I’m firm on needing RG signature Perlee and the RG sweet 16 motif. I know my butterflies will be RG once I figure out earring vs ring.Thank you @lisawhit All the bracelets are in small size but it’s the angle that gives the illusion of each being a different size! My goodness if they were in different sizes the OCD in me would have thrown such a tantrum and not let me be in peace till all my bracelets aligned in perfect symmetry 😂
Gosh THANK YOU for sharing your GORGEOUS collection and your thought process in curating a perfect collection! I am getting so much joy looking at your pictures, beautifully organized and radiating beauty! I am not surprised that you are satisfied with your collection because you thought through so carefully with each piece! Hope your SOs come soon! It’s been tough getting SO and MTO hammered pieces. I am currently waiting on two myself!
But that is your signature style - eclectic 😍and it just works beautifully for you @A bottle of Red
Right? @marbella8 I am like literally oogling @lisawhit collection!
@snnysmm This is such valuable advice! I am glad I am not the only one who keeps spreadsheets for my jewelry (actually I have one for almost everything 😆).
You are so right about impulse purchases! Everything I ever got on an impulse I lived to regret it so now I take my own sweet time bringing a piece home to the point where even people who follow me say ‘finally, it came home with you!’😂 That’s because I have learnt my lesson well!
Taking a break really resonated with me! That’s such good advice! It brings things into perspective without mindlessly adding!
WHOA @missie1 This picture is stunning. Seriously, what a beautiful collectionThe TQ and WG just pop! And the RG pieces elegantly balance them out!
Which RG piece were you thinking of adding?
Words to live by @880
The tip to wear plain clothing when trying on jewelry is such a great one! So often I have gone to the store to try something on only to find it clashed with my clothing and I ended up not liking it.
For Newbies and Seasoned Collectors: Share Your Tips and Experiences in Curating Your VCA Collection
- Thread starter eternallove4bag
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Beautiful collections one can only dream about. I also opted for pave VA yg earrings instead of other stone options.
+ large frivole earrings
+large frivole pave pendant
+ frivole two motif ring
+10 motif Va yg gulloche
+ 5 motif Va onyx, mop, guilloche
Thinking of adding Va pave pendant. Would love to hear your thoughts. I wear my pave large frivolous with my pave VA earrings. Do I need to add pave VA pendant and maybe layer or should I invest in anything else?
+ large frivole earrings
+large frivole pave pendant
+ frivole two motif ring
+10 motif Va yg gulloche
+ 5 motif Va onyx, mop, guilloche
Thinking of adding Va pave pendant. Would love to hear your thoughts. I wear my pave large frivolous with my pave VA earrings. Do I need to add pave VA pendant and maybe layer or should I invest in anything else?
Thank you for the kind words, but I am the last person to give advice in this thread.
I buy eyes-wide-open with the same mindset and intention as a child standing outside a sweets shop looking in the window. So few things bring unbridled, innocent joy once we reach adulthood and have everything we really need. So buying jewelry is part of my entertainment and pleasure budget.
Sometimes I buy random pieces that bring joy (for example, who really needs - or wants - a VCA Starfish brooch other than this woman here?), or a rare stone that makes me gasp and feel so excited to hold it in my hand after only hearing it spoken of before, or a design I have only seen in a book about heritage jewelry pieces.
I am a Gemini. So I am of two minds.
When my jewelry collection exceeds every ability to contain itself and I cannot open any of my jewelry trays because they have other trays, bracelet racks and earring boxes stacked on top of them, then I use my analytical skills as a woman of science to pare down my collection closer to the essentials.
Basically, I do what you are all advising, but backwards. I buy everything I can get my hands on because I love it all and it brings me joy. When it gets out of control, I take the steps you all describe in the buying process; I ask myself: What pieces do I wear most/my core sets? What pieces do I passionately love, even if I rarely or never wear them? Which pieces might I wear if I get other pieces to make them more cohesive within a full look? Which pieces could I never find again if I part with them? Which pieces are repetitive now that I have found another piece that fills it role in a better way somehow (usually for me, because size or shape looks better with other pieces I acquired later, or is more comfortable to wear all day)? What pieces did I wear a lot in the past and may wear again when things change (e.g. no longer having a young baby, or working in the office more vs from home).
Analyze first and sit pretty? A good and sensible strategy.
