For nearly a century, Van Cleef & Arpels, an iconic French fine jewelry house, has been synonymous with laid-back luxury. In the early 20th century, the jewelry designer recognized the need to design more accessible jewelry that could be worn with everyday clothing instead of being limited to formal evening wear.
Today, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry adorns the necks of celebrities, royalty and trendsetters alike — from Grace Kelly to royal families of Egypt and Iran to Gwenyth Paltrow. Likely the most beloved and recognizable of their jewelry designs is the Alhambra collection, which features four-leaf clover-inspired motifs made from precious and semiprecious gemstones like diamond, lapis lazuli, malachite and turquoise. Notably, Alhambra necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are versatile, pairing just as well with a fancy dress as they do with jeans and a T-shirt.
One problem? Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry may be exquisite, but it’s also expensive. You’d be hard-pressed to find a piece of Van Cleef jewelry for under $1,000, and there are plenty of options that would set you back $50K or more.
Here’s the good news: If you (like us) don’t have thousands of dollars to drop on a pair of authentic Van Cleef & Arpels diamond earrings or a clover bracelet, you can get a similar look for much less. Plenty of jewelry makers design pieces inspired by the iconic Van Cleef & Arpels collections with much more affordable price tags. Ahead, we’ve brought you some of the finest Van Cleef dupes that pay homage to the brand’s versatile, playful style.
What Van Cleef Dupes Are (and What They Are Not)
Before we share our picks, we want to quickly explain what Van Cleef dupes are — and what they are not.
First, here’s what they are not: Van Cleef & Arpels dupes are not knockoffs. A knockoff is a product that deliberately copies the design, branding and overall appearance of a more expensive item, often with the intention of misleading consumers into thinking they are purchasing the authentic version.
On the other hand, Van Cleef dupes — short for “duplicate” — draw inspiration from the Van Cleef & Arpels pieces without claiming to be originals. The purpose of Van Cleef dupes is not to attempt to deceive anyone into thinking they are buying the original brand. Rather, it’s to create a similarly stylish and sophisticated look to the higher-end originals at a more budget-friendly price.
Make sense? With that in mind, on to the dupes!
Our Editors’ Favorite Van Cleef & Arpels Dupe Jewelry
Van Cleef Bracelet Dupe
Jankuo Clover Mother Of Pearl Charm Bracelet
The original Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet is sweet, sophisticated and instantly recognizable due to the four-leaf clover motif. It’s also upwards of $4,000. Happily for our outfits and wallets, the Jankuo Clover Mother Of Pearl Charm Bracelet offers a similarly elegant look for a tiny fraction of the price.
The Jankuo bracelet features clover charms finished in mother-of-pearl and rimmed in Rhodium-plated brass. Jankuo makes several different versions of this Van Cleef bracelet dupe, including ones featuring charms finished in synthetic emerald, turquoise and onyx.
Price: $52.80 (reg. $88) at SaksOff5th.com
Van Cleef Necklace Dupe
Mother of Pearl Four Leaf Clover Necklace
Etsy, the online market of independent artists, is a treasure trove of Van Cleef & Arpels dupe jewelry. This Gold Clover Pearl Necklace from Etsy pulls inspiration from the designer’s Vintage Alhambra pendant with its four-leaf clover design and slender chain. The Van Cleef necklace dupe is handmade to order with a choice of gold or silver chain and plating. The clover comes in a choice of colors, including pearl, black and turquoise.
Price: $27 (reg. $54) at Etsy.com
Van Cleef Earrings Dupe
Mother of Pearl Clover 14KT Stud Earrings
These delicate clover earrings are a dead ringer for Van Cleef & Arpels’ famous Vintage Alhambra earrings. One crucial difference? They’re missing the $4,050 price tag. This budget-friendly Van Cleef earrings dupe features mother-of-pearl clovers plated in yellow gold. The brand makes a similar pair of stud earrings with black onyx clovers.
Price: $44 at Elenista.com
Van Cleef Ring Dupe
Ross-Simmons Diamond Clover Ring
Much like the original Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée clovers ring, this Van Cleef ring dupe from Ross-Simmons is adorned by tiny diamond clovers. But while the Van Cleef original comes with a $12,000 price tag, the Ross-Simmons Diamond Clover Ring doesn’t pack quite the same sticker shock.
Price: $195 at Ross-Simons.com
Van Cleef Necklace Dupe
Kendra Scott Mallory Gold Pendant Necklace
Here’s another Van Cleef & Arpels dupe reminiscent of the signature Alhambra pendant. The sophisticated Mallory necklace from Kendra Scott dangles a pretty pink pendant on a choice of silver or gold chain. Designed to honor families struggling with breast cancer, the necklace pendant is made of rose quartz, which some people believe to have healing properties.
Price: $60 at KendraScott.com
Van Cleef Ring Between the Finger Dupe
Luna Open Ring
The Van Cleef Ring Between the Finger collection is just what it sounds like: A selection of rings with two stones and pendants linked together by an open band so they fall in between each finger rather than over it. The innovative style of ring was dreamed up by Van Cleef & Arpels designers in the 1970s, inspiring many jewelry makers thereafter — including Austrian producer Swarovski. Swarovski’s Luna features a Van Cleef-inspired open-band design with a rhodium-plated crescent moon and a Swarovski Zirconia diamond.
Price: $125 at Swarovski.com
Van Cleef Long Necklace Dupe
10 Motifs Clover Necklace
Another Van Cleef-inspired design from Etsy, the 10 Motifs Clover Necklace pulls inspiration from the designer’s Vintage Alhambra Necklace. The handmade necklace is over 16 inches long and comes in a choice of gold or silver. The clover charms are made from shimmery white mother of pearl.
Price: $33 (reg. $66) at Etsy.com
Van Cleef Earrings Dupe
Pavé Crystal Filigree Teardrop Earrings
Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake earrings are breathtaking for two reasons: 1) They are striking to behold, crafted from round diamonds that sparkle in the light; 2) They come with a jaw-dropping $159k price tag. Fortunately, the Pavé Crystal Filigree Teardrop Earrings from Nordstrom offer a similar shape, style and opulent appearance, as well as a much friendlier price point. The elegant teardrop earrings are encrusted with intricate pavé crystals, creating a row of shimmery brilliance.
Price: $98 at Nordstrom.com
Van Cleef Jewelry Clips Dupe
Swarovski Crystal Ballerina Ballet Pin
Dancing ballerina brooches are another signature of Van Cleef & Arpels. Their famous dancer jewelry clips feature rose-cut diamond faces with costumes made of pleated gold, precious gems and ornamental stones. If you’re lucky enough to find one of these delicate ballerinas, an authentic Van Cleef dancer pin can set you back thousands.
We were happy to discover that Etsy offers a lovely alternative at a dramatically lower price. The Ballerina Ballet Pin from Etsy depicts a nimble dancer handmade from Swarovski crystals and comes in a choice of colors, including aqua, pink and rainbow.
Price: $44.97 at Etsy.com
The post Van Cleef Dupes That Might Be as Dramatic and Dazzling as the Originals appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.