In 1906, Alfred Van Cleef and two of his brothers-inlaw, Charles and Julien Arpels, opened their first salon at Place Vendome. Six years later, the youngest Arpels brother Louis, joined the family firm. Their immediate success prompted the partners to expand to important pleasure spots in France as well as abroad. In 1930, Louis Arpels created the first minaudiere, a sleek gold box with hidden compartments whhich held all the items essential for the well-dressed lady. In 1935 the firm revolutionized jewelry by introducing the "invisible setting" whereby gemstones were mounted without any visbible signs of the setting. In response to a more casual lifestyle, they introduced their "Boutique" department in 1954, a concept embraced by other jewelers. Van Cleef and Arpels is still directed by the family.
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