A Golden CauseJewelers Van Cleef & Arpels...

A Golden Cause

Jewelers Van Cleef & Arpels are celebrating 50 years of catering to the rich and famous in America with special cocktail parties across the country. Earlier this week, Philippe Arpels, the company’s U.S. president, flew in from New York for the Beverly Hills festivities, which included the silent auction of a lady dragonfly clip made of rose-cut diamonds and platinum. The highest bidder will be notified Monday by assistant vice president Nina Wahl, who tells us the bidding remains open until 5:30 p.m. tonight and “anyone who is interested is welcome to come by.” Before you rush out, you should know that the first of the four anniversary clips was auctioned off in Palm Beach, Fla., earlier this year for $40,500. But it’s all for a good cause. The clip goes to the highest bidder and the money goes to his or her favorite charity.

Hockney’s Home Style

We hear artist David Hockney was a veritable picture at this week’s official opening of Conran’s Habitat in the Beverly Center. Our party person says that when it was discovered that Hockney knows Habitat owner Sir Terence Conran, “he was tracked down, invited and he came,” looking very D.H. in plum-colored plaid trousers, blue-and-white sneakers, cranberry-and-white striped shirt, paisley bow tie, bright green V-neck sweater and a green silk baseball hat. Just the right outfit, we’d say, for a tea party in a trendy home-furnishings mecca.

That Star Quality

Ralph Lauren popped into town recently for a quick visit to his Beverly Hills store. During his overnight stop, the New York-based designer was spotted on the streets wearing his trademark denim jeans, shirt and cowboy boots. And according to retailer Jerry Magnin, who accompanied him on his stroll around Beverly Hills, passers-by treated Lauren just like a star and asked him for autographs.

Jewel of a Secret

After English jeweler Elizabeth Gage held court at the Regency Club in Westwood earlier this month, we were curious to know who had purchased some of her lavish precious and semiprecious designs, especially since prices start at $2,000. “Absolutely taboo,” Zoe Simpson, the company chief, assured us, although she was willing to mention one royal connection. Just before Gage embarked on her American tour, she was named recipient of this year’s Queen’s Award for outstanding achievement in export. “Export is 80% of our business,” Simpson explained, adding that America is the top carat, followed by the Middle East.

It’s a Wrap

Neckworthy: Has Nancy Reagan’s new, casual SoCal life style extended its influence to the East Coast? Listen spotted Jerry Zipkin, a “first friend” of the former First Lady, at New York’s trendy Barocco restaurant at a birthday party for Vanity Fair writer Bob Colacello. The normally natty Zipkin unknotted his tie at the table, and wrapped it loosely at his throat, like an ascot. Other fashionables present seemed to approve, among them Calvin Klein exec Paul Wilmot, socialite Sao Schlumberger, fashion editor Marina Schiano and international art dealer Thomas Ammann.