Van Cleef & Arpels, High Jewelry Place Vendôme since 1906 - Discover Van Cleef & Arpels' universe and its High Jewelry, Jewelry, Bridal and Watches creations. Arpels, this luxury French firm began as a high jewelry company. Over the years, it evolved, branching into fragrances and eventually watches. Today, under the auspices of the Richemont Group, Van Cleef & Arpels has watchmaking facilities in Switzerland and builds highly complex or high-jeweled masterpieces. It is known for its Poetry of Time series of automaton watches, wherein a couple meets on a bridge.