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Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace

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description Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace Overview

The Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace is a high jewelry piece that functions as an actual zipper, allowing it to be worn open as a necklace or closed as a bracelet. The design was reportedly suggested to the Parisian maison by Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, in the 1930s and was officially realized in the early 1950s. It requires meticulous gem-setting to ensure the precious stones do not obstruct the sliding mechanism. This transformable jewel is made for collectors of high jewelry and is a significant example of mechanical ingenuity in mid-20th-century design.

help Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace FAQ

How does the Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace actually function as a zipper?

Unlike standard necklaces, this high jewelry piece features a functional sliding mechanism that allows it to open and close exactly like a clothing zipper. When completely zipped up, it gathers the interlocking gold and diamond elements to form a rigid bracelet.

Who suggested the idea for the Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace?

The design was reportedly suggested to the Parisian maison by Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, in the 1930s. She playfully remarked that a zipper on her dress would make a beautiful piece of jewelry, prompting the house to bring the concept to life.

When was the first Van Cleef & Arpels Zip Necklace officially released?

Although the concept was discussed in the 1930s, the immense mechanical difficulty of making a flexible jewelry zipper delayed its production. The piece was not officially launched by Van Cleef & Arpels until the early 1950s.

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