Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra collection is very broad and rigorous in its material selection. The original Alhambra collection consisted only of pure gold long necklaces, which later evolved into a variety of precious material combinations. Today, the collection uses mother-of-pearl, malachite, carnelian, turquoise, ceramic, tiger’s eye, onyx, serpentine wood and other materials. Of all the materials, only 1% of the original material can be retained to create the final product, and each piece of Alhambra jewelry needs to go through no less than 15 continuous processes to produce the finished product. Among them, carnelian and malachite are two important materials to create the series. It is said that malachite is the guardian stone of travelers, which can bring shelter and safety. Carnelian is one of the first gemstones used in jewelry. Van Cleef & Arpels uses carnelian from Idal-Oberstein, Germany, and raw stone from Brazil, because carnelian from these regions has a more magnificent and unique color. Van Cleef & Arpels insists on highly polished stones, which are extremely rare due to their microcrystalline structure. In addition, the Alhambra collection has also introduced a style of serpentine wood, this wood appearance is reddish-brown, and has a very beautiful and special stripe, the brand hired highly skilled furniture carpentry and Mosaic experts to complete this special collection. The series continues to introduce new, with precise cutting power to deal with the sun radiation decorative pattern, for the yellow gold surface engraved with a hidden relief effect, such as the Guguet carved yellow gold long necklace to create a brilliant elegant aesthetic, dazzling. There is also a poetic concerto played by gray mother-of-pearl and rose gold, creating a warm and moving atmosphere. In short, the material selection of the Alhambra collection is rich and diverse, and each material has been carefully selected and processed, reflecting the professional attements and exquisite craftsmanship of the fine jewelry family.
What are the materials of Alhambra series
The Alhambra series comes in a wide variety of materials. There are gold materials, such as yellow K gold, to add a bright light to the jewelry. In terms of gemstones, there is carnal chalcedony, which has a translucent texture, warm and vivid red symbolizes happiness and happiness, ancient Egyptians regard carnal chalcedony as a symbol of vitality, Van Cleef & Arpels selected carnal chalcedony mainly from Brazil, the color is neither brown nor dark red, showing a unique tone. Then there is the blue agate, a translucent blue chaldoid that perfectly fits the family’s exacting standards of selection, unmatched in terms of flawless clarity, vibrant color and glossy finish. Then there’s onyx in an understated dark black; Chalcedony is light blue, the surface has a natural ribbon; White K gold can deduce the extraordinary craft of carving flowers; The grey mother-of-pearl appears in the 50th anniversary edition; Materials such as lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, tiger’s eye, mother-of-pearl, Sevres porcelain and serpentine wood were also introduced. Malachite mixed with brilliant gold, with a bright blue-green color, is one of the attractive decorative materials in the mineral, symbolizing eternal youth and mysterious charm, and was considered to have divine power in ancient Roman culture to bless the “happiness of the wife”. The Sevres ceramics collection combines the craftsmanship of ceramics with the craftsmanship of jewelry making, presenting the signature blue Sevres hue of the French ceramics factory, handcrafted in multiple processes for a smooth silky satin effect.

### Alhambra series material processing technology
Van Cleef & Arpels is extremely strict with the material processing of the Alhambra series. Gemstone engraver, jeweler, gemstone setter and polisher have to go through no less than 15 processes to make it. First, gemstones are selected according to extremely strict quality standards, and the gemstone cutting process is meticulous. The yellow gold surrounding the four-leaf lucky pattern is cast into the shape of a ball, which is then manually modified by artisans and fixed on the gold setting base, and the position of the setting claw is carefully fixed. At the end of each process, the artisans polish the jewels to ensure that they are round and smooth and have a gemstone luster. For the Guet carving process, the family used this process as early as the 1910s to decorate the dial, and later used in the 1930s to jewelry cases, powder cases and Minaudieres. Guji carving process to give the new gold surface a line of hidden relief texture, blooming sparkling brilliance. The outline of the round bead is set against a white K gold pearl in the center, perfectly highlighting the classic and timeless style of the Alhambra four-leaf lucky series. Sevres ceramics also require multiple processes, with craftsmen mixing different minerals such as quartz, feldspar and kaolin together, cutting, drying, grinding, carefully matching colors, glazing, and finally polishing by hand to achieve a silky, satin-like finish.

### Source of Alhambra series carnelian
The primary source of carnelian used in the Alhambra series is Brazil. Van Cleef & Arpels insists on highly polished stones, which are extremely rare due to their microcrystalline structure. In terms of color, Van Cleef & Arpels is also very picky, and the carburete color chosen is neither brown nor dark red, presenting a unique tone. Carnal chalcedony has a translucent texture, and the saturated and rich red symbolizes joy and happiness, which was regarded by ancient Egyptians as a symbol of vitality. The new Alhambra from Van Cleef & Arpels features warm shades of rose gold paired with ruby slices and a guet cutout. The natural color of the gemstone and the metallic light reflect the elegant femininity.

### Alhambra series of malachite implied
Malachite has a unique meaning in the Alhambra series. Malachite has a vivid bluish-green color and is one of the most attractive decorative materials among minerals. In Chinese culture, green has the meaning of life and is also a symbol of spring. The main Yin and Yang harmony, whether married or not, malachite can coordinate the Yin in the female aura, transformed into an extremely peaceful aura, long-term wear malachite can use the ancient mysterious power of gems to harmonize the Yin and Yang aura, remove evil spirits, suitable for women, can be guarded for life. In ancient Roman culture, malachite has divine power, the word “malachite” has the meaning of “wife happiness”, the ancient Romans dedicated malachite to the goddess in charge of marriage Zhuono, so that malachite can bless “wife happiness”.

### Alhambra series features of serpentine wood
The serpentine wood used in the Alhambra series has the following characteristics. Serpentine wood is a dense hardwood with a reddish brown appearance and quite beautiful and distinctive stripes. Serpentine wood is mainly scattered in the primitive jungle near the Amazon River basin in South America, is the world’s precious endangered protected plants, is also one of the world’s most expensive wood, but also the world’s largest density of wood. Sapwood of serpentine wood heart is distinct, sapwood is wide, yellowish-white, heartwood is dark reddish-brown, and the formation speed is very slow. Because its number is very rare and difficult to cut, it is generally a group of 5-8 local indigenous people to go into the mountains to look for each tree, make a mark, and then cut it down manually from the jungle. Serpentine wood is the ideal material for making high-grade decoration, high-grade crafts, golf clubs, high-grade canes, high-grade furniture, etc., and the price is very expensive in the international market, usually priced by weight. The furniture made of serpentine wood has a smooth surface, better brightness after painting, and direct polishing and waxing without paint is also very beautiful, corrosion resistance, moth resistance, and high-grade handicrafts, with great value preservation and appreciation potential, and will also be treasures in the classical furniture collection in the future.

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra series has become a classic in the jewelry world with its rich material selection, exquisite processing technology and unique design meaning. Whether it is the vitality symbol of carnal chalcedony, the happiness meaning of malachite, or the precious quality of serpentine wood, it adds endless charm to this series. When choosing Alhambra jewelry, consumers can choose the material suitable for themselves according to their own preferences and needs, and feel the luck and beauty brought by Van Cleef & Arpels.