16/4/1891 - 14/2/1926
Record updated 10-Apr-20
Emile Louis Alphonse Puissant was born in Dangu, Upper Normandy, France, the son of wealthy cattle dealers.
He served in the First World War with the rank of lieutenant. He was injured and was cared for by Estelle Arpels who had volunteered to be a nurse. Estelle was married to her cousin Alfred Van Cleef, Emile later met and married Renée Van Cleef, the daughter of Estelle and Alfred, and he became responsible for the administration of the family firm of Van Cleef and Arpels
During the twenties, Emil introduced an innovation which was quite unexpected in the realm of jewelry and to which the rival jewelry establishments did not take kindly: every year, between the 10th and 31st of December, a sale took place when a large number of pieces were sold at a discount.
Unfortunately, Emile’s career only lasted until 1926, when he was killed in an accident on the road to Monaco in the village of Cap d'Ail. He had left the Croisette in Cannes.
it is reported that he was an amateur racing driver. However as yet we have failed to find and record of races he participated in.