Alfred Van Cleef

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Cleef_%26_Arpels

1898 Ester Arpels marries her cousin Alfred Van Cleef and this brings together two jewish families. Alfred Van Cleef establishes his boutique at 35 rue de Bellefond

1899 Alfred moves to 28 rue Saint Denis

1900 The Exposition Universalle was held in Paris and following this wealthy Russians and Americans flocked to the city. It was the place to see and be seen and the ideal location to start up a new jewellery firm.

1906 Alfred Van Cleef and his brothers in-law Salomon and Julien Arpels, register the name ‘Van Cleef & Arpels’. The boutique settles at 22 Place Vendôme in Paris. Their skills are complimentary and the new House of Van Cleef & Arpels became very successful. They soon begin to open new boutiques across the fashionable seaside towns of France and abroad.