Every autumn, a small corner of the jewelry world holds its breath. Collectors refresh boutique pages, trade rumors about colors, and wonder whether this will be the year they finally find their favorite. The object of all that anticipation is a pendant barely the size of a coin: the Van Cleef holiday pendant.
Each edition is a special, limited release of the Vintage Alhambra, the four-leaf clover that has become one of the Maison’s best-known symbols of luck. The clover stays the same. What changes, year after year, is the material, the color, and the gold it’s set in. That’s why collectors talk about “finding their year,” much the way readers talk about finding their book.
The 2026 Van Cleef holiday pendant edition is blue-grey Sèvres porcelain in yellow gold with a central diamond, at a reported US retail price of $4,450. This guide explores the history, editions, prices, and practicalities of buying and collecting these pendants, so you can decide which one is yours.
What Is the Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant?
A Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant is a limited-edition version of the Vintage Alhambra pendant, released once a year and defined by a material, color, and metal that change with each edition. Think of it as an annual guest appearance. The standard Alhambra comes in a familiar range of stones and golds. The holiday version is a one-year variation on that theme.
The motif itself is the Alhambra, introduced by the Maison in 1968. It’s a four-leaf clover, long associated with good fortune, edged with a signature border of tiny gold beads. Most holiday editions also carry a small round diamond at the center of the clover, though there have been exceptions. The annual tradition is generally traced to 2005.
What makes the series so appealing is the tension between the familiar and the new. You know the silhouette immediately, yet each edition is individual. For collectors, owning a particular year is a small way to hold a moment in time. Every Van Cleef holiday pendant records how the Maison thought about color and materials that season.
The History of the Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant
The first edition appeared in 2005, set in onyx and yellow gold. The early years are murkier than you’d expect. Specialist guides disagree about some editions between 2006 and 2009, and at least one reports that no pendant was released in 2006. That’s why those years carry a caution in the archive below. By 2010 the pattern is clear: one new stone each year, beginning with lapis lazuli.
From there, the series widened. Over the years it has moved through carnelian and malachite, through white, grey, yellow, and pink mother-of-pearl, and through pink, blue, and green porcelain. It has included the concentric rings of Bull’s Eye in 2017, the engraved, light-catching guilloché gold of 2020 and 2024, and obsidian in 2023. Blue Sèvres porcelain appeared as early as 2019, which makes the blue-grey of 2026 a new interpretation within a longer story rather than a first.
That balance between continuity and change is the real engine of the series. The Alhambra silhouette never changes, so the material has to do all the talking. As the archive grows, so does the pleasure of comparing editions side by side. Think of it as an evolving design archive, each pendant a small record of the Maison’s approach to color in a given year.
Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendants by Year: The Complete Guide
If you’ve ever wondered which year had which stone, here’s the archive. The Van Cleef holiday pendant by year is easy to scan, but note that the early editions (2006–2009) are disputed across specialist sources. However, the 2010–2025 entries are consistent across the guides we cross-checked.
| Year | Gold or Metal | Stone or Material | Color and Details |
| 2005 | Yellow gold | Onyx | Where the tradition begins; deep black against warm gold |
| 2006 | Disputed | Disputed | [VERIFY] Some guides list no release; others list pink opal |
| 2007 | Yellow gold | White mother-of-pearl | [VERIFY] Listed by two guides; another lists tiger’s eye |
| 2008 | Yellow gold | White mother-of-pearl | [VERIFY] Reported as a star-shaped “Lucky Star,” without a diamond |
| 2009 | White gold | White mother-of-pearl | [VERIFY] Cooler tone; one guide lists turquoise |
| 2010 | Yellow gold | Lapis lazuli | Deep, regal blue |
| 2011 | Rose gold | Carnelian | Warm orange-red |
| 2012 | Rose gold | White mother-of-pearl | Soft, luminous white |
| 2013 | Yellow gold | Malachite | Banded green |
| 2014 | Rose gold | Grey mother-of-pearl | Quiet, pearly grey |
| 2015 | Rose gold | Pink porcelain | Soft pink |
| 2016 | Rose gold | Black onyx | Dark and graphic |
| 2017 | Rose gold | Bull’s Eye (tiger’s eye) | Concentric, warm-toned banding |
| 2018 | Yellow gold | Yellow/gold mother-of-pearl | Pale golden glow |
| 2019 | Yellow gold | Blue Sèvres porcelain | Clear blue porcelain |
| 2020 | White gold | Diamond guilloché | Engraved, light-catching gold |
| 2021 | Rose gold | Rhodonite | Muted pink |
| 2022 | White gold | Green celadon porcelain | Soft, jade-like green |
| 2023 | Rose gold | Obsidian | Dark, glassy surface |
| 2024 | White and rose gold | Guilloché | Two-tone engraved gold |
| 2025 | Rose gold | Pink mother-of-pearl | Warm blush tone |
| 2026 | Yellow gold | Blue-grey Sèvres porcelain | Muted blue with a grey undertone; central diamond |
This archive is updated when a new edition is announced and verified. Rows marked [VERIFY] reflect disagreement between sources.
