I fell in love with VCA in 2006 when I saw a picture of Jessica Alba wearing the Frivole earrings in pavé white gold. Coming from a humble background, justifying spending around $12,800 on a pair of diamond earrings was incredibly difficult for me. At the time, I was working at my parents' nail salon, so my income was meager. Every time I considered making the purchase, the price of VCA items seemed to rise, making me hesitant to take the plunge. Finally, in 2022, my husband took me to VCA for my first purchase (MOP Vintage Alabama pendant). So, it took me a long time to feel comfortable ( financially)buying VCA!
At what income level did you begin buying VCA?
- Thread starter GlamarousBarbie
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Me too! I remember seeing Mariah Carey in the 2000s wear VCA and ever since me and my mother always loved the Alhambra design but couldn't afford it as we were pretty poor and these items cost a pretty penny! I wasn't able to afford it until my 20s, but even then it was something I had to think over and over again. Even now, I like to be super cautious about what I'm purchasing because the price of these pieces are steep. I usually like to go out of the box and want a yellow gold piece, but I have to remember that ultimately it's an extra cost which I don't need and may not be used like I'm wanting it to.
Congratulations on acquiring your pieces in your 20s; it truly is a delightful period to indulge in jewelry, especially when prices were more accessible back then. While my admiration for VCA began in my mid-20s, it wasn’t until my 40s that I finally acquired my first VCA piece. It took considerable time, with numerous visits to VCA to admire the pieces. Yet, I’m grateful for maintaining financial responsibility and resisting temptation. Even us looky-loos can eventually become clients!
Finally in 2022, my boyfriend surprised me by driving me to Van Cleef & Arpels, hence the casual sporty look. However, due to COVID-related inventory shortages in March 2022, the selection at VCA store was quite limited. They didn’t have the guilloche pendant I initially desired, so I opted for the traditional MOP Vintage Alhambra pendant, thinking it would complement everything perfectly! As the sales manager wrapped my pendant, her comment that ‘clients usually start their VCA collection with an entry-level piece’ came as quite a shock to me. It felt rather presumptuous, considering they had no knowledge of my husband’s net worth.
Finally in 2022, my boyfriend surprised me by driving me to Van Cleef & Arpels, hence the casual sporty look. However, due to COVID-related inventory shortages in March 2022, the selection at VCA store was quite limited. They didn’t have the guilloche pendant I initially desired, so I opted for the traditional MOP Vintage Alhambra pendant, thinking it would complement everything perfectly! As the sales manager wrapped my pendant, her comment that ‘clients usually start their VCA collection with an entry-level piece’ came as quite a shock to me. It felt rather presumptuous, considering they had no knowledge of my husband’s net worth.
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I have sensory issues so I don't usually like wearing jewelry, but I've always admired the look of VCA and thought it was very elegant. I was considering buying a bangle (either pave or non pave) from H, but went into VCA on vacation to browse. The SA was so nice and let me look at everything and try on everything, no pressure at all. I ended up going back in and getting the 5 motif YG MOP bracelet and a pave pendant. I love the look and feel of my pieces!
I quit my career to be a SAHM and now I'm working in my industry again. I would call ourselves comfortable, but not rich by any means.
I quit my career to be a SAHM and now I'm working in my industry again. I would call ourselves comfortable, but not rich by any means.
Me too! I started purchasing in 2023 and started with a bracelet. It’s now progressed into a bit of an addiction but my plan was to live my early 20s whilst preparing for the future. These SAs are desperate for a sale, anytime they’re pushy I just cancel my deposit and move on. I don’t like it when SAs give their unsolicited opinions.
That's so nice that the SA didn't pressure you, that seems to be rare nowadays. I feel like as their popularity grew, the client spending probably increased, causing SAs to have become entitled. I'm a SAHW and don't want children, maybe one in the future, but I don't see the point. I feel that there's a lot of judgement on TPF with SAHW spending money instead of putting all of that money into a savings account or putting it towards vacation. I feel that having an emergency fund and savings is important, of course, but many of the older generation VCA purchasers have become elitist and want others to live their lives. I personally don't...
