Does anyone feel like VCA is everywhere now?
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Not directed at anyone in particular. I just wanted to toss in that I'm more offended that pumpkin spice lattes are considered "basic" moreso than with VCA. I mean, pumpkin spice is delicious!
And the price is not far from a sweet alhambra pendant, at least in my country
Oh god, I am SO basic except substitute selfies with baby pics!And not gonna lie, I DO love those ankle Uggs. I get so much use out of them haha.
The way I see it, I spent $$$$ on them (and if not me, somebody else), so I better love them and wear them, basic or not.
Yes to Uggs. I used to eyeroll whenever I hear Uggs after seeing soooo many girls at my college freezing in the dead of winter because they wore them with just a mini-skirt or short-shorts. But then my DH and I got oldz and dang it if they don't keep us warm! Now my DH doesn't get any winter shoes unless it has real wool/sheepskin. Sorry my furry friends...
I feel the same, Alhambra is everywhere (London UK). All my girlfriends have it. You probably won’t be able to go to a semi decent restaurant without seeing at least one. In fancier places like private members clubs it would be on every other, or every third person!
ooh i was the same way, but back in college girls even wore than in hot 100+ weather with shorts. it just killed me inside, but now i do own a pair myself. nice and cozy for the chilly weather.
i went to a private event recently and literally every woman, i mean every one (including me
) was wearing more than one Alhambra pieces. But they are beautiful and classy nevertheless!
I miss those days when VCA was very much under the radar and people would ask what brand it is. I also see a lot more of the recent holiday pendants on instagram compared to the prior ones. Either they made too many of the green celadon and rhodonite or the OG VCA crowds are not the type to post on insta.
I no longer feel they are special as they once did. I still love my pieces and have acquired a few more but I feel it’s time to venture elsewhere.
I no longer feel they are special as they once did. I still love my pieces and have acquired a few more but I feel it’s time to venture elsewhere.
… yes… I would say VCA is basic now. A few years ago, VCA stores were hard to find. No one even knew the name of the brand. That was also when employees at Neiman Marcus could get a VCA discount, because people didn’t care about the brand and demand was low. Now, they keep expanding stores into new cities. I went to SF last month, and they have a VCA store there now, which was not the case a few years ago. And I also remember my excitement when Boston finally got a VCA store.
Also, I never used to see men wear VCA. That’s usually the best indication — when the opposite gender is taking interest in an item that’s traditionally viewed as feminine. Overall, Alhambra is very mainstream now. Male rappers, sports players, influencers… It does make me feel like the brand is less special, but eh. Whatever. I still like my VCA pieces.
Honestly, I used to feel more unique than my sister, who has Cartier. But they’re really on the same level of brand recognizability now. Nothing I can do about it. Even on this forum, you can see that participation on the VCA threads has grown every year.
It’s interesting, because everyone seems to buy Cartier and Van Cleef for branded jewelry. I remember when Tiffany was the “it” brand and then became considered basic.
My SA who used to work at Cartier many years ago told me how they closed down her store, because the brand wasn’t receiving much business — especially compared to the Tiffany across from it. Now, after over a decade of being absent from my home state, they’re finally opening another Cartier store for next year. I just see so many more people wearing VCA and Cartier pieces than Tiffany, whose heyday really seems to have passed.
As a side note, I strongly believe that the VCA community’s obsession with turquoise stems from the marketability of Tiffany blue. Whether or not that’s subconscious or knowingly admitted. (Reminds me also of the turquoise Rolex, and paraiba tourmalines.) Personally, though, I don’t care for turquoise that much. Eh.
Already, it seems to me that the hottest jewelry collection is no longer Cartier love, but VCA Alhambra. But brands seem to be cyclical. So, I’m sure in a few years, Van Cleef will become less well known, and Bulgari or something will become the next “it” jewelry brand.
Also, I never used to see men wear VCA. That’s usually the best indication — when the opposite gender is taking interest in an item that’s traditionally viewed as feminine. Overall, Alhambra is very mainstream now. Male rappers, sports players, influencers… It does make me feel like the brand is less special, but eh. Whatever. I still like my VCA pieces.
Honestly, I used to feel more unique than my sister, who has Cartier. But they’re really on the same level of brand recognizability now. Nothing I can do about it. Even on this forum, you can see that participation on the VCA threads has grown every year.
It’s interesting, because everyone seems to buy Cartier and Van Cleef for branded jewelry. I remember when Tiffany was the “it” brand and then became considered basic.
