For Newbies and Seasoned Collectors: Share Your Tips and Experiences in Curating Your VCA Collection

[nicole0612]

Here's my jewelry collecting experience. As to what I consider a set, that will be another post.

I’ve been collecting jewelry for close to 50 years.

Buying philosophies have evolved over time matching to my lifestyle and budget. Over time I learned what I want and what works with my style. Your needs change and evolve as you age.

For the TLDR Types: Buy what you LOVE. Save for it if you don’t have the money. Don’t settle.

• Teens to 20s: No money, no jewelry (juggling up to 3 jobs). Well maybe three pieces (eRing, sapphire stud earrings that I wore to death, and a Paloma Picasso 18K Squiggle pin). Engaged at 27, DH bought an engagement ring with borrowed money from his parents. We dutifully paid it back in $250 increments until it was paid off.
• 30s: Some $, some jewelry. Mostly from small independent jewelers, quality varied, but I began to learn about jewelry construction and what was quality. When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.
• 40s–50s: More $, more jewelry, more lifestyle requirements. This is when I began to acquire nice things and learn about designers like VCA, Verdura, Jean Mahie, Elizabeth Locke, Paul Lantuch, Paul Morelli. This is when I purchased most of my collections. I went on buying jags (like a kid in a candy store) in which I bought lots of works from one designer. First, I bought Locke, Lantuch, Mahie, and Morelli. Then, I discovered Verdura, VCA, Graff, Procop, and Temple St. Clair. I made some great purchases and some mistakes. But I learned.
• 60s. I have money. But my lifestyle has changed. COVID, employment changes, and I’m no longer going to black tie events, store events, retreats. So, I do not need to have formal jewelry. And my adult children do not go to black ties, etc. I am in the process of “right-sizing” my collection. That means taking a hard look and what I have and ruthlessly culling. Now, I only buy things I LOVE that I mean to keep for the rest of my life. Same thing with my handbags.

Other drivers of my jewelry collection.

• Being dragged into jewelry inheritance squabbles with my own family and my In-laws. Won’t get into it here. I refused to fight for jewelry with either side of the family. Relatives wanted the stuff badly and made sure they got it. Fine. But man, was it unpleasant at the time.
  I do not want my kids to squabble over my stuff. I’ll rise from the grave and smack them silly if they do.
• I buy my jewelry myself, with my own money. Sometimes I’ll ask DH to buy me something, but it’s rare. It means I am in control of my collection. I love DH dearly, but I want to choose jewelry myself. DH hates shopping. So, it works.
• I do not hesitate to resell items.Review your jewelry box periodically. Does everything spark joy? Or not. It’s better to get some money back rather than have items languish in a jewelry box, unused. I use TRR and Beladora regularly. When I cull, here’s my calculus:
  • When was the last time I wore the piece of jewelry?
  • Do I still love it?
  • Is it too similar to something else in my jewelry box?
  • Will I have use for it in the future?
  • Is it replaceable?
  • How much did I pay for the item(s)?
  • How much can I resell it for?
  • What vendor is the right reseller? This takes research. Do your homework. Beladora is direct buy out, whereas TRR is consignment. TRR can be a pain in the a** to work with. But for certain pieces of jewelry, they are a better reseller.
• I rarely regret purchases. But sometimes I regret not buying something.
• My best friend is in the jewelry business. Through her, I have access to a world-class jeweler. When the Smithsonian needed to unmount the Hope Diamond to examine it, this jeweler was hired to do the work. He made my Emerald ring.
• I buy items from resellers, such as TRR, 1stDibbs, and Beladora. Sometimes you can find under-priced items on TRR. Jewelry is returnable, so it’s worth the $30 in postage both ways to look at things IRL. I bought the emerald from my emerald ring on TRR. It was originally in a pendant and was very well priced. My friend reviewed the stone and confirmed it was a good deal. The jeweler and I came up with the design. The final ring is spectacular. I recently got an Opal for a pendant from TRR and we are mimicking Irene Neuwirth style on it. Again, my friend confirmed the stone was worth the price. And it had 2 carats of 8 point VS G melee on it too.
  TRR is where I discovered Irene Neuwirth. You can find well priced items there. I started off with a Peruvian Opal candy bracelet and I was hooked. So I buy Newirth from both TRR and Bergdorfs.
• Negotiate with Stores. At Neimans and Bergdorfs, you can negotiate on price if you are buying items in excess of $10K. Buy on double/triple points days. You can accrue lots of gift cards. When the VCA boutique was in my local Neimans, I used to buy Verdura and others, negotiate discounts, buy on triple points days, and use the rewards cards to buy Van Cleef, which was not eligible for triple points.

