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Key Points
- Richemont’s Van Cleef & Arpels debuts a 260-square-meter boutique in Florence, fusing Renaissance elegance with the Maison’s signature artistry and heritage-rich collections.
- The boutique launch includes an exclusive exhibition, Welcome to Van Cleef & Arpels’ World, featuring archival designs like the Mystery Set and transformable Zip necklace.
- Jewelry sales led Richemont’s FY25 growth, with Van Cleef & Arpels helping drive €15.3 billion in revenue—nearly 75% of the group’s total earnings.
Van Cleef & Arpels, the storied French high-jewelry maison under Richemont, the Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont led by South African billionaire Johann Rupert, has launched its first boutique in Florence, Italy, expanding its presence into one of Europe’s most culturally significant cities.
The boutique, located near Florence’s historic Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Strozzi, blends the city’s Renaissance charm with the Maison’s signature poetic style. Silk-draped metallic mesh panels, custom chandeliers, Murano glass vitrines, and Art Deco interiors define the two-level, 260-square-meter space.
Maison’s heritage meets Florence’s elegance
Visitors are welcomed with curated displays of Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic collections—Alhambra, Perlée, and Frivole—while upstairs, plush private salons finished in green quartz and black lacquer wood evoke tranquility and refinement.
To mark the opening, the boutique is hosting Welcome to Van Cleef & Arpels’ World, an exhibition running through July 2025. The showcase highlights the Maison’s design evolution and technical innovation, featuring archival pieces including the Mystery Set technique and the Zip necklace.
Founded in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels is a pillar of Richemont’s portfolio, which includes Cartier, Buccellati, and the recently acquired Vhernier. Jewelry remains the group’s top-performing segment, with sales for the year ended March 31, 2025, rising 8 percent to €15.3 billion ($17.13 billion), accounting for nearly 75 percent of Richemont’s €21.4 billion ($23.97 billion) in total revenue. Group profit climbed 17 percent to €2.75 billion ($3.08 billion).
Van Cleef & Arpels deepens global retail presence
Throughout the year under review, Van Cleef & Arpels maintained strong growth momentum, buoyed by a geographically diversified retail footprint and the overall dynamism of the global jewelry market.
The Maison expanded its presence in key luxury hubs across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with boutique openings in New York, Amsterdam, and Beijing—each contributing to stronger local client engagement and increased tourist-driven sales.
Rupert holds firm amid mixed financials
Despite a nearly 4 percent drop in group assets to €41.01 billion ($45.9 billion) and a 6.8 percent fall in retained earnings, Richemont’s robust jewelry growth helped offset broader pressures.
For Johann Rupert, who retains 51 percent voting control and a 10.18 percent stake in Richemont, the year reaffirmed his dominance in global luxury. His net worth stands at $16.1 billion, with his Richemont holdings valued around $11.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
