Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant Mother of Pearl

The single-motif Alhambra pendant is the entry point into Van Cleef & Arpels's quatrefoil collection, one clover in yellow gold set with Mother of Pearl and hung from a fine chain. It carries the same bead-bordered construction as the longer necklaces in the range, just scaled down to a single motif, which makes it the piece most often chosen as a first Alhambra purchase or as a layering piece under a 10-motif necklace.

Mother of Pearl is the lightest of the house's core stone options, its pale, shifting surface working equally well against skin tone and against other jewellery, which is part of why it tends to be the best-selling stone across the entire Alhambra range rather than just this pendant. The pendant sits close to the base of the neck and is built to be worn daily rather than reserved for occasion wear.

Because the pendant uses only a single motif, matching stone tone is far less of a sourcing constraint than it is on a 10-motif necklace, which is one reason mother of pearl pendants tend to be more readily available than the longer pieces in the same stone. It is a common first purchase for clients new to the Alhambra line, and one that pairs cleanly with a longer necklace added later.

Clutch sources this pendant new and pre-owned, checking gold weight, stone condition and chain length on the specific piece before it is listed. Every item passes through Legit Grails, an independent authentication service, ahead of any sale, with original documentation carried through where the piece has it. Message Clutch for current availability and pricing on this pendant.