004. The proceeds of the 2004 sale benefitted The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The magnificence, beauty and quality of objects she collected were remarkable and tell a story of privilege, taste, and a lifestyle that evolved over the course of many decades.