This is THE treatise on growing and curating a fine jewelry collection. Some points are so subtle, but so impactful. I was tempted to highlight a few points, but then I kept mentally adding more as I read on. I would recommend reading this post - twice, then take notes!

One subtle point that I will highlight is this:
“When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.”
This will save you thousands to hundreds of thousands, hours of your time, and the difference between a lifetime of joy and a lifetime of regret.

 

[nicole0612]

Aww thank you @nicole0612 But I am dying to get your perspective on both questions because not only do you have one of the most enviable collection here but every action pic I have seen of yours, I have seen you wearing and styling your pieces so beautifully 😍

Ok, but I won’t make it very interesting!

1) Would you wear more than 2 pieces of a set together?

Absolutely, but usually I would at least change the size or texture of one piece (eg if I was wearing a set of 3 onyx Alhambra, the earrings might be the holiday earrings with the center diamond, or maybe the sweet onyx earrings with VA 20 motif and 5 motif bracelet).

2) Would you consider mixing and matching different designs together?
I am more likely to do this than wearing a full set of the same. For example, I would be more likely to pair WG pave 10 motif with GMOP magic earrings than with WG pave earrings in any size, more likey to wear chalcedony 10 motif with WG pave earrings than with chalcedony earrings etc. The only time I would wear the set would be if my outfit is crazy (formal anarkali, typically, because for Western events like holiday parties or fundraisers I will wear my uniform of neutral Chanel jacket + long silk skirt + nice booties), but sparkly Desi formals are borderline garish - that is kind of the point - so the jewelry needs to be a bit too much, but also one-note/matching, because there is so much else going on visually.

 

[etoupebirkin]

This is THE treatise on growing and curating a fine jewelry collection. Some points are so subtle, but so impactful. I was tempted to highlight a few points, but then I kept mentally adding more as I read on. I would recommend reading this post - twice, then take notes!

One subtle point that I will highlight is this:
“When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.”
This will save you thousands to hundreds of thousands, hours of your time, and the difference between a lifetime of joy and a lifetime of regret.

Boy, did I learn the hard way with this, twice with tension settings

The first time I tried to do this with a sapphire and it was done sloppily and the jeweler would not redo it. I was in my early 30s and did not have the guts to fight further. I was young and stupid.

The second time is when I first reset my engagement ring. It was a tension setting that did cover some of the stone. The jeweler called and told me that during the setting, one of the side stones broke, but they replaced it with of an equivalent stone. It was a reputable DC jeweler. So when I received the ring the side stones were fine. I wore the ring until I reset it for my 20th Anniversary. It was only then that I reset it that I realized that the 1st reset jeweler lied to me. In fact it was the CENTER stone that broke and they replaced it with a diamond with an enormous table. I did not notice the table until the mounting was removed. I misplaced the original diamond cert and appraisal, so it would be my word against theirs. And it was at least 10 years after the reset.

 

[glamourbag]

Here's my jewelry collecting experience. As to what I consider a set, that will be another post.

I’ve been collecting jewelry for close to 50 years.

Buying philosophies have evolved over time matching to my lifestyle and budget. Over time I learned what I want and what works with my style. Your needs change and evolve as you age.

For the TLDR Types: Buy what you LOVE. Save for it if you don’t have the money. Don’t settle.

