High Jewelry Pierres de Caractère - Variations collection - Discover the exceptional stones

Discover the exceptional stones of the Van Cleef & Arpels new High Jewelry collection Pierres de Caractère - Variations.
For over a century, exceptional stones have been at the heart of Van Cleef & Arpels' creations. Born out of the marriage of Estelle Arpels -- the daughter of a precious stone merchant -- and Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a lapidary, the Maison selects its materials according to the very highest standards. From white diamonds to colored gems, from mother-of-pearl to hard stones, it seeks excellence, but also character -- that spiritual quality which marks a gem out from its peers.
"Every stone has a soul of its own," as Claude Arpels used to say. Estelle Arpels' nephew, he travelled the world in search of these wonders, admiring their "living flame".
Transcending strictly objective criteria such as purity, color, cut or weight, they represent an encounter, a secret alchemy that awakens the senses. Pierres de Caractère™ -- carefully selected by the Maison's gemologists -- make the heart beat faster and instill a unique emotion.
Find out more about this collection: http://goo.gl/XpiLja