A few recent editions deserve a closer look.
- 2026 is the blue-grey Sèvres porcelain pendant in yellow gold. The color is a deep, muted blue with a distinct grey undertone, which gives it a calm, slightly moody feel. The yellow gold warms it up.
- 2025 pairs pink mother-of-pearl with rose gold, a tone-on-tone combination that glows rather than shouts. We cover that edition in detail in our look at the 2025 pink mother-of-pearl edition.
- 2024 and 2020 are the guilloché years. Rather than adding a stone, the Maison engraved the gold itself, so the pendant plays with light through texture instead of color.
- 2023 brought obsidian, a dark volcanic glass, set in rose gold. Against the warm metal, its glassy surface looks almost liquid.
- 2022 and 2021 gave us green celadon porcelain and muted pink rhodonite, two very different personalities within the same shape.
What Makes Each Holiday Pendant Special?
The facts tell you which pendant is which. Appreciating them is a different skill.
The Appeal of Color
Color changes how a pendant behaves. A grey or blue one reads as quiet and cool, almost architectural. Pink and rose tones are warmer and softer against the skin. Green, as in celadon or malachite, brings richness and a sense of depth. None is universally better. It depends on what you wear, what else you own, and how you want the pendant to sit in your jewelry box. Many collectors choose by asking which color they reach for without thinking.
Materials and Craftsmanship
The materials feel different, too. Hardstones like carnelian, malachite, and lapis have natural patterns, so no two are exactly alike. Mother-of-pearl has a soft, shifting luster. Porcelain is smoother and more saturated. For its Sèvres porcelain, the Maison describes a multi-stage process of cutting, tinting, firing, hand-polishing, and careful color matching before the piece is set into the beaded border. Guilloché is different again: the artistry is in the engraving of the gold itself, which catches light through pattern.
A Familiar Motif, Reinterpreted Each Year
This is the quiet genius of the series. You’re never buying something unrecognizable, but you’re also never buying a duplicate. The pendant is both a classic and a variation, and the fun of collecting is noticing how much a single change in material can transform a very familiar shape.
How Much Does a Van Cleef Holiday Pendant Cost?
The most direct answer: the 2026 edition is reported at $4,450 in the US. Confirm the current price and availability with the Maison or an official boutique before you buy, since regional prices, taxes, and currencies differ, and one country’s price isn’t interchangeable with another’s.
Prices vary by year, metal, material, and market. They also change over time, so an old retail price should always be labeled with its year and market rather than presented as today’s. And it’s worth keeping three kinds of numbers separate: the official retail price (what the Maison charges), the secondary-market asking price (what a reseller hopes to get), and the completed-sale price (what someone actually paid).
The gap between them can be large. Resale listings for the 2026 edition, for example, currently show asking prices of about $7,000 to $8,950, well above the reported retail price. Those are asking prices only, not evidence of what buyers are paying.
| Edition | Price | Type | Market | Source/Date |
| 2026 | $4,450 | Reported retail | US | PurseBop, October 2026 |
| 2026 | $7,000–$8,950 | Resale asking | US | Resale platforms, October 2026 |
| 2019 | $5,700 | Resale asking | US | Sotheby’s listing, at time of writing |
We include original retail prices for past editions only where they can be documented. If you want a quick sense of the going rate for a specific year, compare several current listings and, where possible, completed sales.
How to Buy a Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant
Buying the Current Edition from Van Cleef & Arpels
Start with the source. Contact an official boutique or the Maison directly to check the current release, regional availability, and purchasing process. Policies vary, so don’t assume a boutique will offer a waitlist or allocation. Treat buying direct as the first route to investigate, not a guaranteed way to secure a piece.
