FashionLaw

Van Cleef’s Alhambra Drives 7-Figure Lawsuit in U.S. Luxury Crackdown

Framed as a flagship case in the rising war on “superfakes,” the lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, destruction of infringing goods, and up to $2 million in statutory damages.

Published: Nov 19, 2025 9:23 PM

By Jeanel Alvarado

FashionLaw

Add RETAILBOSS as Preferred Source

FashionLaw

Van Cleef’s Alhambra Drives 7-Figure Lawsuit in U.S. Luxury Crackdown

Richemont International SA, the parent company of Van Cleef & Arpels, ignited a major legal battle in February 2025, alleging that Silversmiths Inc. is counterfeiting and infringing upon the iconic Alhambra quatrefoil jewelry design. The case, filed in federal court in New Jersey (Case No. 2:25-cv-01204), marks one of the most aggressive moves by a luxury conglomerate in the ongoing crackdown against designer superfakes in the U.S. market.

The Alhambra Motif Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra collection, introduced in the late 1960s, features a distinctive clover-shaped motif, beaded with metalwork and solid at its center. Richemont claims this trade dress is instantly recognizable and is one of the world’s most sought-after status symbols in luxury jewelry.

As the company notes in its court filings, Van Cleef has made widespread and exclusive use of the iconic Alhambra trade dress for decades, investing a considerable amount of time, effort, and money advertising and promoting their jewelry and watch products bearing the trade dress and has enjoyed enormous success selling such products in the U.S.

and around the world.

Allegations of Deliberate Counterfeiting and Infringement The lawsuit alleges that Silversmiths Inc., based in New Jersey, has been manufacturing and distributing jewelry that closely mimics the distinctive quatrefoil-shaped design of the Alhambra collection, complete with beaded borders and nearly identical silhouettes…

Members-only article

Unlock the rest of this story

Join free to keep reading RetailBoss fashion coverage, industry analysis, and market intelligence.

Company

Account name Used publicly if you comment. We encourage your real first name.

Password

Send me RetailBoss newsletter emails through Substack. I can unsubscribe anytime. Confirm that I want to create a free RetailBoss account.

Free access. No credit card required. Your account is created after you verify your email.

RetailBoss is an independent global news publication and business insights platform built for executives, founders, operators, analysts, marketers, investors, and brand leaders. Our reporting covers the retail shifts across luxury, fashion, beauty, technology and marketing strategy.

Since: 2011
Audience: 50 Million+
Coverage: Global Markets

Our editorial stance

We prioritize news value, evidence, attribution, and practical relevance to retail decision-makers. Sponsored work is identified, and editorial coverage is kept distinct from commercial partnerships.

More from Fashion

Magda Butrym Makes Its New York Runway Debut as It Opens Its First City Flagship

Magda Butrym’s Spring-Summer 2027 Natalia collection pairs its first New York runway presentation with a new flagship, bringing Polish references and signature roses into focus.

FashionFeatured

Jeanel Alvarado4 hours ago

Calvin Klein Collection Spring 2027 runway video still

Veronica Leoni Reworks Calvin Klein’s Foundational Wardrobe for Spring 2027

Veronica Leoni returned to Calvin Klein’s foundational wardrobe for Collection Spring 2027, presenting longer, narrower and cinched proportions at Terminal Warehouse in New York. The September 11 show put coats, shirts, tailoring, trousers, pencil skirts and slips at the center of the brand’s continued exploration of American minimalism.

FashionNews

Alyssa Jade Mann10 hours ago

Duolingo mascot at the Canal Street activation

Duolingo Turns Fashion-Name Pronunciation Into a Seven-Piece NYFW Collection

Duolingo brought its language-learning identity into New York Fashion Week with The Phonetic Collection, a seven-piece capsule created with New York designer Megan O’Cain. The concept turns the pronunciation of familiar fashion names into the subject of a fashion activation.

FashionMarketing

Jeanel Alvarado2 days ago

Tommy Hilfiger seated between two models wearing his Macy’s collection.

Bloomingdale’s Leads Macy’s Growth as Group Raises Annual Outlook

Macy’s raised its annual outlook after second-quarter sales increased 1.1% to $4.9 billion, with its luxury nameplates growing faster than the core Macy’s business.

BusinessFashion

Shipra Bohara2 days ago

View all Fashion

Recommended Articles

CELINE Paris ateliers for Les Journées Particulières 2026, image 1

CELINE Opens Its Paris Ateliers to the Public: How to Book the October 2026 Visit

Reservations open September 24 at 2 p.m. Paris time for CELINE’s first public atelier opening during LVMH’s Les Journées Particulières.

