October 01, 2024 2 min read
Van Cleef & Arpels is a testimony of excellent craftsmanship, innovation and timeless pieces like the Alhambra collection. With its distinctive four-leaf clover motif, first designed in 1968, the collection has achieved an iconic status and was worn by icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Princess Grace of Monaco. More recently many celebrities have been wearing it and showing it on social media like Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon. It is also a great investment piece that exudes prestige and admiration.
If you always dreamt of having your own, we invite you to look at our selection and find the piece waiting for you, so you too, can have a piece of history.
But what is the story of Van Cleef & Arpels?
Once upon a time, a Dutch diamond cutter named Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law, Salomon Arpels, founded a French luxury jewelry company. It was 1896 in Paris when elegance, innovation, and cultural richness met and created what French people like to call today “La Belle Epoque.” This was an era of timeless elegance, where iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower were constructed, and the city was known for its grand cafes, cabarets, and the rise of the modern entertainment industry, including the famous Moulin Rouge.
After his father-in-law's death in 1906, Alfred was joined by two of his brothers-in-law, Charles and Julien, and acquired a new space in front of the Ritz on the renowned Place Vendome. Today, it is still their first and oldest boutique.

Success came quickly, and boutiques opened in the most luxurious cities of France, like Nice and Deauville and later Monte-Carlo. Their jewelry was wanted worldwide, making them the first French jewellers to open boutiques in Japan and China. They even worked with foreign royalty; in 1966, Empress Farah Pahlavi asked Van cleef & Arpels to make her a crown. It was made with an emerald velvet set with 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, 105 pearls, and 1,469 diamonds!
Van Cleef & Arpels was always ahead of its time and leading the movement, today several brands and jewellers are taking inspiration from the famous four-leaf clover motif>

I have to commend you CoutureUSA! Because you only accept the best of pre-love designer items I get the best of pre-love designer items. I have had so many recent halls from you. That are just top-notch excellent condition. You have a customer for life.
Having lost my vintage John Hardy sterling silver Pali Budda Belly earrings, I was so happy to be able to purchase their replacement with Couture USA. They arrived in excellent condition, better than described.
Every visit is an exceptional experience. The team is intelligent, intuitive, incredibly knowledgeable, and treats every customer with the same level of care whether you're purchasing a Birkin or a wallet. They take the time to truly get to know your style, understand what you love, and even remember the pieces you're working toward adding to your collection, all in a relaxed, low-pressure environment.
The store is over an hour from me, and it's absolutely worth the drive. Their recent expansion and redesign have made the shopping experience even better, with beautiful lighting, more inventory, and a thoughtfully organized layout that evolves with the seasons and current trends.
I also love their FB, Instagram and TikTok content. They share educational snippets about leathers, styles, sizes, and luxury brands that help collectors learn while they shop. It's also clear that every bag is carefully hand-selected before joining their inventory, and their pricing is incredibly competitive.
Most importantly, the team is friendly, professional, welcoming, and completely nonjudgmental. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your luxury journey, they make you feel valued and appreciated. I can't recommend them highly enough. I admire that they are also involved in many local causes and care just as much about their surrounding community. Thank you Couture!!!
Best place to shop on the city of Tampa
I love shopping at couture I find some great bags. I check their site daily. So I don't miss out on what I'm looking for.
I was honestly a little nervous purchasing a pre-loved luxury bag online, but CoutureUSA made the entire experience feel easy and trustworthy. The photos and description were accurate, communication was great, and my bag arrived quickly and packaged really well.
What I appreciated most was that the item looked exactly like I expected when it arrived. There were no surprises, which can definitely be stressful when shopping pre-loved. Overall, the process felt smooth, professional, and genuine. I would definitely shop with them again.
Best places to shop always have great finds with great prices and the experience with everyone in the store like shopping with girlfriends best ever❤️❤️
The staff are very friendly and they have lots of great collection!
Yet another AMAZING find from Couture! I love this store and the staff! This is definitely worth the trip.
I just purchased three items from CoutureUSA that I never even thought I wanted, and fell in love! My first luxury purchase years ago was from CoutureUSA. Not only are their products in excellent condition, their customer service is excellent. I never worry if items are authentic cause they guarantee authenticity.
Love my new LV bucket bag!
My experience with Contour USA was exceptional from start to finish. My David Yurman 10mm Blue Topaz renaissance bracelet arrived in pristine condition and was exactly as described. The entire process felt seamless, professional, and truly reflective of a high-end buying experience. I would absolutely purchase from them again.
The team there was very friendly and fantastic able to answer any questions that I had products and bags are fantastic quality
It is impossible to visit couture USA without buying something special! Love this store and love the ladies that work here!
Described as "excellent" condition, in my opinion it's "like new"! Fast and secure shipping!
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