• Teens to 20s: No money, no jewelry (juggling up to 3 jobs). Well maybe three pieces (eRing, sapphire stud earrings that I wore to death, and a Paloma Picasso 18K Squiggle pin). Engaged at 27, DH bought an engagement ring with borrowed money from his parents. We dutifully paid it back in $250 increments until it was paid off.
• 30s: Some $, some jewelry. Mostly from small independent jewelers, quality varied, but I began to learn about jewelry construction and what was quality. When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.
• 40s–50s: More $, more jewelry, more lifestyle requirements. This is when I began to acquire nice things and learn about designers like VCA, Verdura, Jean Mahie, Elizabeth Locke, Paul Lantuch, Paul Morelli. This is when I purchased most of my collections. I went on buying jags (like a kid in a candy store) in which I bought lots of works from one designer. First, I bought Locke, Lantuch, Mahie, and Morelli. Then, I discovered Verdura, VCA, Graff, Procop, and Temple St. Clair. I made some great purchases and some mistakes. But I learned.
• 60s. I have money. But my lifestyle has changed. COVID, employment changes, and I’m no longer going to black tie events, store events, retreats. So, I do not need to have formal jewelry. And my adult children do not go to black ties, etc. I am in the process of “right-sizing” my collection. That means taking a hard look and what I have and ruthlessly culling. Now, I only buy things I LOVE that I mean to keep for the rest of my life. Same thing with my handbags.

Other drivers of my jewelry collection.

• Being dragged into jewelry inheritance squabbles with my own family and my In-laws. Won’t get into it here. I refused to fight for jewelry with either side of the family. Relatives wanted the stuff badly and made sure they got it. Fine. But man, was it unpleasant at the time.
  I do not want my kids to squabble over my stuff. I’ll rise from the grave and smack them silly if they do.
• I buy my jewelry myself, with my own money. Sometimes I’ll ask DH to buy me something, but it’s rare. It means I am in control of my collection. I love DH dearly, but I want to choose jewelry myself. DH hates shopping. So, it works.
• I do not hesitate to resell items.Review your jewelry box periodically. Does everything spark joy? Or not. It’s better to get some money back rather than have items languish in a jewelry box, unused. I use TRR and Beladora regularly. When I cull, here’s my calculus:
  • When was the last time I wore the piece of jewelry?
  • Do I still love it?
  • Is it too similar to something else in my jewelry box?
  • Will I have use for it in the future?
  • Is it replaceable?
  • How much did I pay for the item(s)?
  • How much can I resell it for?
  • What vendor is the right reseller? This takes research. Do your homework. Beladora is direct buy out, whereas TRR is consignment. TRR can be a pain in the a** to work with. But for certain pieces of jewelry, they are a better reseller.
• I rarely regret purchases. But sometimes I regret not buying something.
• My best friend is in the jewelry business. Through her, I have access to a world-class jeweler. When the Smithsonian needed to unmount the Hope Diamond to examine it, this jeweler was hired to do the work. He made my Emerald ring.
• I buy items from resellers, such as TRR, 1stDibbs, and Beladora. Sometimes you can find under-priced items on TRR. Jewelry is returnable, so it’s worth the $30 in postage both ways to look at things IRL. I bought the emerald from my emerald ring on TRR. It was originally in a pendant and was very well priced. My friend reviewed the stone and confirmed it was a good deal. The jeweler and I came up with the design. The final ring is spectacular. I recently got an Opal for a pendant from TRR and we are mimicking Irene Neuwirth style on it. Again, my friend confirmed the stone was worth the price. And it had 2 carats of 8 point VS G melee on it too.
  TRR is where I discovered Irene Neuwirth. You can find well priced items there. I started off with a Peruvian Opal candy bracelet and I was hooked. So I buy Newirth from both TRR and Bergdorfs.
• Negotiate with Stores. At Neimans and Bergdorfs, you can negotiate on price if you are buying items in excess of $10K. Buy on double/triple points days. You can accrue lots of gift cards. When the VCA boutique was in my local Neimans, I used to buy Verdura and others, negotiate discounts, buy on triple points days, and use the rewards cards to buy Van Cleef, which was not eligible for triple points.

What well written and wonderful source of advice and way to look at collecting and curating a collection of pieces one actually can wear and enjoy. Thank you for your time and advice.

 

[Hiker4life]

Boy, did I learn the hard way with this, twice with tension settings

The first time I tried to do this with a sapphire and it was done sloppily and the jeweler would not redo it. I was in my early 30s and did not have the guts to fight further. I was young and stupid.

