10-year anniversary! Cartier Love vs. Van Cleef Alhambra

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#16
Fabfashion said:
My vote is also for a Love bracelet if your husband would like a matching one (I think that’s really sweet). If you work in a hospital and need to take the bracelet off often, you may want to try the Love cuff bracelet so you don’t have to screw it on or off all the time which can wear down the screws over time. I don’t have any VCA jewelry but have tried them on. I personally think the Alhambra bracelet is more delicate compared to a Love bangle in terms of durability—link chains vs a solid bangle—but not in anyway saying the VCA bracelets are not well made and high quality. If you’re concerned about durability then may be try check out VCA Perlee bracelets which are bangle style.

When you purchase any of these luxury brands, you can’t really equate value for price because most of the dollar value goes to the brand equity. You’re buying the design, brand name, a sense of assured quality (not that they’re alway perfect but one would hope the company will address any issues) and other emotional benefits that are associated with buying a luxury branded item. I was deciding between a no diamond and 4 diamond Love a while ago. The 4D is about $1K per each 0.10 ct of diamond which if I was buying just diamonds it’d be insanely overpriced. So you may want to consider it from the perspective of which design you actually love and will want to wear all the time. A Love bracelet design is significantly different than an Alhambra motif. If you think you like the Love design more, then decide whether you’d like to see it with all screws, alternate screw and diamond or all diamonds. My first Love bracelet was for our 18th anniversary and I chose 10 diamonds because I just love diamonds. Lol. I know it’s a Love bracelet and don’t care that it doesn’t show any screws except the 2 that connect the 2 bracelet pieces together. I also live in Toronto and most people I know don’t know a Cartier from a Coach and don’t know what I wear 99% of the time. It doesn’t matter to me as I wear my jewelry for myself.

Also, you may also want to consider how you feel about wearing a bracelet 24/7 and scratches. The Love bracelet when worn all the time will lose its shiny surface but gain a warm patina—browse through the Action thread to see many gorgeous examples. I’m personally skittish about scratches so I don’t wear my Love all the time and I also don’t like sleeping with any jewelry on. The Alhambra is a lot less likely to show scratches and can be taken off easily. So you may want to consider how you’ll wear the bracelet. Many tPFers here wear their Love all the time for years.

If you’d like to try the Love at the Bloor St boutique, you’re welcome to message me and I’ll send you contact information for my favourite SA.

Happy Anniversary!
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Thank you! Great insight here, I will consider all this in my decision.
 
#17
Thank you everyone for all the input so far! Looks like we have strong sentiments about the Love bracelet. :cool:

Question for everyone: I’ve been reading about the quality of the Love now and loose screws resulting in the bracelet coming off spontaneously or screws being misplaced. Thoughts?
 
#20
I would go and try both pieces on. In fact I would try on JUC and Clash too. Then pick what you both love the most. The idea of a matching bracelet is sweet. I think you can do that with Love, JUC and Clash. I loved the 10 diamond love when I tried it on. Even though it was more sparkly it was also in a way discreet since you didn't have the screw motif. My suggestion is to try them on and listen to the heart!!! Congratulations on 10 years.
 
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#21
ASA2018 said:
Thank you everyone for all the input so far! Looks like we have strong sentiments about the Love bracelet. :cool:

Question for everyone: I’ve been reading about the quality of the Love now and loose screws resulting in the bracelet coming off spontaneously or screws being misplaced. Thoughts?
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I vote for Cartier Love bracelet.
Have you considered Love Cuff?
If you are worried about quality of Love bracelet and screws become loose, Love cuff is got the same look and worry free, and also have option with Diamond, but just one Diamond
Not 10 Diamond.
And also you can have VCA , as it cost less than Love bracelet with 10 Diamond.
 