Finding Past Editions on the Secondary Market
Discontinued years turn up with established pre-owned luxury jewelers, specialist resellers, and reputable auction houses. When you compare listings, look closely at the exact year, the material, the condition, whether the original documentation is included, and the seller’s reputation. A Van Cleef holiday pendant from a trusted seller with clear photos and a return policy is worth more peace of mind than one that’s a little cheaper.
What to Check Before You Buy
- The exact edition and year. Don’t confuse a holiday pendant with a standard Alhambra in a similar stone.
- The metal and material description. Does it match the archive?
- The condition. Look for damage, wear, or repairs.
- Provenance and documentation. Original box, certificate, and pouch matter.
- Return policy and authenticity assurances.
- The price relative to comparable listings and, where available, completed sales.
Are Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendants a Good Investment?
The honest answer is that a beautiful collectible can have a secondary market without being a dependable financial investment.
Limited availability and collector interest can support demand for particular editions. But an asking price isn’t proof of resale value. Original retail price, actual completed sales, and current condition are three separate things, and fees, reseller margins, and the time it takes to find a buyer all affect what you’d really get back. If you’ve seen a pendant listed far above retail, remember that it only tells you what a seller wants.
We haven’t found documented, dated transaction data that would justify promising appreciation, so we won’t. Our view: buy a Van Cleef holiday pendant because you love it, and treat any resale as a bonus rather than the plan. For a broader look at the question, see our guide to jewelry as an investment.
Which Van Cleef & Arpels Holiday Pendant Should You Collect?
Here’s a simple framework.
- Start with color and the jewelry you already wear. If your collection is mostly yellow gold, a yellow-gold edition will slot in easily. If you love rose gold, there are plenty of years to choose from.
- Decide what kind of material appeals to you: porcelain, natural stone, mother-of-pearl, or textured gold.
- Choose between the current edition and a particular year. One is easier to find. The other may be a better match for your taste.
- Weigh wearability, condition, budget, and availability together.
- Collect the editions you love, not the ones a ranking tells you are “best” or “rarest.”
The 2026 blue-grey porcelain pendant is a good example. If you prefer cool, muted tones and a smooth, saturated surface, it may suit you perfectly. If you tend toward warmth, a rose-gold year may be a better fit, and that advice holds no matter how new the latest edition is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendant?
It’s a limited-edition annual version of the Vintage Alhambra pendant. The four-leaf clover stays the same, while the material, color, and metal change with each edition, usually with a small diamond at the center.
When did the holiday pendant tradition begin?
The tradition is generally traced to 2005, when the first edition appeared in onyx and yellow gold. Some specialist sources disagree about the details of the earliest years.
Does Van Cleef & Arpels release a holiday pendant every year?
Almost every year. Specialist guides disagree about the early editions, and several report that nothing was released in 2006. Since 2010, there has been a new edition each year.
How much is the Van Cleef holiday pendant?
The 2026 edition is reported at $4,450 in the US. Confirm the current price with the Maison or an official boutique, since prices vary by market. Resale asking prices are often higher.
How can I buy the current holiday pendant?
Contact an official boutique or the Maison to ask about availability and the process. Policies vary by region, and availability isn’t guaranteed.
Can I buy past holiday pendant editions?
Yes, through pre-owned luxury jewelers, specialist resellers, and reputable auction houses. Compare the exact year, condition, documentation, and seller reputation.
Which years and materials are available?
Editions run from 2005 to 2026, including onyx, lapis, carnelian, malachite, mother-of-pearl, porcelain, rhodonite, obsidian, and guilloché gold. See the archive above for each year.
Do Van Cleef & Arpels holiday pendants increase in value?
There’s no guarantee. Some editions may command more on the secondary market, but asking prices aren’t proof of value. Collect what you love.
Discover our editor’s curation
A Collection That Evolves One Year at a Time
The appeal of the series is simple: a familiar four-leaf clover, reinvented each year in a new material, and the personal meaning a collector can attach to one edition. Maybe it’s the year you got engaged, or the color you can’t stop wearing.
The most compelling Van Cleef holiday pendant isn’t necessarily the most expensive or the hardest to find. It’s the one whose color, material, and design keep speaking to you long after the season is over.
Featured image: Dandelion Antiques
Lydia Oladejo is a creative writer with over seven years of experience writing intriguing stories and engaging content. As a Staff Writer at Sewelo, she explores the artistry and history of high jewelry, blending her expertise in storytelling with a passion for luxury design.