Buy first and analyze afterwards? It works for me! No pressure shopping experience (I already bought it and can try it out at my leisure!). I do pay in $ and hassle if I need to pare down some items, but I had the pleasure of owning them in the meantime. No one thinks it is strange to buy a new phone (or car) and upgrade it every couple of years, so I don't see why I can't do this with jewelry.
Well, @eternallove4bag I saw your tag
and was going to post my insight, but I see my fellow Gemini and friend @nicole0612 said it previously and better than I would, 
so I guess I have nothing to add here.
JOKING!!! 
*****
Ok, now I personally agree with a lot that @nicole0612 said.
My own guiding principles:
1. I need to live with something for a while before I really know whether it is something that will earn its spot in my closet. Sometimes I love something and I think it will stand my test of time, but seeing as how I’ve gone through 3 or 4 different hair colors in the last 20 years, much less style evolutions, wardrobe changes, and oh yes, those typical Gemini taste swings (one year it was allllll WASP-y Ralph Lauren; another year it was super-plain and fitted Scanlan Theodore; this year it’s been a whole lot of super girly LoveShackFancy (what does my kid call it? Coquette?), although I’m MUCH more thoughtful and consistent with my accessories. TBH, knowing how I am with clothing forces me to choose pieces that will go with (or own enough of a variety that I have pieces that will work with) many different styles.
2. With that said, I am fairly good at distinguishing between an impulse and an opportunity. At this point I can discern fairly quickly what I love but would either not wear enough to make it worth owning, or would not love enough to keep even though I may not wear it very often. I have made as many mistakes not purchasing something for the sake of safety as I have mistakenly purchased something I should not have.
3. Priorities for me are earrings and necklaces. I am a sucker for Earrings. I do not need so many watches or rings; right now I own two of each (RG ring and watch; WG ring and SS watch). My husband knows the watch I really want, and when that (eventually - he regrets not getting it when we saw it available) happens I will not need the RG watch I have, so that will go. I keep the SS watch because it has a PMOP face and is pretty, and is one of those pieces I love enough to keep and not wear much. There is an additional watch I’d like to add, but it’s not a priority. For rings, I know exactly which three I want to add; there is no rush. I prefer 20 motifs over 10s. I usually wear them doubled. I really like the versatility of adding a coordinating bracelet to a 20, or 2 bracelets together for a necklace. Or 3 + 1 extender for multi-stone wrap bracelet.
4. I have focused mostly on rose gold pieces over the last few years because they are now more available and they suit me, but I have some yellow gold and even a few white gold pieces. I am very visual and keep charts/lists of what I’d like to add, with prices and photos, and digital boards of everything. I like being able to move my photos around, add and delete, and see what would go with what. I don’t mind a challenge if I fall in love with something that might not necessarily blend seamlessly into my list; most often it really is just a matter of my eye adjusting.
5. I agree that “sets” don’t have to be many pieces; two is enough. Especially with VCA stones, if the color of the gold matches other pieces I own with no colored stones (like my Cartier 2-piece Love bracelet, which is Rose and White Gold), then it’s harmonious and doesn’t need more to look coordinated.
6. I am really into pieces that are familiar but slightly unusual. For example, my Love bracelet. (I nearly flipped when I once ran into another woman with the same bracelet. She loved hers for the same reason. The style has unfortunately been discontinued.) My favorite VCA pieces are the unique ones, especially my SOs. I have one two-piece set (YG Magic Pave), and one three-piece set (Magic alternating earrings and bracelet, 20 motif not alternating), and there is something about the 20 motif SO, which looks like a non-SO piece but to me is slightly different and therefore more meaningful to me, like it’s my secret. I also have a few HTF pieces that I enjoy because they’re beautiful and slightly different.
7. As a visual person, I am very specific about shape. I love things that are genuinely pretty. Most of the time a lack of balance (I was going to say asymmetry but it’s balance), or something that looks disproportionate, will drive me crazy. There are some VCA lines I just can’t wear because of this. It’s also why my #1 non-VCA must have are Verdura Pinwheel Earclips. By the same token, I need to have aesthetically pleasing or exciting design elements, which is why I do not own studs and why I have worn my riviera necklace (a surprise anniversary gift almost 15 years ago) maybe five times.
8. Lastly, I am not into dainty or small pieces. More is more.
I’m sure I’m going to edit or add to this. Let me dig up some pics…
***** - I take my writing inspiration from Gabriel García Márquez, who must have said: ¿Por qué decir en sólo tres páginas lo que se puede decir de manera más tortuosa en treinta?
