Video: Van Cleef & Arpels inside

Van Cleef & Arpels, a French maison that is a legend for jewelry. Its most extraordinary pieces are sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of euros, or dollars. Its history dates back to 1896: it was founded by Alfred Van Cleef and his uncle Salomon Arpels, in Paris. The jewels, which often have the shape of flowers, animals, fairies, have been worn by women who have become a symbol, such as Empress Farah, the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor. Few, however, know Van Cleef & Arpels behind the scenes: the preparation of the designs, the fine-tuning, the craftsmanship. Now a series of nine videos reveal how the maison’s jewels are born. Here they are: the subtitles are in English.