“Does anyone else get Van Cleef ick?”

[jellyv]

nm

 

[sosauce]

Harry Winston seems unobtainable, even for the non entry market in the thousands. Same with Graff. It would be their time to shine if they had signature pieces in the Alhambra range.

Boucheron? They’re just not that accessible….

I know. Maybe Bvlgari?

I agree that Bulgari is well-positioned to become next in line. The serpenti line is there. As is diva. And both of those collections have an obvious mass market appeal with their designs.

I visited Boucheron for the first time last month, and apparently they have plans to expand into the US finally. I don’t think their fine jewelry designs are that commercial, though. The quatre and serpent boheme didn’t appeal to me, at least.

Harry Winston has its HW collection. But I don’t think that will catch on because it is heavily logoed. The other collections have a much higher entry point that I think will deter mass adoption.

Graff’s butterfly line is pretty commercial. It’s popular in Asia. I’ve been curious for that line, too. But I don’t know if butterflies appeal to everyone since they’re very literal as a design. Same with the wildflower line. Butterflies and flowers just don’t make a strong or ubiquitous statement from a design perspective.

Chaumet is another contender. They have some plans to reenter the US market after 30 years. I like the Josephine line. But I think bee my love is the most likely commercial contender. It has a distinct enough design without being logo heavy.

 

[HPhilly]

This is an interesting topic. Well, VCA is now the most popular, or at least seemingly most sought, luxury jewelry brand in the world. Last year in 2023, Alhambra was apparently even the most googled line of designer jewelry.

VCA seemed to become really popular with the rise of the “old money” aesthetic. It’s inevitable that the brand can only fall out of favor from this height. There’s a certain dissonance now with people being perceived as trying too hard when they wear VCA. Maybe trying too much to signal that they come from old money, or that their money has always and only ever been spent on “quiet luxury” pieces.

The same pattern seems to occur every few years with preppy fashion. Anyway, VCA is clearly having its heyday. I would say that the brand is not that quiet anymore — if it could ever be called that to begin with. The brand awareness is growing, and its acceptance into mainstream luxury consciousness seems concrete. If people were asked to name a designer brand beginning with the letter V, I honestly think a large and growing portion of people would say “Van Cleef” before thinking of Valentino or Versace, which probably could not have been said 5 years ago.

I think the “ick” has several factors: oversaturation, a general rejection of classism from those who cannot afford VCA, a gatekeeping rejection of new money from those who’ve historically bought VCA, an attitude that VCA consumers are somehow posers, and an anti-luxury sentiment that the common materials and uninspired design of Alhambra do not justify its price.

People from both the upper and lower classes all have their reasons to dislike the current hype surrounding VCA. Some of those concerns are based on an apparent lack of authenticity from VCA wearers. Some of those concerns are based around the spurious authenticity of the pieces themselves.

The fixation on Cartier seemed to have lasted a decade since the 2010s. The 2000s was a time for Tiffany. It seems the 2020s will be the era of Van Cleef. I’m most curious what the next it jewelry brand will be.

Beautifully written!!

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

I say good. Trendy influencers and the like please DO get the ick. They ruin everything. Make it a trend, just to tire it out. Give it back to us and take your hype and ick onto the next thing please!!! I’m ready for it! LOL

Literally! It’s why I’ve been over trends for years now. These trends come and go, these trendy people are the same people who will purchase a 100% polyester t-shirt from Gucci which says ‘GUCCI’ just because it’s trending.

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

This is an interesting topic. Well, VCA is now the most popular, or at least seemingly most sought, luxury jewelry brand in the world. Last year in 2023, Alhambra was apparently even the most googled line of designer jewelry.

VCA seemed to become really popular with the rise of the “old money” aesthetic. It’s inevitable that the brand can only fall out of favor from this height. There’s a certain dissonance now with people being perceived as trying too hard when they wear VCA. Maybe trying too much to signal that they come from old money, or that their money has always and only ever been spent on “quiet luxury” pieces.

The same pattern seems to occur every few years with preppy fashion. Anyway, VCA is clearly having its heyday. I would say that the brand is not that quiet anymore — if it could ever be called that to begin with. The brand awareness is growing, and its acceptance into mainstream luxury consciousness seems concrete. If people were asked to name a designer brand beginning with the letter V, I honestly think a large and growing portion of people would say “Van Cleef” before thinking of Valentino or Versace, which probably could not have been said 5 years ago.

I think the “ick” has several factors: oversaturation, a general rejection of classism from those who cannot afford VCA, a gatekeeping rejection of new money from those who’ve historically bought VCA, an attitude that VCA consumers are somehow posers, and an anti-luxury sentiment that the common materials and uninspired design of Alhambra do not justify its price.

People from both the upper and lower classes all have their reasons to dislike the current hype surrounding VCA. Some of those concerns are based on an apparent lack of authenticity from VCA wearers. Some of those concerns are based around the spurious authenticity of the pieces themselves.

The fixation on Cartier seemed to have lasted a decade since the 2010s. The 2000s was a time for Tiffany. It seems the 2020s will be the era of Van Cleef. I’m most curious what the next it jewelry brand will be.

I feel that Cartier & VCA will last and be known as the luxury jewelry brands for years to come, they’re both owned by the same parent company too. They both have their signature pieces and they’re both timeless luxury, kind of like Hermes.

‘Quiet luxury’ has been the most toxic trend I’ve seen on TikTok. Why does it even matter for luxury to be quiet? They just need to wear what they like. What I see as ‘quiet luxury’ is wearing 100% natural fiber, yet these same people will buy a 100% polyester dress which costs significantly more and they will act like they’re better than you. Quiet luxury to me is to have clothing which lasts years and is made of good materials, quiet luxury to people on TikTok is to own pieces which you know exactly where they’re from but they don’t have a label.

