Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends

About this book

From Empress Farah and the secrets of the treasure of Iran to Queen Marie Amlies missing emeralds via Fantmas and the blood-red rubies of the kings of Burma entering the world of Van Cleef & Arpels is like embarking upon a fascinating treasure hunt. In this book Vincent Meylan explores a century in the history of one of the most prestigious Parisian jewelry dynasties. He opens doors and unlocks caskets to reveal the mysterious and sometimes fantastic stories of its clients and the fabulous and exceptional stones that they entrusted to the "golden hands" of Van Cleef & Arpels. The Maharani of Baroda the Duchess of Windsor Princess Lilian of Belgium Elizabeth Taylor Marlene Dietrich Princess Grace of Monaco Maria Callas Barbara Hutton and the Countess of Camargo: they are all the heroines of this incredible epic full of rubies diamonds emeralds and sapphires. Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends is full of extravagant fairytales and fascinating behind-the-scenes revelations. It also tells the sometimes troubled story of a dynasty of jewelers of gifted men and women who have for over a century helped to shape that inimitably Parisian art de vivre that is the envy of the world. Contents: Chapter I: The Goddess with a Passion for Diamonds; Sita Devi Maharani of Baroda; Diamonds Pearl Carpets and Gladiators; Chapter II: Royal Favorites; The Theft of the Duchesss Jewels: Wallis Warfield Simpson Duchess of Windsor; For the Love of a King: Lilian Princess of Rthy; The Lost Emeralds of Queen Astrid; Chapter III: Prince Charming; Diamonds on the Nile: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Crown Prince and Future Shah of Iran; Streets filled with Diamonds; When Hollywood Met High Society: Prince Rainier of Monaco; Chapter IV: The Crown of the Thousand and One Nights; Empress Farah; The Diamond Flowers of Princess Soraya; The Iranian Crown Jewels; Chapter V: A Girls Best Friend; The Worlds Sexiest Garter: Marlene Dietrich; The Demure Jewels of a Star Who Was Anything But: Ava Gardner; Christmas Stocking Filler: Elizabeth Taylor; Chapter VI: Queens of Style; The Heartaches of Nina Dyer; The Eugnie Blue Diamond; The Gilded Legend of the Aga Khans; "Poor Little Rich Girl": Barbara Hutton; Cubas Madame de Pompadour: Maria; Chapter VII: Dancing Jewels; "Emeralds"; The Legend of the Emerald Cross; A Revolution and Two World Wars: The Saga of the Romanov Emeralds; The Diadem of the Last Queen of the French; From Napoleon to Stalin: The Trials and Tribulations of Empress Marie-Louises Emeralds; "Rubies"; The Blood-Red "Thibaw" Ruby; A Wedding Gift for the Queen of Spain; "Diamonds"; From the Empress Josephine to Princess Grace; The Pink Diamond of the Prince of Baroda; The Diamonds of the Queen of Thailand; Chapter VIII: Treasures and Legends; Esther ("Estelle") Arpels Mme. Alfred Van Cleef; Rene Puissant ne Van Cleef; The Mystery of the Ruby Peonies; Hlne Ostrowska Mme. Louis Arpels; Fantmas at Van Cleef & Arpels; Catalog of historic jewelry published in 1950 as publicity for Van Cleef & Arpels New York.