I live a more 'hippie' life and prefer a minimalist life, I have expensive items but very few. Most of my items are worn daily, and I appreciate the quality/craftsmanship - I'd much rather spend a lot on that but feel that I have pieces which I will fear for a lifetime. I feel that many luxury buyers have become elitist and snobby, I don't hold shame for wearing VCA because it's beautiful and I live in the middle of nowhere, but I would have shame for wearing it in a city after seeing how customers act around the areas which have a VCA store or shop at VCA. Maybe that one lady meant well, but she responded to this thread saying "with several notable benchmarks of independent adulthood not yet accomplished, I can see how you'd wonder if spending 25% of a "yearly income" on jewelry makes sense. I'd venture that this narrative doesn't comport with many typical HJ clients." That response was just snobby and elitist, it reminded me of those who shop at VCA in the city. I feel that once you become a SAHW, you feel more enabled to spend your money; you don't have anything to pay for. Sure, you can be saving money, but why not buy yourself nice things now you have the opportunity to? If your marriage is a case of 'my money is my money, your money is my money' then why not splurge on yourself and live the life you wanted to live? Of course, you need to be responsible and have savings, but being a SAHW is a privilege - why not take advantage of that if you can?
TL;DR: live life the way you want to live. Life is so short, it can be gone in the whim of a day. If you are a SAHW/SAHM, enjoy life! The nowadays privilege of not having to work and having a great husband who supports your hobbies/collecting is not common and be proud of that! Use that opportunity to go for enjoying your hobbies, whether if thats cooking or collecting jewellery, just do it. Obviously, be responsible and save money, but also enjoy life now that you're free from the shackles of worrying about retirement, etc.
I think it depends on what you get from the store. They vary from almost neon blue to almost navy. The agate I got is very dark, kinda like navy, that it only appears very blue with direct sunlight. Otherwise, indoors and during night, it can be mistaken for onyx. So that's one advantage of agate.
Agree
I was always taught to pay in full and never carry a balance, so it was odd to me too. It was also odd that financial advice was to establish a line of credit when rates were low…. Rather than pay in full, the rationale being that your money could be put to better use in investments.
OT, but my SA and SM once provided a diamond zip and other things to try on, and neither of them could unzip it…
I would agree that the more things that can be paid with above is more prudent.
Note: some are offended by VCA terming a piece a starter piece. I would not take this personally, whether it’s accurate or not. I don’t think of it as a reflection on the client, but rather where the piece fits in terms of the VCA collection in its entirety. Of course, if the VCA employee was discourteous, that’s a different issue.
I feel that it’s okay to buy VCA in full as long as you can continue to live comfortably: have the bills paid and growing savings. It also depends on your life goals: are you wanting to rely on a man? Or do you want to be single? Do you believe in 50/50? Those questions determine if you’d rather invest your money elsewhere, or spend it.
I’ve decided, in my life - although I'm young - to enjoy my money as long as there’s no debt (including car payments) and I’m saving.
I’m planning to add an agate 5-motifs in the darkest shade possible. My SA said it will be hard as most agates are medium royal blue, not really navy. Do you mind sharing pictures of yours?
Unfortunately, marrying a rich husband is a life goal for many women these days. Social media is to blame… I know many single women in their 20’s and 30’s and who are miserable. They complain about their job and spend lots of money on travel and luxury and all they hope is to find a rich husband. Usually, life’s funny in a way that when you actively search for something, you will not find it.
And I totally agree with this advice. Always make sure you can support yourself without a husband. Even though my husband’s income is multiple times that of mine and I don’t need to work to pay the bills, I kept my 9-5 job after we got married 15 years ago. I do it for my sanity. It’s different when you work because you want to and when you work because you have to (to pay your bills). Also, having a job allows me to dress up properly to go to the office and wear my VCA daily. 😉
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Thanks for sharing. And wow!! This shade of blue is the perfect shade. I really hope to find one like this. When did you get it? And did you buy it from the boutique? Recent posts I’ve seen of people buying an agate, the shade was always too light for my liking.