Peridot, Blue Topaz, Pink Tourmaline, Citrine, Amethyst and Diamond Earrings, Van Cleef and Arpels

Unique Elements
These Van Cleef and Arpels half-hoop multi-gem earrings brighten any look, from day to evening, and look good on everyone. Try them for day with a monochromatic navy look, or for evening with a dress or silk tank or suit in any of the jewel tones in the earrings.

Peridot Peridot was originally mined by ancient Egyptians who called it the “gem of the sun.” Peridot ranges from brown-green to yellowish green to pure green. The Romans called peridot the “emerald of the evening” and the deepest green peridot have been mistaken for emeralds for centuries. Peridot is the August birthstone and the 15th anniversary stone.

Blue Topaz The name Topaz can be traced back to the Sanskrit word topas or “fire.” Topaz come in colors including brown, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple as well as colorless. Natural blue topaz is very rare and is caused by atomic element changes in the crystal structure of the stone itself. Colorless topaz is widely available and can be treated to give it a blue color. Topaz is a November birthstone.

Pink Tourmaline Tourmalines come in a wide range of colors, from red, pinks and peach to green, yellow and blues. Pink tones are caused by trace elements of manganese present in the soil as the tourmaline was forming. In the 1890s, California was a major source of pink tourmaline, most of which was exported to China as it was the favorite color of the Dowager Empress Tz'u Hsi. Tourmaline is an October birthstone, as well as the 8th wedding anniversary stone.

Citrine Citrine, a yellow to orange variety of quartz, is rare in nature. A November birthstone, as well as the stone marking the thirteenth wedding anniversary, citrines are one of the most popular yellow gemstones. Often identified with the Victorian era, citrine’s use as a gem dates back to 300 B.C.

Pear Shape The pear shape, also known as teardrop shape, dates back to 1475 when Lodewyck van Bercken invented both the diamond polishing wheel and the pear shape that it enabled. Ideal pear shape symmetry is a length to width ratio of 1.5:1. In a ring, pear cuts can elongate the appearance of the finger, and in earrings, pear cuts can give the appearance of water droplets or movement. This shape holds more color than a round and is typically faceted in the brilliant style to provide maximum sparkle.

Amethyst Amethyst means “not drunk” in ancient Greek and has long been associated with Bacchus, the God of Wine, it is thought due to its wine-like color. Amethyst is a variety of quartz, ranging in color from lilac to dark purple. Amethyst was at one point equal in value to ruby, emerald, and sapphire and features in royal jewelry throughout time. Amethyst is the February birthstone.

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.