Updated May 2026: Eighteen months on from the original piece, the Alhambra’s hold on Gen Z hasn’t cooled, if anything it’s heating up. Van Cleef & Arpels raised prices in April 2025, the third consecutive annual increase, with some pieces now 20 percent more expensive than they were in 2023, and waiting lists have lengthened rather than shortened. The clover has also become one of the most-worn pieces of jewellery in men’s hip-hop and professional sport, from Drake to Olympic fencer Cheung Ka-long. Lily’s original piece, below, still captures why.
For more on the Alhambra read Lily’s story on the Clover updated
You don’t have to scroll for very long on social media before you come across a piece of Alhambra jewellery by Van Cleef & Arpels. There are shopping reveals. There are reviews and comparisons. There are even so-called ‘dupes’, held up by people who baulk at the original’s luxury price tag (for reference, entry level prices begin at £2,000, and continue to head northwards of £30,000). One thing is for sure, this sparkling four-leaf design is currently rolling in clover – at least amongst the internet-savvy members of Generation Z. And as a member of this group, I’m often asked…what is it about Alhambra that makes it so appealing?
For the definitive Alhambra story read What makes Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra so covetable?
First of all, it’s an iconic design. The Alhambra collection was first created in 1968, and quickly became popular in the 1970s, championed by celebrities including Princess Grace of Monaco and the actress Romy Schneider, who wore layers of Alhambra chains in a very cool, relaxed-looking way. Van Cleef has gently revived the design every decade since, introducing different combinations of stones and metals, but never changing its clover motif – so it’s an enduring and instantly recognisable shape, which translates well in fashion shoots and on social media. It’s a real ‘IYKYK’ thing.
Secondly, because Van Cleef tend not to work with celebrities and influencers as such, the high profile people who wear it genuinely have to buy it for themselves, demonstrating how much they really love it. Several key social media influencers, such as Alix Earle, Sasha Attwood and Perrie Edwards, have been spotted wearing Alhambra, as has Olympic gold medalist Cheung Ka Long and even the Princess of Wales, who wears a piece from the 1960s. According to the brand, the clover motif also signifies “luck and a positive vision of life,” which, given Generation Z’s fondness for talismanic jewellery, resonates really well with us.
Thirdly, because the Alhambra design remains genuinely beautiful and versatile. Its combinations of beaded gold, guilloché engraving, intricate detailing, and colourful stones give it a luxurious and sophisticated appearance, and it’s easy to layer up and style your own way. It’s also a unisex piece, which my generation certainly appreciates, given our bold, free-spirited approach to self expression and dress – we see it on everyone from LeBron James and Lily Van Der Woodsen, to Drake, Lewis Hamilton and Cardi B and it always looks amazing. Plus, it’s expensive enough to keep it an aspirational status symbol – it’s something you feel you should strive for.
Ultimately, my feeling is that seeing people my own age styling Alhambra in a modern way is what makes the design so popular on TikTok. What makes it an enduring icon is simply that it’s an amazing piece of jewellery that seems to resonate with every generation.
For more about Van Cleef & Arpels CEO Catherine Rénier on the evolution of the iconic motif
Like this? Read about Van Cleef & Arpel’s latest high jewellery collection
