Van Cleef & Arpels 1952 Diamond Zip Necklace. Photo Credit: Tino Hammid.

“Everything that shines aint always gonna be gold”. –Kid Cudi

It could be diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires. Van Cleef and Arples is one of the world’s most renown jewelry empires. As you walk into the grand hall of the Cooper Hewitt museum, you are stunned by the majestic beauty surrounding you. The exhibit is filled with breathtaking jewelry dating back to the early 1900’s. The exhibit is divided into different parts: innovation, transformations, and nature as inspiration.

Innovation was how the jewelry was created, the many hours of workmanship that went into making perfection. Transformation was how one piece could form multiple pieces. For instance, a single emerald necklace could be broken apart to form a pair of bangles, and earnings,  thus creating a piece that was versatile in many different aspects. Van Cleef and Arples used the inspiration of nature throughout their pieces. Whether it be a delicate gold vine, with diamond droplets, or a bulky bodacious beetle; the company had a way of enhancing nature.

There are several rooms that divide the exhibit; every room amplifies the jewelry in its own way. The light is different in each of the rooms, which allows the gems to shine to its fullest potential. Although the exhibit is breathtaking, the use of excessive technology takes away from it. As you enter the room you are offered an iPad which guides you through the exhibit. It not only takes away from the beauty of the pieces, but it interferes with the lighting in the room. My younger brother spent more time playing with the iPad, then gazing at the beauty of the pieces. Although it’s common to mix traditional art with technology in modern exhibits, it takes away from the allure of the workmanship.

My favorite piece was a diamond encrusted choker that was worn by the beautiful Grace Kelly. The distinctive detail and intricate enamel brought the piece to life. All in all, the exhibit was marvelous. Fashion can come and go, but to sustain style that was sculpted a hundred years ago is a skill.