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#23
ASA2018 said:
Thank you everyone for all the input so far! Looks like we have strong sentiments about the Love bracelet. :cool:

Question for everyone: I’ve been reading about the quality of the Love now and loose screws resulting in the bracelet coming off spontaneously or screws being misplaced. Thoughts?
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The screws on the bracelet with the new screw system introduced about 10 years ago will not come off. You unscrew the screws and they raise up to allow the 2 halves of the bracelet to come apart but the screws don’t come completely off so you won’t lose or misplace the screws. However, if the screws become lose on their own, the bracelet could come apart so you need to keep an eye out on the screws once in a while.

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#24
ASA2018 said:
Thank you for your insight! Do you wear the Love bracelet 24/7? Have you noticed much scratching over time? That was one thing I read about as many said with soft 18k gold, it scratches fairly easily?
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Yes I wear it 24-7. It never comes off. It did take a few weeks to get used to but it’s really comfortable now. I would feel naked if I didn’t have it at this point. I’m right handed and wear mine on my left wrist. I see some scratches but I wouldnt say it scratches super easily. My love ring has a ton of scratches since I use my hands a lot more but I don’t mind. As with most gold jewelry, scratches will develop over time. You won’t regret it!
 
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#25
Speaking as another with both bracelets (now having sold the VCA alhambra), the 4 or 10 diamond love for sure!! I love the idea of getting the 10 diamond for your 10 years :smile: congrats and happy anni. Plus, having the screws showing is overrated if the diamonds make your heart sing - the diamonds may be small but they make all the difference IMO and elevate the piece substantially. They also sparkle with a lot of fire.

I personally find the alhambra bracelet very annoying and fiddly to take on and off. Aesthetically it was not as versatile as the love as I dress casually 90% of the time, and it looked too “feminine” / mature on me even dressed up for work. The love looks great with anything, anywhere.:happydance:
 
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#27
eggpudding said:
Speaking as another with both bracelets (now having sold the VCA alhambra), the 4 or 10 diamond love for sure!! I love the idea of getting the 10 diamond for your 10 years :smile: congrats and happy anni. Plus, having the screws showing is overrated if the diamonds make your heart sing - the diamonds may be small but they make all the difference IMO and elevate the piece substantially. They also sparkle with a lot of fire.

I personally find the alhambra bracelet very annoying and fiddly to take on and off. Aesthetically it was not as versatile as the love as I dress casually 90% of the time, and it looked too “feminine” / mature on me even dressed up for work. The love looks great with anything, anywhere.:happydance:
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do you feel that way about all of the Alhambra line or just the bracelet? I’ve been toying with the idea of the vintage Alhambra pendant and I like the way it looks on other people but I tried it on in person and it was very underwhelming on me…

OP, another vote for the love bracelet. You can’t go wrong. It’s so very versatile and classic.
 
#28
kmang011 said:
do you feel that way about all of the Alhambra line or just the bracelet? I’ve been toying with the idea of the vintage Alhambra pendant and I like the way it looks on other people but I tried it on in person and it was very underwhelming on me…

OP, another vote for the love bracelet. You can’t go wrong. It’s so very versatile and classic.
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I still have (and wear semi-regularly) my onyx VA pendant! I find it easier and more subtle to wear than the earrings or bracelet, it's not overly girly in one motif. But I agree re the underwhelming part depending what stone/color combo you get. Perhaps the YG pave pendant can sway you :biggrin: I'd love to get the YG pave earrings in vintage size one day.
 
#29
eggpudding said:
I still have (and wear semi-regularly) my onyx VA pendant! I find it easier and more subtle to wear than the earrings or bracelet, it's not overly girly in one motif. But I agree re the underwhelming part depending what stone/color combo you get. Perhaps the YG pave pendant can sway you :biggrin: I'd love to get the YG pave earrings in vintage size one day.
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I’ll probably end up with the guilloche pendant if I do get one… I can shower with it and wear it without worrying much. I love the malachite and pearl pieces but I’m so hard on everything and want something hassle free. I don’t remove jewelry. I do think that the 10 motif necklace is a better value for you’re getting when you compare the price of 10 motifs vs one but that’s just two much for me personally and I like something more subtle.
 
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