Lucky

I gave myself a very special Christmas gift this year. A bracelet. Not just any bracelet, it’s a bracelet that the famous French jeweler Van Cleef and Arpels made in l970. I was too young to be interested in jewelry then, but I saw one of these bracelets many years later, and have seen a few since at vintage jewelers, and because they are so rare, and were a limited edition, and have become a collectors’ item, they were out of my budget. A few months ago, my daughter who is the fashion editor of a magazine told me she had read about it, and that Van Cleef was making another limited edition of the famous bracelet, at a normal price, not the price I’d seen over the years in fancy vintage stores. And I called the store in Paris and immediately ordered one for me, and for each of my daughters. (Once again, it’s a limited edition, and I believe there are between 50 and 100 being made, and they won’t make any more after that). It’s not a fancy, jazzy bracelet, there are no diamonds on it. It’s a beautiful, very simple bracelet with a great message on it, kind of a good luck charm. I’ve always wanted it, and I love both art and jewelry that involves words, or a message. (I have a wonderful gold link bracelet with one word engraved on each link, like ‘love’, ‘laughter’, ‘harmony’, ‘friendship’, all the good things in life that make us happy.)

The Van Cleef bracelet is simple and beautiful. It’s a bangle bracelet made of wood (ebony or 2 different kinds of dark brown wood) with 4 little gold oval plaques on it, and in French it says “To be lucky, you have to believe in luck”. I LOVE that message, and the simple wood bracelet. It’s such a great reminder to have a positive outlook in life and really believe that good things can happen to you. (I put mine on in the store, and have worn it everyday and everywhere since). I am soooooo excited about this bracelet, and owning it, after so many years of wanting it!!! I hope it will be my lucky charm, and one for my daughters too!!!

Love, Danielle