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Vincenzo La Torre

Chief Editor, Style; Fashion Editor, Post Magazine


Everyone is welcome at Van Cleef & Arpels. This is the message the storied French jeweller wants to convey to its clients in Hong Kong – and around the world – with its newly opened Maison at Alexandra House, in the heart of the Central district.
One of only five in the world – the other four are in Paris, New York, Seoul and Tokyo – the Hong Kong Maison was originally located in Prince’s Building, which like Alexandra House is part of the Landmark luxury complex.
Designed by Paris-based Studio Jouin Manku, the two-floor boutique stands out for its striking facade of white stone, decorated with plaster petals. The soft shades of the exterior harmonise with the earth tones of the interiors, where oak panelling, gold leaf and even an indoor garden on the ground floor create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

“It’s a Maison that is open to people who are living [not far away] … to be installed there, to [be anchored], to have the art, to [be] of the place,” explain Sanjit Manku and Patrick Jouin of Studio Jouin Manku in a statement.
Marc Leplingard, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels, Hong Kong and Macau, describes the Maison as “a lighthouse”. “Whoever enters the Maison may just be discovering the brand or plan on purchasing something,” he says in an interview in one of the boutique’s salons, where clients can arrange private appointments.
Established in Paris in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the most prestigious jewellers in the world. Its creations range from coveted fine jewellery lines such as Alhambra and Perlée to one-of-a-kind high jewellery pieces that are out of reach to most people. While the brand goes to great efforts to cultivate its long-term loyal customers, it also caters to potential clients who may not be as well versed in its illustrious heritage.

A significant portion of the ground floor of the Hong Kong Maison is devoted to temporary exhibitions that explore different themes, with displays showcasing creations dating back to the early days of the jeweller.
“We bring clients into the history of Van Cleef & Arpels, unveiling the universe of Van Cleef & Arpels,” says Leplingard. “Inspiration, shapes, design, aesthetics. And all along the journey you go from the high jewellery patrimony to watchmaking and fragrances. Clients do not know that we actually started fragrances in 1920.”
This educational aspect reflects the democratic approach Van Cleef & Arpels takes when it comes to all its initiatives. Its creations are rarefied objects that a very privileged few can afford, but that doesn’t mean that a passer-by intrigued by the windows of the boutique should feel intimidated about discovering what’s inside.

“Exclusivity is about the creations, not the experience,” says Leplingard. “We are inclusive of everyone and open our doors to explain [who we are] and then we take you [based on] where you are in your knowledge. Our clients in Hong Kong, for instance, may know more about us.”
Van Cleef & Arpels has a long history in the city. The brand’s first boutique in Hong Kong opened in 1981, long before the house was acquired by Richemont, the luxury group behind brands such as Cartier, Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
This recent upgrade is part of a major refurbishment of Landmark, owned by developer Hongkong Land. The three-year project involves the revamp and expansion of stores from top tenants such as Cartier, Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton. The developer has pledged to invest US$400 million in the three-year redevelopment, with the brands within adding an estimated US$600 million on their own premises.

This project is also a sign of confidence in Hong Kong, a major luxury retail hub that over the years has experienced some instability, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, when border closures kept international travellers from visiting. The pandemic, however, was also a wake-up call for many luxury labels that had relied too heavily on inbound tourists, neglecting the very important local clientele.
“We should pay attention to both and never neglect one or the other,” says Leplingard. “This Maison is not a new Maison, it’s a new chapter in Central. In our previous location in Prince’s Building we were not able to cater to them in the fullest expression of the brand. This is a Maison for new clients discovering the brand and for existing clients to go one step [further] – whether local or tourist.”

He adds that just like luxury hotels that know the preferences of frequent guests, the Maison aims to make its loyal customers feel at home, with personalised touches that make a difference – whether it’s holding appointments in their preferred salons or offering them their favourite drinks as soon as they step in.
This level of attention becomes even more important at a time where brick and mortar plays a different role amid the rise of digital sales. While Van Cleef & Arpels operates an online boutique, most of its creations are only available in store. “Digital is everywhere and very important, but on the retail side, experience prevails,” says Leplingard. “Digital is at the service of a physical experience in store. We want to [provide] information that helps you to have a hint of what you will discover and make you wish to come and see us in store, because jewellery needs to be tried, touched and felt: you need to go into the store, you need to talk to our staff, you need to get to know a bit about us, about the creations, and then you will get a way better experience.”

