High Jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels meets MAK museum masterpieces in a dialogue of design virtuosity.
- Gorgeous atmosphere and aesthetics
- Some 500 items
- Many remarkable exhibits
- Runs Jun 10 – Sept 27, 2026
- Book MAK museum tickets*
- See also:
A glittering display
(View of the lovely Metamorphoses chapter in the exhibition; press photo © Van Cleef & Arpels)
Few exhibitions have a visceral impact just on entering. Glanzstücke is one of them. The lighting, colours, and display pieces induce a reverential atmosphere that has you automatically lowering your voice.
In essence, this exhibition at the MAK museum presents highlights from two collections:
- The High Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels’ own in-house collection of pieces from throughout their history (which began in 1906 Paris)
- Rarely-shown masterpieces from the MAK’s collection of applied art from throughout the centuries
(Silhouette Flower clip, 1937; yellow gold, rubies, diamonds; press photo © Van Cleef & Arpels Collection)
Either would make an excellent exhibition in their own right, frankly. Together, they become more than the sum of the parts in six themed chapters featuring juxtapositions that reflect a shared style, inspiration, or theme.
So, for example, a c. 1910 floral pattern by Gustav Klimt hangs next to a similarly Egyptian-inspired 1924 bracelet made of platinum, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, onyx, and diamonds.
Or a 1553 astronomical instrument sits alongside a 1956 Mystery IV aircraft-themed necklace in gold, platinum and diamonds.
As you can tell from those two examples alone, a true feast for the eyes awaits.
(View of the Wanderlust chapter in the exhibition; press photo © Van Cleef & Arpels)
The MAK’s contributions include rare and remarkable pieces whose fragility prevents regular pubic display: textiles, tableware, furniture, art, and more. As such, this is an opportunity unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
And the high-end craft, innovation, and artistry of Van Cleef & Arpels appears in the form of equally-remarkable jewelry, watches, and ornamental objects. Precious metals and gemstones catch the light and imagination in equal measure.
All of which is enhanced by the gorgeous displays in a twisting architecture.
As well as the opportunity to simply soak in the masterpieces, the exhibition also reveals the evolution of styles, techniques, and fashions over 120 years of jewelry design.
(Small-scale reproduction of the Varuna yacht, 1906; yellow gold, silver, jasper, wood, enamel; press photo © Van Cleef & Arpels Collection)
Normally, I’d pick out my highlights based on a visit and the recommendation of the exhibition team. But the variety of eras and pieces makes this difficult.
For what it’s worth, I love connections to history and personalities. So look for the 1965 five-leaf clip once owned by Maria Callas and the 1937 bracelet once owned by Marlene Dietrich.
And, as an avowed fan of coffee houses, the 1854 table produced from the same source as the famously simple and world-conquering Thonet coffee house chair proved unexpectedly decorative.
But I think you should find your own highlights. After all, you have a wide choice.
Dates, tickets & tips
Marvel at the design ingenuity and brilliance from June 10th to September 27th, 2026. An entrance ticket for or from the MAK includes this special exhibition (and others within the museum).
(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
If an item from the MAK collection attracts your particular interest, you may find related objects in one of the permanent exhibitions elsewhere in the building. For example, the Vienna 1900 section showcases that period of raging creativity from (unsurprisingly) Vienna around 1900.
For more high jewelry, Van Cleef & Arpels actually has a shop on Vienna’s Kohlmarkt (No.3), but also consider a trip to the Schatzkammer (imperial treasury) to view various crown jewels accumulated across centuries of Habsburg rule.
And an off-the-wall tip is to pop into the Naturhistorisches Museum. Although the latter deals with natural history, it has a quite remarkable gemstone bouquet gifted by Empress Maria Teresa to her husband in the 1700s.
How to get there
Find travel tips on the main MAK overview page. But this central museum is conveniently located next to the Stubenring station (on the U3 subway) and stop (on the 2 tram).
Address: Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna