Jewelry is more than decoration. It can tell stories of history—of peace, conflict, changing trade routes, and cultural shifts. A piece of jewelry becomes even more meaningful when we see it in the context of the time it was made.
Van Cleef & Arpels has once again partnered with New York’s American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) for a special exhibit. This is the second collaboration in two years. The previous exhibit, held in 2023, explored the beauty of gardens and the use of green gemstones. The current exhibit, titled Cosmic Splendor: Jewelry from the Collections of Van Cleef & Arpels, looks to the skies for inspiration.
Throughout history, space and the stars have inspired jewelers. In 1835, Halley’s Comet passed through the sky. Soon after, diamond stars began to appear on clothing and hair accessories. The Cosmic Splendor exhibit features nearly 70 pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries. Each one shows how celestial, mythological, and astrological themes have taken shape in jewelry. Visitors will see ruby comets, gemstone meteors, and platinum crescent moons.
The 1950s section of the exhibit highlights jewelry influenced by the launch of Sputnik. Star-shaped designs made of gold reflect the fascination with space at that time. The 1970s are represented by bold zodiac pendants, popular during the Age of Aquarius. These pieces remain highly collectible today. More recent works, on loan from private collectors, show how Van Cleef & Arpels continues to find inspiration in the cosmos.
Like the earlier Garden of Green exhibit, Cosmic Splendor is on view in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery. This gallery is part of the Allison and Roberto Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals at AMNH. The location offers a full journey through the life of a jewel. Visitors begin with natural crystals, like a towering amethyst at the entrance. They then move through displays of raw gemstones and their geological properties, and finally, they arrive at the finished jewelry. The exhibit connects nature’s raw beauty with human creativity.
Cosmic Splendor is open at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City through January 4, 2026.
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