Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Lapis Lazuli 20 Motif Necklace 18K Yellow Gold

Van Cleef & Arpels' Vintage Alhambra long necklace in 18k yellow gold, set with 20 lapis lazuli motifs, each one framed in the signature beaded gold border and spaced along a fine cable chain. The stone's a deep, saturated royal blue, with the soft flecks and tonal shifts you only get from real lapis. No two clovers match exactly. That's the point.

Here's why it matters. Lapis was part of the Alhambra story from the early days, back when the clover first showed up in 1968, but it hasn't been in Van Cleef's regular lineup for years. Onyx, malachite, carnelian, mother-of-pearl: you can still walk into a boutique for those. Lapis you can't. When a 20-motif surfaces on the secondary market, it doesn't sit long, and collectors know it. It's the rarer cousin of a necklace everyone recognizes.

And the 20-motif length is the most versatile Alhambra there is. Wear it long and it drops past the neckline. Double it and you get two layered strands close to the collarbone. One piece, two looks, and it holds its own against a black dress or a white tee.

Blue, gold, and nearly impossible to replace.