EventsFashion

Jeanel Alvarado2 days ago

WGACA Appoints Rachel Zoe Style Director for Yearlong Creative Role

What Goes Around Comes Around has appointed Rachel Zoe style director, formalizing a longstanding relationship with the luxury resale retailer into a yearlong role across seasonal selections, styling, special projects and events.

FashionLeadership

Alyssa Jade Mann3 days ago

Katie Morton, appointed Global Customer Director at Dr. Martens — image 1

Dr. Martens Names Katie Morton Its First Global Customer Director

Dr. Martens has appointed Katie Morton as its first Global Customer Director, adding a dedicated customer leadership role as the footwear company develops its consumer-focused approach across markets.

BusinessFashion

Shipra Bohara3 days ago

Kim Chang-ok Traces of Comfort exhibition at MCM HAUS — image 1

MCM Opens Kim Chang-ok’s Traces of Comfort Exhibition During Frieze Week Seoul

MCM is opening its Seoul cultural program to the public with Kim Chang-ok: Traces of Comfort, a free exhibition at MCM HAUS in Cheongdam running through September 27, 2026. The presentation forms part of the brand’s official partnership with Frieze Week Seoul and its 50th-anniversary celebrations.

FashionLuxury

Alyssa Jade Mann3 days ago

Balenciaga Hourglass Avenue campaign — image 1

Balenciaga Reinterprets Its Hourglass Bag Under Pierpaolo Piccioli

Balenciaga is introducing the Hourglass Avenue Bag with its Winter 2026 ClairObscur collection, revisiting a recognizable house silhouette through Pierpaolo Piccioli’s interpretation. The bag is available in stores and through the brand’s website.

FashionNews

RETAILBOSS Team3 days ago

Canada Goose source video — cover frame — image 1

Canada Goose Partners With ARCH Motorcycle Racing on a Snow Goose Capsule

Canada Goose has partnered with ARCH Motorcycle Racing on a custom off-track Snow Goose capsule designed by Haider Ackermann, beginning a broader relationship that will extend into further product and exploration projects.

FashionMarketing

Sam Ohemeng3 days ago

Model wearing a waxed jacket outside a house.

Tom Beckbe Takes Minority Investment From Cox Outdoors to Support Retail Growth

Tom Beckbe has received a minority investment from Cox Outdoors to support new stores, product development and conservation work. Financial terms were not disclosed.

BusinessFashion

Sam Ohemeng4 days ago

Ethan Lewy, Spring Summer 2027 at New York Men's Day

New York Men’s Day SS27 Spotlights Eight Designers With PROJECT and COTERIE by Informa

The 26th season paired emerging menswear and genderless labels with a sponsor mix spanning footwear, fragrance and jewelry at Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan.

EventsFashion

Sam Ohemeng4 days ago

View all Fashion

Top 10 Brands Expanding into the US in 2026

Van Cleef’s Alhambra Drives 7-Figure Lawsuit in U.S. Luxury Crackdown

Framed as a flagship case in the rising war on “superfakes,” the lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction, destruction of infringing goods, and up to $2 million in statutory damages.

Unlock the rest of this story

More from Fashion

Magda Butrym Makes Its New York Runway Debut as It Opens Its First City Flagship

Veronica Leoni Reworks Calvin Klein’s Foundational Wardrobe for Spring 2027

Duolingo Turns Fashion-Name Pronunciation Into a Seven-Piece NYFW Collection

Bloomingdale’s Leads Macy’s Growth as Group Raises Annual Outlook

Recommended Articles

CELINE Opens Its Paris Ateliers to the Public: How to Book the October 2026 Visit

WGACA Appoints Rachel Zoe Style Director for Yearlong Creative Role

Dr. Martens Names Katie Morton Its First Global Customer Director

MCM Opens Kim Chang-ok’s Traces of Comfort Exhibition During Frieze Week Seoul

Balenciaga Reinterprets Its Hourglass Bag Under Pierpaolo Piccioli

Canada Goose Partners With ARCH Motorcycle Racing on a Snow Goose Capsule

Tom Beckbe Takes Minority Investment From Cox Outdoors to Support Retail Growth

New York Men’s Day SS27 Spotlights Eight Designers With PROJECT and COTERIE by Informa

What are you looking for?

Start exploring

Unlock the rest of this story

More from Fashion

Recommended Articles

Sign up for RetailBoss Daily Newsletter