Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Mother of Pearl Pendant Necklace 18k Yellow Gold

One butterfly. White mother-of-pearl, 18k yellow gold, nothing else.

The wing is cut from a single slice of shell and set the way Van Cleef sets everything in the Alhambra family — a flat bezel, then that beaded gold border running the full outline. Here the beading has more work to do than on a clover. It tracks the two upper wings, pinches in at the body, then flares again across the lower pair. Four tiny prongs sit at the inside points, holding the shell where the border changes direction. That’s the whole mechanism. No glue, no backing plate doing the real job.

The pendant hangs from two bails, one at each upper wing, so it sits level on the chain rather than tipping forward. Fine cable-link chain in matching yellow gold, lobster clasp, with an intermediate ring for wearing it shorter. It’s small. It’s meant to be. This is the piece that goes on in the morning and stays on.

Comes with the Van Cleef & Arpels authenticity certificate.