Photo: Helen Siwak — *Photo:* *Helen Siwak*

Paris-based luxury jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels has opened its largest Canadian location in Vancouver. The 1,435 square foot boutique is located inside downtown Vancouver's flagship Maison Birks at 698 West Hastings Street, and boasts its own dedicated door-front on the heritage building's facade. The new Van Cleef & Arpels is almost five times the size of the brand's previous 300 square foot Vancouver Maison Birks shop-in-store, which opened in September of 2006.

Retail Insider Vancouver correspondent Helen Siwak spent time with Store Director Stevan Suvajdzic touring the new Van Cleef & Arpels store, which features black lacquered wood furniture, and custom gold leaf wall coverings with hand-painted florals. Lighting features include a tiered, crystal chandelier, and crystal wall sconces. A private 'library' offers clients a private space to view Van Cleef & Arpels' products, which include its Alhambra collection, Cadenas timepieces, and signatures such as Between the Finger rings and Poetic Complications timepieces. Ms. Siwak described the experience as contrasting between the private, in-store solitude and the busy outdoors.

New Granville Street boutique entrance at right. Photo: Helen Siwak — *New Granville Street boutique entrance at right. Photo:* *Helen Siwak*

The boutique features the full range of Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery, including pieces from the brand’s premium range with some priced into the six-figures. The store also features the brand’s beautiful range of watches that are prized for their design and craftsmanship.

“We have enjoyed a successful partnership with Birks for many years,” said Alain Bernard, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels. “We are excited to increase our presence with this beautiful new space and look forward to sharing the Maison’s rich heritage and poetic vision of the world with our friends in Vancouver.”

Van Cleef & Arpels' only other Canadian location is at Maison Birks in Toronto's Manulife Centre. That Birks store also saw Van Cleef & Arpels open in the fall of 2006, though a replacement shop-in-store reflecting the brand's updated image opened in March of 2013.

Founded in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and his brothers-in-law Charles and Julien Arpels on the Place Vendome in Paris, Van Cleef & Arpels is considered to be one of the world's most prestigious jewellery brands. The company has store locations worldwide and in the United States, it operates freestanding locations as well as concessions within selected Neiman Marcus stores.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: January 21, 2016