Leplingard also points out the importance of the relationship that customers have with their sales associates, who are very attuned to their tastes and won’t try to push something on them just for the sake of making a sale. This is especially true in Hong Kong, where luxury consumers are very savvy and very well travelled. It’s not uncommon for Hong Kong clients to make most of their high-end purchases in Europe or nearby countries such as Japan, for instance, to take advantage of a very weak yen.

“We are building this for the long term,” says Leplingard. “Yes there may be a Japan phenomenon and that’s fantastic but that doesn’t impact much any of the other markets, it doesn’t do any harm, and clients in Hong Kong still have specific relationships with their associates, which we keep building. That’s why I talk about the permanency of Hong Kong; there might be highs and lows, momentum and downfall, but overall, we see that each time in Hong Kong, the sinusoid goes up. It’s not about where the clients shop but what the clients experience in the boutique, the relationship they build with the sales associates. In the long run, that’s the best way to ensure that the brand will grow at its own pace qualitatively.”


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Style Edit: Van Cleef & Arpels opens new, larger  Hong Kong Maison

The Van Cleef & Arpels Hong Kong Maison is located at Alexandra House in Central district. Photo: Handout

The striking facade of the Van Cleef & Arpels Maison at Alexandra House. Photo: Handout

The Leaf clip from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection dates back to 1952. Photo: Handout

Marc Leplingard, Van Cleef & Arpels Hong Kong and Macau managing director. Photo: Handout

This Hawaii ring from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection dates back to 1938. Photo: Handout

A Forget-me-not clip from 1941 is also featured in the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Photo: Handout

A Perlée ring in yellow gold and sapphires. Photo: Handout

The Fragrance Salon showcases the brand’s perfumes. Photo: Handout

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Fascinating Egypt collection is inspired by pharaohs and pyramids

The Van Cleef & Arpels Fascinating Egypt high jewellery collection pays homage to Egypt. Photo: Handout

A clip in gold, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, coral, chrysoprase, turquoise, onyx and diamonds adorns the model’s hair. Photo: Handout

 A ring showcasing the Van Cleef & Arpels monogram in hieroglyphics. Photo: Handout

A clip depicting a pharaoh. Photo: Handout

The Paysage Merveilleux bracelet depicts Egypt’s pyramids. Photo: Handout

Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature mystery setting in the Fleur de Lotus Mystérieuse clip. Photo: Handout

This brooch is inspired by a 1988 photograph of singer Cher dressed as Cleopatra. Photo: Handout

The Vénus Égyptienne clip is made of stones including turquoise and lapis lazuli. Photo: Handout

The Beauté Légendaire necklace is set with a cushion-cut fancy vivid yellow diamond. Photo: Handout

 The Rivage Égyptien necklace features 37 pear-shaped emeralds. Photo: Handout

The return of jewelled hairpieces, boasting fans like Lisa from Blackpink and Megan Thee Stallion

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Dior Haute Joalliere’s Diorissima Collection. Photo: Anack Lejart

Megan Thee Stallion was regal in hair jewels at last year’s Met Gala in New York. Photo: GC Images

Zoë Kravitz at the Golden Globes. Photo: Penske Media/Getty Images

Simone Rocha fall/winter 2026. Photo: Handout

Fascinating Egypt hair clip by Van Cleef & Arpels. Photo: Handout

The Floris Pin by Kinraden. Photo: Handout

How to stack rings like a pro, according to jewellers like Jessica McCormack

Stacking is in: Yvonne Leon offers an eclectic selection of rings that cry out to be partnered up for a fun jewellery look. Photo: Handout

Otiumberg ring. Photo: Handout

Wyld Box ring stacking. Photo: Handout

Bee de Chaumet rings with matching ear jewellery. Photo: Handout

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A neat one-finger stack of Jessica McCormack rings. Photo: Handout

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Drake (left) and Jay-Z are on the list of hip-hop stars with the most expensive jewellery collections. Photos: @montreality/Instagram

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Jay-Z, a collector of the extravagant timepieces, sports a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300g at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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Graff engagement rings showcase a trend towards vintage glamour. Photo: Handout

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The French jeweller’s expanded space at Alexandra House – part of the US$1 billion Landmark upgrade – serves as a welcoming ‘lighthouse’ for locals and tourists alike


The French jeweller’s expanded space at Alexandra House – part of the US$1 billion Landmark upgrade – serves as a welcoming ‘lighthouse’ for locals and tourists alike.
