Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant Carnelian

Carnelian gives this single-motif Alhambra pendant a warm orange-red tone that sits apart from the cooler stones more commonly seen across the collection, set in yellow gold with the house's signature bead border around the single quatrefoil. As a smaller-scale piece, it is a way to try the stone without committing to a full necklace, and it layers cleanly under a longer Alhambra piece in a different colour.

The pendant format has stayed unchanged since Van Cleef & Arpels launched the Alhambra line in 1968: one motif, a fine chain, worn to sit close to the base of the neck rather than as a statement piece. Carnelian is produced less consistently than onyx or mother of pearl within the range, which tends to make good, even-coloured examples somewhat harder to find on the resale market than the more common stone options.

The single-motif format makes the carnelian pendant a more accessible way to try the stone than committing to a full necklace, and it is frequently bought alongside a mother of pearl or onyx pendant to rotate colours on the same chain length. Clutch checks the stone's tone and finish on each individual piece before it goes to sale, since carnelian's natural colour variation is more visible on a single motif than spread across a longer necklace.

Clutch sources this pendant new and pre-owned, documenting gold weight, stone colour and chain condition on the specific piece before any sale is confirmed. Every item is independently reviewed through Legit Grails ahead of purchase, with original certification carried through where the piece came with it. Enquire for current stock and pricing on this pendant.