The second time is when I first reset my engagement ring. It was a tension setting that did cover some of the stone. The jeweler called and told me that during the setting, one of the side stones broke, but they replaced it with of an equivalent stone. It was a reputable DC jeweler. So when I received the ring the side stones were fine. I wore the ring until I reset it for my 20th Anniversary. It was only then that I reset it that the 1st reset jeweler lied to me. In fact it was the CENTER stone that broke and they replaced it with a diamond with an enormous table. I did not notice the table until the mounting was removed. I misplaced the original diamond cert and appraisal, so it would be my word against theirs. And it was at least 10 years after the reset.

I wish I had known this 15 years ago regarding finding the right jeweler for custom pieces. It would have saved me both time and money. Your collection is stunning, thoughtful, and unique. Your pieces express your keen eye and interest in the pieces that you have chosen. To look this effortless, it takes a lot of effort. LOL

 

[nicole0612]

Boy, did I learn the hard way with this, twice with tension settings

The first time I tried to do this with a sapphire and it was done sloppily and the jeweler would not redo it. I was in my early 30s and did not have the guts to fight further. I was young and stupid.

The second time is when I first reset my engagement ring. It was a tension setting that did cover some of the stone. The jeweler called and told me that during the setting, one of the side stones broke, but they replaced it with of an equivalent stone. It was a reputable DC jeweler. So when I received the ring the side stones were fine. I wore the ring until I reset it for my 20th Anniversary. It was only then that I reset it that the 1st reset jeweler lied to me. In fact it was the CENTER stone that broke and they replaced it with a diamond with an enormous table. I did not notice the table until the mounting was removed. I misplaced the original diamond cert and appraisal, so it would be my word against theirs. And it was at least 10 years after the reset.

That is not only infuriating, but criminal. I would consider leaving a review for the jeweler (if they are still in business).
I am lucky that my original ER diamond is laser inscribed, so that gives me some level of comfort. I have reset my ER diamond 3 times and each time my husband mumbles that they may have replaced it with another diamond (then I show him the laser inscription under magnification). Most of my other significant diamond pieces are antiques, so the ones lacking GIA inscriptions are hand-cut, and the faceting is like a fingerprint on its own.
Like you, I buy my own jewelry, other than my ER. Though I can see how my pieces could have more meaning if they were gifts from my husband, it is just so much easier to decide on my own and not be accountable to anyone else.
My experience with custom jewelry has been that I need to use a jeweler who has at minimum: the technical skill, the honesty, the same level of discrimination for stone quality and metalwork and also a consistent aesthetic and artistic point of view that I like in all of their pieces. I have a local jeweler who checks all of the boxes except for the last one; his taste is what his customer's taste is. That can be ok, but a person needs to invest a huge amount of time into a project with a jeweler like this because you will need to answer all kinds of questions about the most minute design details, splitting hairs over this and that, some tiny element is not quite right....still not quite right... and the project loses any sense of fun and delight at a certain point.

 

[etoupebirkin]

That is not only infuriating, but criminal. I would consider leaving a review for the jeweler (if they are still in business).
I am lucky that my original ER diamond is laser inscribed, so that gives me some level of comfort. I have reset my ER diamond 3 times and each time my husband mumbles that they may have replaced it with another diamond (then I show him the laser inscription under magnification). Most of my other significant diamond pieces are antiques, so the ones lacking GIA inscriptions are hand-cut, and the faceting is like a fingerprint on its own.
Like you, I buy my own jewelry, other than my ER. Though I can see how my pieces could have more meaning if they were gifts from my husband, it is just so much easier to decide on my own and not be accountable to anyone else.
My experience with custom jewelry has been that I need to use a jeweler who has at minimum: the technical skill, the honesty, the same level of discrimination for stone quality and metalwork and also a consistent aesthetic and artistic point of view that I like in all of their pieces. I have a local jeweler who checks all of the boxes except for the last one; his taste is what his customer's taste is. That can be ok, but a person needs to invest a huge amount of time into a project with a jeweler like this because you will need to answer all kinds of questions about the most minute design details, splitting hairs over this and that, some tiny element is not quite right....still not quite right... and the project loses any sense of fun and delight at a certain point.

That’s why finding the jeweler I use now is such a blessing. He’s a really great guy. Also, having a BFF in the jewelry business is the reason why I have the collection I have. I would never do custom pieces otherwise.

I still love my reset e-ring, even though the reset 1 carat stone. I have 1 carat each stud earrings that are engagement ring quality. I may see the feasibility of swapping one of the stones for “mind clean” issues. But that’s down the pike. But it really bothers me that the jeweler was such a piece of trash about it.