My SA who used to work at Cartier many years ago told me how they closed down her store, because the brand wasn’t receiving much business — especially compared to the Tiffany across from it. Now, after over a decade of being absent from my home state, they’re finally opening another Cartier store for next year. I just see so many more people wearing VCA and Cartier pieces than Tiffany, whose heyday really seems to have passed.
As a side note, I strongly believe that the VCA community’s obsession with turquoise stems from the marketability of Tiffany blue. Whether or not that’s subconscious or knowingly admitted. (Reminds me also of the turquoise Rolex, and paraiba tourmalines.) Personally, though, I don’t care for turquoise that much. Eh.
Already, it seems to me that the hottest jewelry collection is no longer Cartier love, but VCA Alhambra. But brands seem to be cyclical. So, I’m sure in a few years, Van Cleef will become less well known, and Bulgari or something will become the next “it” jewelry brand.
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Same I’m in LA/OC and I’m seeing way more Cartier than VCA.
That is so funny. I live in the Midwest. And even though our state has a Tiffany store and no Cartier or VCA stores, I see so much VCA and Cartier every day.
I go to yoga class, as I did today, and one person has a Cartier love ring. Another has a Cartier love bangle. Someone else is wearing sweet Alhambra pendant.
Actually, I guess I do see silver Tiffany sometimes. But to me that’s not really the same as gold jewelry or a fair comparison, since that’s a totally different price point marketed to a different consumer.
But to clarify, for gold jewelry, I see way more Cartier/VCA than Tiffany. And I’ve very, very rarely seen Bulgari.
Have to add. A few years ago, my home state had a pop-up Cartier event. From the event, I learned that my home state has the MOST online sales for Cartier in the entire country. That is despite there being no retail presence here. But honestly, that’s really believable to me, considering that I encounter Cartier pieces every day.
And based on personal observation, I strongly feel that my home state probably also has the most online VCA sales in the country.
And based on personal observation, I strongly feel that my home state probably also has the most online VCA sales in the country.
It's everywhere now especially the single motif pendant.
Luckily I don't aim at collecting Alhambra in every stone. I only need one set of Alhambra in one stone. Then I am done collecting Alhambra. My SA said that well, for some stones, it's harder to find but to me, it's the same, they are motifs in different colours. So it's like buying shoes or clothes in same style but in different colours. I don't wear clothes in same style of different colours every day so there's no point having motifs in different colours. Since I don't buy more motifs, I have savings to purchase non motif items from VCA. Yes, this way, I might not visit VCA this often because of the higher price point but I like how people don't have ideas of how much an item cost. It's embarrassing that once, I was wearing 5 motif bracelet and a person pointing at it and said the price of the bracelet out loud.
I know non motif items might become everywhere one day but maybe just among the true vca collectors. It's like if you know, you know items.
The vintage items look good too. I took a look at Sotheby's website and the vintage items in the old days look good and some are affordable. There are some non clover items.
Luckily I don't aim at collecting Alhambra in every stone. I only need one set of Alhambra in one stone. Then I am done collecting Alhambra. My SA said that well, for some stones, it's harder to find but to me, it's the same, they are motifs in different colours. So it's like buying shoes or clothes in same style but in different colours. I don't wear clothes in same style of different colours every day so there's no point having motifs in different colours. Since I don't buy more motifs, I have savings to purchase non motif items from VCA. Yes, this way, I might not visit VCA this often because of the higher price point but I like how people don't have ideas of how much an item cost. It's embarrassing that once, I was wearing 5 motif bracelet and a person pointing at it and said the price of the bracelet out loud.
I know non motif items might become everywhere one day but maybe just among the true vca collectors. It's like if you know, you know items.
The vintage items look good too. I took a look at Sotheby's website and the vintage items in the old days look good and some are affordable. There are some non clover items.
The obsession of turquoise is because of the resale value of turquoise in the motif form. Personally, I added turquoise because it is my birth stone and it fills the gap in my collection. I don't have colour stones in my collection so the colour of turquoise just fills the gap and sapphire and rubies (I don't like how they cut it like cutting diamonds, I tried on some and don't look good on me)don't interest me yet. And I don't insist on turquoise in motif form because for me, stones in patterns (TE, chalcedony , malachite)look better in motif form because the flat surface of motifs showcasing the patterns of the stones.
Basically, there's no rarity of quality turquoise, not to the point it deserves the resale value of turquoise in motif form. But because people are trained to believe its value in motif form, it retains value. Basically, it's the artificial added value of turquoise in motif form.
I don't think people should sell their turquoise in motif form to make small fortune. But if the piece no longer resonates with them, it's another story.
Luckily I don't have turquoise in motif form obsession.