5 Motif Bracelet: Chalcedony or MOP

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

F

Faith2

O.G.
Jul 15, 2008
93
38
#1
I am hoping I can get some advice on my next purchase. I have the vintage Alhambra MOP pendant and went into the boutique to try on a pair of earrings to match. When I got there I didn't quite like the earrings on me and thought a bracelet would be a better matching piece as I have the sweet pave earrings. They didn't have the MOP in stock but did have the chalcedony which was gorgeous. What do you think of wearing the chaledony bracelet with the MOP pendant? I am leaning toward the MOP as it is a match but I really liked the chaledony bracelet (and I also like that it is a less fragile). I read through many posts but I couldn't find any comments around putting these two together. The best answer is to get both but that is something I cannot do at this time.

Any advice?
 
  • Like
Reactions: hhw and A bottle of Red
Shop Van Cleef & Arpels at Fashionphile
#3
MOP would look more cohesive with your MOP pendant, but the chalcedony would go really well with your sweet pave earrings so it's not like an odd piece to get. I personally don't like MOP for bracelet because of how delicate it is and we do a lot of things with our hands. What metal is your VA pendant? If it's also in WG, I think it'll look nice together with the chalcedony bracelet because the color of chalcedony is so soft and complementary with different stones. VCA has a magic set in chalcedony and MOP so you can sort of tell what they would look like close together.

1675181605744.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: hhw, wisconsin and A bottle of Red
#4
Thank you for advice. All my VCA pieces are in white gold and I, like you waterlily12, feel that the chalcedony piece would be a more carefree piece and this is why I am considering it. The only vintage pendant I have is WG MOP and I would like the bracelet to be able to go with it, that is why I am wondering if you can wear a WG MOP pendant with a WG chalcedony bracelet or it will just a no go as they are too different. I feel the chalcedony will go well with the pave earrings/pendant but I have the MOP pendant as a standalone piece and I would like my next purchase to go with the MOP as I think pave seems to go with everything (maybe I am wrong?) I find it to be a difficult decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hhw
#5
Best to just wait until they have the MOP in stock so you can try on both bracelets together with the pendant and pave earrings on to decide which combo suit you the best (or want to get first)! Both are beautiful so you can't go wrong with either :smile: I have the chalcedony and wear it all the time because it's quite low maintenance and fun to stare at. With MOP you may want to get a tighter fit on your wrist though, that way when you wash your hands or put on lotion the bracelet won't slide down to your palm exposing to water and other chemicals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: choco, hhw and A bottle of Red
#7
Thank you for the tip on sizing and will use it if I buy the MOP. I am concerned about ruining the MOP with handwashing etc.

When I was at the boutique I was wearing my MOP pendant but not the pave earrings and I was able to try on the Chalcedony bracelet and they had a 20 motif MOP which I put around my wrist. They were both beautiful and I liked both of them however I must say the Chalcedony really got my attention. I don't necessarily need things to match exactly but at the same time I want the pieces to complement each other. Given that both pieces are somewhat similar but their tone is quite different I am not confident that the two put together will work. When I tried them on in the boutique it looked like it would work but I find with the lighting at the boutique I am never sure. I plan to go back to the boutique to give it another try but wanted to check with everyone here first because you have more knowledge than me and potentially own both stones and know how they look together in the real world. I guess its really about making the "safe" choice with the MOP or my appetite for something different with the Chalcedony. I really appreciate the advice.
 
#8
Hi, I might be an odd ball, but I do not own any matching pieces. I collected each piece by falling in love with. When my heart sings and the obsession pursue I go for the item. In your case, you might not even wear them at the same time? You might enjoy one or the other on different occasions...chalcedony is beautiful.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: gris.etain, hhw, wisconsin and 2 others
#9
Hi, you have received a lot of great input, and I will add mine.

First, you went in to VCA to get a matching WG MOP bracelet. However, since it was not available, you got side tracked to chalcedony.

I personally think you should go with your first gut feel. You may also want to think about what other pieces you want in the future, if any, and how you want to build your Alhambra collection.

Do you want a matched set, or do you just want to pick random pieces? Jewelry is 100% preference, but I think it helps to have a strategy when collecting.

For me, I love matching sets, so I am not one to mix and match.
For kicks... here is a visual of my matching WG MOP set to help you see lots of MOP. I love love love MOP. It glows!

If you see this photo and think... OMG, how tacky matchy matchy and way over the top on MOP, then you might like the chalcedony.

However, if you see this photo and like these matching MOP pieces, I would definitely stay with your original thought to get the matching bracelet. The iridescence on MOP is gorgeous to me.