 

[nicole0612]

That’s why finding the jeweler I use now is such a blessing. He’s a really great guy. Also, having a BFF in the jewelry business is the reason why I have the collection I have. I would never do custom pieces otherwise.

I still love my reset e-ring, even though the reset 1 carat stone. I have 1 carat each stud earrings that are engagement ring quality. I may see the feasibility of swapping one of the stones for “mind clean” issues. But that’s down the pike. But it really bothers me that the jeweler was such a piece of trash about it.

The only good thing that came out of it is that you finally found your current, trusted and skilled jeweler. I am envious of you having a BFF in the jewelry business; I would get into a lot of trouble in your shoes, but it would be a lot of fun. At a certain point, a mix of custom and unique designer is where we land for jewelry and other things, and we need a few trusted “accomplices” to achieve the desired result!

 

[eternallove4bag]

I’m still new in my VCA journey and don’t own sets yet but that’s what I’m working towards. Both your combinations are gorgeous, but the frivole collection is chefs kiss! The matching serpenti earrings and bracelet are also lovely together.

Thank you so much @panicthepancake How exciting that you are starting with VCA! So much to explore. I would highly recommend the Frivole line. The 3-D design is so unlike what any other luxury brand names make♥️
What are you considering adding next?

 

[eternallove4bag]

Here's my jewelry collecting experience. As to what I consider a set, that will be another post.

I’ve been collecting jewelry for close to 50 years.

Buying philosophies have evolved over time matching to my lifestyle and budget. Over time I learned what I want and what works with my style. Your needs change and evolve as you age.

For the TLDR Types: Buy what you LOVE. Save for it if you don’t have the money. Don’t settle.

• Teens to 20s: No money, no jewelry (juggling up to 3 jobs). Well maybe three pieces (eRing, sapphire stud earrings that I wore to death, and a Paloma Picasso 18K Squiggle pin). Engaged at 27, DH bought an engagement ring with borrowed money from his parents. We dutifully paid it back in $250 increments until it was paid off.
• 30s: Some $, some jewelry. Mostly from small independent jewelers, quality varied, but I began to learn about jewelry construction and what was quality. When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.
• 40s–50s: More $, more jewelry, more lifestyle requirements. This is when I began to acquire nice things and learn about designers like VCA, Verdura, Jean Mahie, Elizabeth Locke, Paul Lantuch, Paul Morelli. This is when I purchased most of my collections. I went on buying jags (like a kid in a candy store) in which I bought lots of works from one designer. First, I bought Locke, Lantuch, Mahie, and Morelli. Then, I discovered Verdura, VCA, Graff, Procop, and Temple St. Clair. I made some great purchases and some mistakes. But I learned.
• 60s. I have money. But my lifestyle has changed. COVID, employment changes, and I’m no longer going to black tie events, store events, retreats. So, I do not need to have formal jewelry. And my adult children do not go to black ties, etc. I am in the process of “right-sizing” my collection. That means taking a hard look and what I have and ruthlessly culling. Now, I only buy things I LOVE that I mean to keep for the rest of my life. Same thing with my handbags.

Other drivers of my jewelry collection.

