Coral, Mother of Pearl and Gold Bracelet, Van Cleef and Arpels

Unique Elements
This gold link bracelet is set with exceptionally fine cushion cut coral and mother of pearl. Wear this on its own to glow against white or navy, or stack it with other gold and coral bracelets in our collection for a more dramatic evening look, paired with a tuxedo or gown.

Coral Coral is an organic gem ranging from red to pink to white in color. Corals are usually cut as beads or cabochons. Vintage coral is still acceptable for trade, but as coral reefs are endangered and now protected, Beekman New York does not carry any coral collected since 1979, when protections were first implemented.

Mother of Pearl Mother of pearl, or nacre, is the iridescent lining of pearl producing mollusks. It is also the same material that makes up the outer layer of the pearl itself. Use of mother of pearl in adornments dates back to 2600 BC, and pieces have been found in King Tutankhamen’s Tomb as well as in artifacts from the Shang Dynasty in China.

Cushion Cut The cushion cut, which can be both a modern or “old mine” cut is a square or rectangular diamond with softly rounded corners, like a cushion. Most colored gems as well as diamonds were cushion cut in the 19th century, and it is one of the best diamond cuts for retaining natural color, which is why it remains popular for colored stones to this day. The old mine cut has 58 facets where a modern cushion cut typically has 64 facets.

Van Cleef and Arpels Established in 1906, Van Cleef and Arpels has maintained its flagship in the Place Vendôme in Paris ever since. Known for iconic motifs including flowers, animals, and fairies, the house has designed for the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Eva Peron, among many others.  VCA won the grand prize at the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in 1925 and established itself as one of the leading houses of the Art Deco period. In 1933, VCA patented its "Mystery Setting,” a technique where each stone is faceted onto invisible gold rails less than two-tenths of a millimeter thick. Each mystery setting can require 300 hours of work per piece or more, and only a few are produced each year. Signature collections include Alhambra, created in 1968.