Hello, I just received my first piece of V.C.A. jewellery for Christmas - firstly thank you to all of you here who've shared your lovely pictures and information which helped me choose what to get!
I picked out a Magic Alhambra pendant in the mother-of-pearl with white gold and it's so pretty, but I am having doubts about it - one specific issue actually. I was hoping that some of you here might be able to advise me please?
I noticed gaps (I think they're called "air-lines?") between the stone and the setting. The SA (who was very nice and helpful) assured me they were normal, and all the Alhambra motifs would have these gaps, especially in this size, so I went ahead and got it.
But then I looked on here and it doesn't seem that common. The only posts I could find here were people saying they would return a piece with these gaps, and in all the photos I can find online there are no visible gaps.
So I went back and looked at two more of the same pendant, they had the same gaps as mine.
The SA said that it's partly because of the mother-of-pearl - because it's more delicate than the other stones it needs a gap between the stone and the setting, or else the pressure from the setting will be harmful to it.
And also because mine is the Magic size the metal beads around the outside are bigger, so they don't fit so closely with the stone.
I was kind of reassured but the posts I've read here and the photos I've seen are still bothering me. I don't want to be overly picky, it's just quite a special (and expensive!) thing not to get it right.
Please could you let me know if it's true that you can't get a mother-of-pearl Alhambra piece without the air-lines? Especially if you have something in the Magic size like mine. I'd be really grateful for feedback.
Thank you so much in advance!
I picked out a Magic Alhambra pendant in the mother-of-pearl with white gold and it's so pretty, but I am having doubts about it - one specific issue actually. I was hoping that some of you here might be able to advise me please?
I noticed gaps (I think they're called "air-lines?") between the stone and the setting. The SA (who was very nice and helpful) assured me they were normal, and all the Alhambra motifs would have these gaps, especially in this size, so I went ahead and got it.
But then I looked on here and it doesn't seem that common. The only posts I could find here were people saying they would return a piece with these gaps, and in all the photos I can find online there are no visible gaps.
So I went back and looked at two more of the same pendant, they had the same gaps as mine.
The SA said that it's partly because of the mother-of-pearl - because it's more delicate than the other stones it needs a gap between the stone and the setting, or else the pressure from the setting will be harmful to it.
And also because mine is the Magic size the metal beads around the outside are bigger, so they don't fit so closely with the stone.
I was kind of reassured but the posts I've read here and the photos I've seen are still bothering me. I don't want to be overly picky, it's just quite a special (and expensive!) thing not to get it right.
Please could you let me know if it's true that you can't get a mother-of-pearl Alhambra piece without the air-lines? Especially if you have something in the Magic size like mine. I'd be really grateful for feedback.
Thank you so much in advance!
Your pendant is beautiful! I can't see any gaps on yours though - does yours have ones like this? (Sorry I can't get photos that show it very well.)
