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Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant vs Cartier Love Necklace: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant if you want the iconic lucky clover. Buy the Cartier Love Necklace instead if you want Cartier daily.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant
Buy

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant

Best for Clover pendant

Typically $3,500–$4,800

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
Cartier Love Necklace
Buy

Cartier Love Necklace

Best for Love motif

Typically $2,500–$4,500

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureVan Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra PendantCartier Love Necklace
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$3,500–$4,800$2,500–$4,500
Best forClover pendantLove motif
Key featureSingle clover pendantLove pendant necklace
Metal18k gold18k gold
StonesMother-of-pearl or onyxOptional diamond
Size42 cm chain44 cm
ClosureLobsterLobster
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Metal

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: 18k gold; Cartier Love Necklace: 18k gold.

Stones

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: Mother-of-pearl or onyx; Cartier Love Necklace: Optional diamond.

Size

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: 42 cm chain; Cartier Love Necklace: 44 cm.

Closure

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: Lobster; Cartier Love Necklace: Lobster.

Why buy it

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: single clover pendant; Cartier Love Necklace: love pendant necklace.

Made for

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: clover pendant; Cartier Love Necklace: love motif.

Usual price

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant: $3,500–$4,800; Cartier Love Necklace: $2,500–$4,500.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant if you

  • you want the iconic lucky clover
  • value iconic
Check Price Paid link

Choose the Cartier Love Necklace if you

  • you want Cartier daily
  • value iconic
Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best fine jewelry necklaces.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Strand

Mikimoto · Fine jewelry necklaces

Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Strand

Buy it if you want a lifetime pearl necklace.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
The pearl strand
Typical price
$4,000–$12,000

Pros

  • Superb pearls
  • Timeless

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard

Tiffany & Co. · Fine jewelry necklaces

Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard

Buy it if you want a delicate daily diamond.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Delicate diamonds
Typical price
$1,400–$4,500

Pros

  • Delicate
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Tiny diamonds
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant or Cartier Love Necklace: which should I buy?

Buy the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant if you want the iconic lucky clover. Buy the Cartier Love Necklace instead if you want Cartier daily.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant usually costs $3,500–$4,800 and the Cartier Love Necklace $2,500–$4,500. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant or Cartier Love Necklace: the full reasoning

Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant or Cartier Love Necklace? Both are strong fine jewelry necklaces, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant if you want the iconic lucky clover, and buy the Cartier Love Necklace if you want Cartier daily. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant wins on single clover pendant. The Cartier Love Necklace answers with love pendant necklace. Metal: 18k gold on the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant, 18k gold on the Cartier Love Necklace. Stones: Mother-of-pearl or onyx on the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant, Optional diamond on the Cartier Love Necklace. Size: 42 cm chain on the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant, 44 cm on the Cartier Love Necklace. Closure: Lobster on the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant, Lobster on the Cartier Love Necklace.

Reasons to buy the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant

Iconic, Holds value. What to accept: pricey. Usual price: $3,500–$4,800. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Pendant review.

Reasons to buy the Cartier Love Necklace

Iconic. What to accept: pricey. Usual price: $2,500–$4,500. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Cartier Love Necklace review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best fine jewelry necklaces has every other piece with its own call. Chain length: 40–45 cm sits at the collarbone; layering needs 5 cm steps.

Also consider the Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Strand ($4,000–$12,000): akoya pearl strand. Buy it if you want a lifetime pearl necklace.

Also consider the Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard ($1,400–$4,500): bezel diamond station necklace. Buy it if you want a delicate daily diamond.

Buyer tip

A small motif pendant in 18k gold is the most worn piece of fine jewelry; buy that before a statement necklace.

Buying in Europe: gold jewelry in the EU and UK is often hallmarked (750 for 18k gold). Ask for the hallmark and, for any diamond over about 0.3 carats, a grading report from GIA, HRD or IGI.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.