The Duchess of Cornwall owns at least four of these adorable brooches from Van Cleef & Arpels, one of her favourite jewellers.
They are part of the Lucky Animals collection and feature a distinct beaded outline. They also have a two-pronged clip to attach the brooch, and onyx stone eyes. Lucky Animals is supposed to ‘celebrate colour and vivacity, by evoking one of the Maison’s dearest traditions: recounting a gentle and poetic nature’. This animal theme was reintroduced in 2016.
Van Cleef and Arpels Lucky Animals hummingbird clip
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall wears a Hummingbird brooch from Van Cleef and Arpels during a visit to Maggies in February 2020 (ALPR/AdMedia/Splash)
A hedgehog shape appeared alongside the rabbit (below) for World Book Day in March 2020. The face is created from silky-lustre tiger eye, with dark mother of pearl making up the body; beads around the outside of the body give the impression of spines. It has the addition of a cute black onyx button nose.
The piece costs £4950 here.
Van Cleef and Arpels Lucky Animals hedgehog clip
The bunny brooch, debuted at the same time, differs slightly, in that it is a rose-gold piece. With a mother-of-pearl tail and tiger eye fur, the onyx stone eye glances back at the viewer over its shoulder, showing off its little tail; this gives a hint of cheekiness to the animal. It costs £4950 here.
Van Cleef and Arpels Lucky Animals rabbit clip
May 2020 saw the debut of the owl clip, with its two-tones of mother of pearl. Facing us with a beaded tail, this brooch can be purchased here for £5450.
The Duchess wore it in a video to mark Volunteers’ Week during lockdown, but it sank into the background because of the lack of quality in the camera (probably Zoom or Skype), and that the dark mother of pearl was washed out against her navy blazer.
Van Cleef and Arpels Lucky Animals Owl clip
Duchess of Cornwall wears a Van Cleef & Arpels owl clip for a video message
We really like these unusual and fun little pieces, although their price tag is rather high…! What do you think of them?
