Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace 18K White Gold Mother-of-Pearl

The Alhambra, in white on white.

One Vintage Alhambra motif in 18K white gold, set with a single slice of white mother-of-pearl. Not four pieces — one, cut to the four-lobe shape so the nacre's grain runs unbroken corner to corner. The shell is selected for a clean, even face with that faint pink-to-silver shift when it turns in the light, and it's held by four prongs, one at each inner notch of the clover, which leaves the lobes themselves clear. Around the edge: the beaded border, 18K gold granules soldered one at a time and the whole rim polished so it reads as a string of tiny pearls in metal. Same detail VCA has put on this motif since 1968.

The pendant is fixed to the chain, not sliding, so it stays centered. Chain is VCA's white gold cable link, lobster clasp, signed tag at the closure. Length is the standard 16 inches — sits just below the collarbone.

Motif measures 15 mm across, the classic Vintage size. Substantial enough to read from across a room, light enough to forget it's on.

Signed VCA, stamped Au750, numbered.