To answer your question on matching...
For me, I personally do not think a Vintage MOP pendant and chalcedony bracelet go together. To me, it's like wearing a sapphire pendant and an aquamarine bracelet. This is because you are also wearing two categories (pendant and bracelet). If you were stacking bracelets with different color stones (MOP bracelet and chalcedony bracelet), that would look great, but a different stone for a pendant and bracelet is not my look. Just my two cents here, but again, I am matchy matchy. Of course, if you do not like to match, then it doesn't matter because anything goes. How one wears jewelry is truly 100% preference.

My guts says you prefer a matching pendant and bracelet though. Otherwise, you would not be asking this question here about the chalcedony bracelet. You would have bought it already. I may be wrong of course, but it's something to think about why you hesitated.

Buy what you love, not what is available. This stuff is too expensive for regrets and impulse purchases.
Hope this helps. Good luck to you! By the way, I am huge WG fan too! :hugs:

1404A6C2-A898-4A0D-9509-020BF5A3EDEE.png
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
  • Insightful
Reactions: Lealu, blinggirl74, Gracilan and 7 others
#10
Thank you for advice. I agree I have received a lot of great input which I very much appreciate as it is really making me think about how I want to proceed. BigAkoya thank you for sharing your collection, I LOVE it, it is beautiful and I would never describe it as tacky!! You are right that I went into the boutique to purchase a match for my MOP pendant. However, when I tried on the chalcedony it was really beautiful and it really made me think whether the MOP was the right piece and had me thinking could I wear the chalcedony bracelet with the MOP pendant. I think you are right that if it were two bracelets it would be fine but the necklace and bracelet probably would not be in my comfort zone where it may be for others.

I am typically not someone who buys colour with maybe the exception of black, but I do not want the onyx at this time. Through all the advice, I think what I know is, I do want the matching MOP set however I think the chalcedony would be that one off piece that you have in your collection. Thinking of strategy, I agree I need one and usually my strategy is to stay fairly conservative with neutral colours where the chalcedony is something out of the ordinary for me and I think it may be something I could really enjoy. (However, I am afraid of making an expensive mistake as I can get bored with colour some times.)

So after all of this, I think the answer for me is I will probably purchase both pieces. I feel the MOP would be a more dressy piece or neutral piece when the chalcedony doesn't work and use the chalcedony as a more every day casual piece that goes with my casual lifestyle. Now I need to figure out which one do I get first as I cannot purchase both this year. I will have to save one for my wish list.

I really appreciate all the input. Everyone here is so supportive, kind and informed. I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your thoughts. Sorry for the really long post.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: EpiFanatic, wisconsin, waterlily112 and 1 other person
#11
I would get the MOP bracelet first to make your set. You can then decide on your next pieces and the next set to build.
Do you really want another 5 motif bracelet? Or, do you want to expand your collection and look at Frivole (my favorite collection!)? Or something from the Perlee collection such as a bangle?

I dress very very casual after work, and I wear my MOP casually with shorts. MOP is not just for dressy.
MOP is very versatile, it can be dressy or casual. That is the beauty of MOP.

I also love the look of a matched jewelry set worn with very casual clothes. For me, I think a coordinated jewelry set pulls a look together, no matter how casual.

Good luck and congratulations on your soon to be new bracelet!
 
#12
Faith2 said:
I am typically not someone who buys colour with maybe the exception of black, but I do not want the onyx at this time. Through all the advice, I think what I know is, I do want the matching MOP set however I think the chalcedony would be that one off piece that you have in your collection. Thinking of strategy, I agree I need one and usually my strategy is to stay fairly conservative with neutral colours where the chalcedony is something out of the ordinary for me and I think it may be something I could really enjoy. (However, I am afraid of making an expensive mistake as I can get bored with colour some times.)

So after all of this, I think the answer for me is I will probably purchase both pieces. I feel the MOP would be a more dressy piece or neutral piece when the chalcedony doesn't work and use the chalcedony as a more every day casual piece that goes with my casual lifestyle. Now I need to figure out which one do I get first as I cannot purchase both this year. I will have to save one for my wish list.
Click to expand...

Glad you have it sorted out (kind of). I think you'll know when you try on both pieces again in person. Similar to your situation, I remember trying on both WG guilloche and chalcedony in person to decide which to purchase first, I like both for different reasons (and even together). But I ended up with the chalcedony because the one I chose has a strong lilac tone (the other 3 were more milky blue-grey) and some very unique patterns in the motifs that I feel like if I pass up on it now, the next chalcedony just wouldn't look the same, whereas the guilloche has a very uniform look regardless of when I want to purchase one. So my personal suggestion to you is that, if you see a chalcedony in the perfect shade and pattern that you really like, then get that one first. If you feel indifferent about the chalcedony selections, then go with MOP to finish the set. But of course, go with what your heart desires :smile:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: EpiFanatic and wisconsin
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top