This is exactly like the Sephora kids who sell out every single trending skincare and makeup which I’ve been using for years, making it impossible to get.

 

[A bottle of Red]

My only ick with van Cleef is their ridiculous new policies and attitudes.

 

[jk777]

My only ick with van Cleef is their ridiculous new policies and attitudes.

What do you mean by their new policies and attitudes? I've only had amazing service at my local VCA so I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Kuro-Kuma]

The title of this thread gave me the "ick" 😂

I love certain collections of vca and not all...everyone have their preferences and just because social media deems it whatever doesn't change my love for something

 

[HPhilly]

This is an interesting topic. Well, VCA is now the most popular, or at least seemingly most sought, luxury jewelry brand in the world. Last year in 2023, Alhambra was apparently even the most googled line of designer jewelry.

VCA seemed to become really popular with the rise of the “old money” aesthetic. It’s inevitable that the brand can only fall out of favor from this height. There’s a certain dissonance now with people being perceived as trying too hard when they wear VCA. Maybe trying too much to signal that they come from old money, or that their money has always and only ever been spent on “quiet luxury” pieces.

The same pattern seems to occur every few years with preppy fashion. Anyway, VCA is clearly having its heyday. I would say that the brand is not that quiet anymore — if it could ever be called that to begin with. The brand awareness is growing, and its acceptance into mainstream luxury consciousness seems concrete. If people were asked to name a designer brand beginning with the letter V, I honestly think a large and growing portion of people would say “Van Cleef” before thinking of Valentino or Versace, which probably could not have been said 5 years ago.

I think the “ick” has several factors: oversaturation, a general rejection of classism from those who cannot afford VCA, a gatekeeping rejection of new money from those who’ve historically bought VCA, an attitude that VCA consumers are somehow posers, and an anti-luxury sentiment that the common materials and uninspired design of Alhambra do not justify its price.

People from both the upper and lower classes all have their reasons to dislike the current hype surrounding VCA. Some of those concerns are based on an apparent lack of authenticity from VCA wearers. Some of those concerns are based around the spurious authenticity of the pieces themselves.

The fixation on Cartier seemed to have lasted a decade since the 2010s. The 2000s was a time for Tiffany. It seems the 2020s will be the era of Van Cleef. I’m most curious what the next it jewelry brand will be.

Beautifully writeen

 

[waterlily112]

‘Quiet luxury’ has been the most toxic trend I’ve seen on TikTok. Why does it even matter for luxury to be quiet? They just need to wear what they like. What I see as ‘quiet luxury’ is wearing 100% natural fiber, yet these same people will buy a 100% polyester dress which costs significantly more and they will act like they’re better than you. Quiet luxury to me is to have clothing which lasts years and is made of good materials, quiet luxury to people on TikTok is to own pieces which you know exactly where they’re from but they don’t have a label.

This reminds me of the people who complained about H&M's premium collection, saying why would they charge $100+ for a cashmere sweater when their regular line is so affordable. Like hello, I thought you wanted a cashmere sweater without the ridiculous price tag and logo's? Pick a lane.

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

This reminds me of the people who complained about H&M's premium collection, saying would would they charge $100+ for a cashmere sweater when their regular line is so affordable. Like hello, I thought you wanted a cashmere sweater without the ridiculous price tag and logo's? Pick a lane.

People want to look like they have money when it doesn’t matter. It’s ridiculous at this point and I no longer can stand those people! Just buy what you like, not because it makes you look like you have money. That’s why people end up discarding these things after they realize they purchased it to fit in a certain crowd…

 

[TC1]

I just saw that MLM brand Stella & Dot has an exact replica of the Alhambra earrings. That gives me ICK.
I also don’t take fashion advice from TikTokers. That’s ICK to me

 

[JenJBS]

I was scrolling on social media and I like to follow jewelry pages, and this lady was talking about how Van Cleef gives her the ick and was wondering if anyone else felt that. I go and check the comment section and it’s full of people saying it looks like Kendra Scott, or they can get it for $5 from AliExpress, or “it’s not even real gold”. I can understand if you are over the Alhambra line, but to drag the entire brand down and say it gives you the “ick” is cringey.

Alhambra is not giving you the “ick”, trends are giving you the ick. Trends always come and go, and these people have turned a 60+ year old collection into a trend. It’s also cringey to see people say it’s “not real gold” and then proceed to say they can get a 22k gold version from their local jeweler. They will dig on VCA but always want a dupe…

What do you think of this?

I think 'ick' is individual to each person. Spiders make some people go ick, but not other people. Snakes give me ick, but a friend owned one as a pet.

But by saying it's not real gold they are certainly showing their ignorance.

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

I just saw that MLM brand Stella & Dot has an exact replica of the Alhambra earrings. That gives me ICK.
I also don’t take fashion advice from TikTokers. That’s ICK to me

I’ve seen a few people do that. They sell jewelry which is an exact copy of the Alhambra design and then claim it as their own

 

[A1aGypsy]

It’s an Ick for me because I do not at all like the design of the very thin chain connected to large charms. It seems clunky to me as a bracelet or multi icon necklace. I also dislike that it is the new “look at me” piece.

But that’s all personal choice. I love things that the person who loves VCA would think horrid. And that’s cool too. I think anyone who starts the phrase “it’s beautiful” has to always end it with “to me”. And that’s all that matters.