• Being dragged into jewelry inheritance squabbles with my own family and my In-laws. Won’t get into it here. I refused to fight for jewelry with either side of the family. Relatives wanted the stuff badly and made sure they got it. Fine. But man, was it unpleasant at the time.
  I do not want my kids to squabble over my stuff. I’ll rise from the grave and smack them silly if they do.
• I buy my jewelry myself, with my own money. Sometimes I’ll ask DH to buy me something, but it’s rare. It means I am in control of my collection. I love DH dearly, but I want to choose jewelry myself. DH hates shopping. So, it works.
• I do not hesitate to resell items.Review your jewelry box periodically. Does everything spark joy? Or not. It’s better to get some money back rather than have items languish in a jewelry box, unused. I use TRR and Beladora regularly. When I cull, here’s my calculus:
  • When was the last time I wore the piece of jewelry?
  • Do I still love it?
  • Is it too similar to something else in my jewelry box?
  • Will I have use for it in the future?
  • Is it replaceable?
  • How much did I pay for the item(s)?
  • How much can I resell it for?
  • What vendor is the right reseller? This takes research. Do your homework. Beladora is direct buy out, whereas TRR is consignment. TRR can be a pain in the a** to work with. But for certain pieces of jewelry, they are a better reseller.
• I rarely regret purchases. But sometimes I regret not buying something.
• My best friend is in the jewelry business. Through her, I have access to a world-class jeweler. When the Smithsonian needed to unmount the Hope Diamond to examine it, this jeweler was hired to do the work. He made my Emerald ring.
• I buy items from resellers, such as TRR, 1stDibbs, and Beladora. Sometimes you can find under-priced items on TRR. Jewelry is returnable, so it’s worth the $30 in postage both ways to look at things IRL. I bought the emerald from my emerald ring on TRR. It was originally in a pendant and was very well priced. My friend reviewed the stone and confirmed it was a good deal. The jeweler and I came up with the design. The final ring is spectacular. I recently got an Opal for a pendant from TRR and we are mimicking Irene Neuwirth style on it. Again, my friend confirmed the stone was worth the price. And it had 2 carats of 8 point VS G melee on it too.
  TRR is where I discovered Irene Neuwirth. You can find well priced items there. I started off with a Peruvian Opal candy bracelet and I was hooked. So I buy Newirth from both TRR and Bergdorfs.
• Negotiate with Stores. At Neimans and Bergdorfs, you can negotiate on price if you are buying items in excess of $10K. Buy on double/triple points days. You can accrue lots of gift cards. When the VCA boutique was in my local Neimans, I used to buy Verdura and others, negotiate discounts, buy on triple points days, and use the rewards cards to buy Van Cleef, which was not eligible for triple points.

Regarding sets. I decided to get some really nice base items with VCA across YG, WG, and RG. By getting items that are multipurpose and can go with differing VCA lines, it justifies the expense.

Earrings: YG: Hammered Magic Alhambra / PG: Perlee Diamond Hoops / WG: Pave Diamond Lotus
Rings: YG. Perlee Diamond / WG Perlee Diamond / PG: Coccinelle BTF ring (I also have a Cosmos ring too.)

With these as the basis I mix and match necklaces and bracelets to suit my mood. Here's an example of how I style rose gold.

WORDS TO LIVE BY! I am enamored, fascinated by and totally hooked with everything that you wrote @etoupebirkin
First of all thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with all of us here! Like @nicole0612 I am literally reading and re-reading what you wrote again and again and I know I will continue to do so for years to come! There is such invaluable advice here. I think at this point I just need to make my notes from what you wrote so I never forget some of these nuggets♥️

Finding the right jeweler is so important! I am so sorry you had to go through such a terrible experience with your previous jeweler! I am so paranoid about being duped myself that since coming to this country, I have yet to buy any piece of jewelry from a private or local jeweler in the last 26 years! That’s why I prefer buying from known luxury brands like VCA, Bvlgari etc. However, I do have a trusted family jeweler in my home country who my family have used for generations upon generations. All my custom pieces are from them. Trust is such an important element here.
Thank you for providing the history behind your emerald ring! I absolutely love it and am so happy you got it for a great deal! Score!

I love how you broke down your experiences by age! I can resonate so much with that! 26 years back when DH and I came to this country, we had nothing except our brains, each other and the determination to succeed! Both of us refused to take help from our parents who are well-off and God knows, we love them to death but we were determined to make it on our own. No money in our 20’s to buy luxury brands. Too busy making our careers and raising kids to have time for luxury brands. It was only maybe very late 30’s and in my 40’s currently that I dared to look at luxury brands and start my journey! Like you, my tastes have evolved so much so I totally resonated with that!

I laughed so much at the ‘I will rise from the grave and smack them silly’ bit 😆 I know I would do the same to my kids if they ever did that!

Like you, I buy most of my jewelry and bags from my earnings! Hubby will step in once in a while to gift. I appreciate it but I love the sense of accomplishment in buying my own pieces! God knows, I have worked my ***t off to afford these pieces so why not 😅

I swear I could write a thesis on my appreciation of your post. Your insights, not to mention your willingness to share your experiences, are well-appreciated by so many of us so thank you!

