From now until December 3, Van Cleef & Arpels’ is celebrating the expansion of its Peninsula Hotel boutique by bringing in a third of its entire Heritage Collection—close to 80 pieces—to Hong Kong. What’s special about this series is that many of the pieces come from a distinct period in history or have a great provenance. Better yet, they are all available for sale. Highlights include a gorgeous pair of Mystery-set bracelets, one in emeralds and the other one in Burmese sapphires, that were created in 1936, for Jessie Woolworth Donnahue, a known jewellery collector and the aunt of Barbara Hutton, the heiress who inherited the Woolworth fortune. Other interesting finds include a bowknot brooch from 1945 set with diamonds and rubies, a series of whimsical animal brooches, from an emerald-eyed owl to a golden tiger. There are coral and turquoise necklaces and bracelets from the ’70s, as well as a maharajah-inspired set with rubies and diamonds. Nicholas Luchsinger, a certified gemologist at Van Cleef & Arpels who heads up the team in charge of procuring the pieces for the collection, shares five important tips for would-be collectors:

1. Buy with your heart

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Above Bowknot clip, 1945. Yellow gold, round diamonds, round rubies, Heritage collection. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

If you are a beginner in collecting jewellery, you are bound to make mistakes, but always remember that each piece is valuable and an important part of history.

2. Always buy signed pieces from reputable boutiques

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Above Météore Décentré ring, 1956. Yellow gold, platinum, round diamonds, pink gold, Heritage collection. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

Be careful and always get a certificate of authenticity. There are so many copies out there and the stones may have been replaced with ones of lesser quality.

3. Build a collection out of specific time periods

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Above Clip, 1967. Yellow gold, round diamonds, cabochon-cut rubies, white gold, Heritage collection. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

When you are starting off, it is easier for you to familiarise with one period before moving to the next.

4. Find signature pieces from the brand

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Above Bird clip, 1970. Yellow gold, white gold, cabochon-cut and pear-shaped emeralds and rubies, round emeralds and diamonds, Heritage collection. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

Try to find signature pieces from the brand you are collecting pieces of, for example for Van Cleef & Arpels, it would be zip necklaces, mystery-set pieces, ballerinas, animal brooches.

5. Protect the past

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Above Flower clip, 1980. Platinum, Mystery SetTM rubies, baguette-cut and round diamonds, white gold, Heritage collection. Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

Remember that by investing in the past, you protect the value of the piece today and in the future.

The Van Cleef & Arpels Heritage collection will be on display at the jeweller’s boutique at The Peninsula, from November 24 to December 3, 2017.

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