Van Cleef & Arpels was founded in 1906 in Paris, at 22 Place Vendôme, by Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, who married in 1895. Their union combined a diamond dealer's family with a stonecutter's, leading to a shared passion for jewelry and precious stones. The brand is well known for its innovation, including the “Mystery Set” technique, in which diamonds are set seemingly without any visible mounting. The New York boutique on Fifth Avenue opened in the 1940s and continues today, and they have created jewelry for royalty, celebrities and everyday people. Their most famous current design is the “Alhambra” collection of 4-leaf clover jewelry in a variety of gemstones.