And, thank you for sharing those gorgeous pics 😍😍 I am in AWE♥️♥️

 

[eternallove4bag]

Ok, but I won’t make it very interesting!

1) Would you wear more than 2 pieces of a set together?

Absolutely, but usually I would at least change the size or texture of one piece (eg if I was wearing a set of 3 onyx Alhambra, the earrings might be the holiday earrings with the center diamond, or maybe the sweet onyx earrings with VA 20 motif and 5 motif bracelet).

2) Would you consider mixing and matching different designs together?
I am more likely to do this than wearing a full set of the same. For example, I would be more likely to pair WG pave 10 motif with GMOP magic earrings than with WG pave earrings in any size, more likey to wear chalcedony 10 motif with WG pave earrings than with chalcedony earrings etc. The only time I would wear the set would be if my outfit is crazy (formal anarkali, typically, because for Western events like holiday parties or fundraisers I will wear my uniform of neutral Chanel jacket + long silk skirt + nice booties), but sparkly Desi formals are borderline garish - that is kind of the point - so the jewelry needs to be a bit too much, but also one-note/matching, because there is so much else going on visually.

I am already visualizing as I am reading your post @nicole0612 on how you put together sets, and mix/match pieces! Beautifully explained! I loved the idea of changing the texture or size of one piece when wearing sets! That’s the theme I was going for with the RG hammered 16-motif sweets and the Magic RG hammered earrings!
Thank you so much for sharing 🤗♥️

 

[panicthepancake]

Thank you so much @panicthepancake How exciting that you are starting with VCA! So much to explore. I would highly recommend the Frivole line. The 3-D design is so unlike what any other luxury brand names make♥️
What are you considering adding next?

Frivole is my favorite! I have the small earrings and have been debating between the matching pendant or the btf ring. Hard to choose but I’m leaning more towards the ring, I just love looking down at my rings. I have some time to decide since there’s no VCA store in my country but I’m traveling in a few months. I appreciate you sharing your collection, you always style your pieces beautifully

 

[missie1]

Here's my jewelry collecting experience. As to what I consider a set, that will be another post.

I’ve been collecting jewelry for close to 50 years.

Buying philosophies have evolved over time matching to my lifestyle and budget. Over time I learned what I want and what works with my style. Your needs change and evolve as you age.

For the TLDR Types: Buy what you LOVE. Save for it if you don’t have the money. Don’t settle.

• Teens to 20s: No money, no jewelry (juggling up to 3 jobs). Well maybe three pieces (eRing, sapphire stud earrings that I wore to death, and a Paloma Picasso 18K Squiggle pin). Engaged at 27, DH bought an engagement ring with borrowed money from his parents. We dutifully paid it back in $250 increments until it was paid off.
• 30s: Some $, some jewelry. Mostly from small independent jewelers, quality varied, but I began to learn about jewelry construction and what was quality. When you order a custom piece, make sure the jeweler has the chops to pull it off.
• 40s–50s: More $, more jewelry, more lifestyle requirements. This is when I began to acquire nice things and learn about designers like VCA, Verdura, Jean Mahie, Elizabeth Locke, Paul Lantuch, Paul Morelli. This is when I purchased most of my collections. I went on buying jags (like a kid in a candy store) in which I bought lots of works from one designer. First, I bought Locke, Lantuch, Mahie, and Morelli. Then, I discovered Verdura, VCA, Graff, Procop, and Temple St. Clair. I made some great purchases and some mistakes. But I learned.
• 60s. I have money. But my lifestyle has changed. COVID, employment changes, and I’m no longer going to black tie events, store events, retreats. So, I do not need to have formal jewelry. And my adult children do not go to black ties, etc. I am in the process of “right-sizing” my collection. That means taking a hard look and what I have and ruthlessly culling. Now, I only buy things I LOVE that I mean to keep for the rest of my life. Same thing with my handbags.

Other drivers of my jewelry collection.

• Being dragged into jewelry inheritance squabbles with my own family and my In-laws. Won’t get into it here. I refused to fight for jewelry with either side of the family. Relatives wanted the stuff badly and made sure they got it. Fine. But man, was it unpleasant at the time.
  I do not want my kids to squabble over my stuff. I’ll rise from the grave and smack them silly if they do.
• I buy my jewelry myself, with my own money. Sometimes I’ll ask DH to buy me something, but it’s rare. It means I am in control of my collection. I love DH dearly, but I want to choose jewelry myself. DH hates shopping. So, it works.
• I do not hesitate to resell items.Review your jewelry box periodically. Does everything spark joy? Or not. It’s better to get some money back rather than have items languish in a jewelry box, unused. I use TRR and Beladora regularly. When I cull, here’s my calculus:
  • When was the last time I wore the piece of jewelry?
  • Do I still love it?
  • Is it too similar to something else in my jewelry box?
  • Will I have use for it in the future?
  • Is it replaceable?
  • How much did I pay for the item(s)?
  • How much can I resell it for?
  • What vendor is the right reseller? This takes research. Do your homework. Beladora is direct buy out, whereas TRR is consignment. TRR can be a pain in the a** to work with. But for certain pieces of jewelry, they are a better reseller.
• I rarely regret purchases. But sometimes I regret not buying something.
• My best friend is in the jewelry business. Through her, I have access to a world-class jeweler. When the Smithsonian needed to unmount the Hope Diamond to examine it, this jeweler was hired to do the work. He made my Emerald ring.
• I buy items from resellers, such as TRR, 1stDibbs, and Beladora. Sometimes you can find under-priced items on TRR. Jewelry is returnable, so it’s worth the $30 in postage both ways to look at things IRL. I bought the emerald from my emerald ring on TRR. It was originally in a pendant and was very well priced. My friend reviewed the stone and confirmed it was a good deal. The jeweler and I came up with the design. The final ring is spectacular. I recently got an Opal for a pendant from TRR and we are mimicking Irene Neuwirth style on it. Again, my friend confirmed the stone was worth the price. And it had 2 carats of 8 point VS G melee on it too.
  TRR is where I discovered Irene Neuwirth. You can find well priced items there. I started off with a Peruvian Opal candy bracelet and I was hooked. So I buy Newirth from both TRR and Bergdorfs.
• Negotiate with Stores. At Neimans and Bergdorfs, you can negotiate on price if you are buying items in excess of $10K. Buy on double/triple points days. You can accrue lots of gift cards. When the VCA boutique was in my local Neimans, I used to buy Verdura and others, negotiate discounts, buy on triple points days, and use the rewards cards to buy Van Cleef, which was not eligible for triple points.

I’m am always in awe of the insight and guidance that the wonderful ladies in our group provide. The way that you have laid out the rationale and progression of expanding and refining your collection is invaluable. This truly is the blueprint. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

 

[missie1]

Back with a couple of related questions today!

Many of us agreed 2 pieces would be enough to make a set and 3 would be great to wear in different combos!

1) Would you wear more than 2 pieces of a set together?

For me, 90% of the time I won’t but 10% I would, depending on the mood and occasion.
It would also depend on how bold the pieces are! For bold pieces I would stick to wearing 1 or 2 pieces max, 100% of the time!

2) Would you consider mixing and matching different designs together?
As much as I love matchy matchy, I do also love mixing and matching different designs so long as they look cohesive together!


Pic 1: Me, wearing all three of my pave Frivole pieces in RG (in response to Q1).

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Pic 2: Mixing and matching WG hammered 10-motif, Serpenti WG pave earrings, Serpenti RG pave bracelet and RG butterfly/pave BTF ring (in response to Q2).
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Looking forward to seeing everyone’s responses to the two questions 🤍🤍

Fabulous as always. Now I always think I have my strategy figured out and you and @nicole0612 always throw a curve ball. I consider two pieces a set, yet my Alhambra GMOP I have 4 pieces. I tend to wear 3 pieces. Double bracelets and pendant to tie arms together.

I’m not a matchy match person so I like idea of interchangeable pieces in same metal. I’m all about different textures giving depth to jewelry stacks and frankly makes them more interesting visually. Then I see you coordinating matching pieces and makes me rethink my strategy.

 

[etoupebirkin]

@CoastalCouture, @nicole0612, @glamourbag, @Hiker4life, @eternallove4bag, @missie1:

Thank you so much for your kind words. I've been a bit intimidated by this thread as I had to think hard on how and why I collect jewelry (handbags, too). I really wanted my response to be thorough, engaging, and helpful. I'm really delighted you ladies found it informative.