*****Ok, now I personally agree with a lot that @nicole0612 said.
My own guiding principles:
1. I need to live with something for a while before I really know whether it is something that will earn its spot in my closet. Sometimes I love something and I think it will stand my test of time, but seeing as how I’ve gone through 3 or 4 different hair colors in the last 20 years, much less style evolutions, wardrobe changes, and oh yes, those typical Gemini taste swings (one year it was allllll WASP-y Ralph Lauren; another year it was super-plain and fitted Scanlan Theodore; this year it’s been a whole lot of super girly LoveShackFancy (what does my kid call it? Coquette?), although I’m MUCH more thoughtful and consistent with my accessories. TBH, knowing how I am with clothing forces me to choose pieces that will go with (or own enough of a variety that I have pieces that will work with) many different styles.
2. With that said, I am fairly good at distinguishing between an impulse and an opportunity. At this point I can discern fairly quickly what I love but would either not wear enough to make it worth owning, or would not love enough to keep even though I may not wear it very often. I have made as many mistakes not purchasing something for the sake of safety as I have mistakenly purchased something I should not have.
3. Priorities for me are earrings and necklaces. I am a sucker for Earrings. I do not need so many watches or rings; right now I own two of each (RG ring and watch; WG ring and SS watch). My husband knows the watch I really want, and when that (eventually - he regrets not getting it when we saw it available) happens I will not need the RG watch I have, so that will go. I keep the SS watch because it has a PMOP face and is pretty, and is one of those pieces I love enough to keep and not wear much. There is an additional watch I’d like to add, but it’s not a priority. For rings, I know exactly which three I want to add; there is no rush. I prefer 20 motifs over 10s. I usually wear them doubled. I really like the versatility of adding a coordinating bracelet to a 20, or 2 bracelets together for a necklace. Or 3 + 1 extender for multi-stone wrap bracelet.
4. I have focused mostly on rose gold pieces over the last few years because they are now more available and they suit me, but I have some yellow gold and even a few white gold pieces. I am very visual and keep charts/lists of what I’d like to add, with prices and photos, and digital boards of everything. I like being able to move my photos around, add and delete, and see what would go with what. I don’t mind a challenge if I fall in love with something that might not necessarily blend seamlessly into my list; most often it really is just a matter of my eye adjusting.
5. I agree that “sets” don’t have to be many pieces; two is enough. Especially with VCA stones, if the color of the gold matches other pieces I own with no colored stones (like my Cartier 2-piece Love bracelet, which is Rose and White Gold), then it’s harmonious and doesn’t need more to look coordinated.
6. I am really into pieces that are familiar but slightly unusual. For example, my Love bracelet. (I nearly flipped when I once ran into another woman with the same bracelet. She loved hers for the same reason. The style has unfortunately been discontinued.) My favorite VCA pieces are the unique ones, especially my SOs. I have one two-piece set (YG Magic Pave), and one three-piece set (Magic alternating earrings and bracelet, 20 motif not alternating), and there is something about the 20 motif SO, which looks like a non-SO piece but to me is slightly different and therefore more meaningful to me, like it’s my secret. I also have a few HTF pieces that I enjoy because they’re beautiful and slightly different.
7. As a visual person, I am very specific about shape. I love things that are genuinely pretty. Most of the time a lack of balance (I was going to say asymmetry but it’s balance), or something that looks disproportionate, will drive me crazy. There are some VCA lines I just can’t wear because of this. It’s also why my #1 non-VCA must have are Verdura Pinwheel Earclips. By the same token, I need to have aesthetically pleasing or exciting design elements, which is why I do not own studs and why I have worn my riviera necklace (a surprise anniversary gift almost 15 years ago) maybe five times.
8. Lastly, I am not into dainty or small pieces. More is more.
I’m sure I’m going to edit or add to this. Let me dig up some pics…
***** - I take my writing inspiration from Gabriel García Márquez, who must have said: ¿Por qué decir en sólo tres páginas lo que se puede decir de manera más tortuosa en treinta?
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This is one of my fav threads, have watched it! I am going to read and re-read the valuable insights posted here and remind myself!
I generally consider these factors - whether I would wear it often, does it cause my heart to skip a beat with a "wow" and the cost.
I know I am the type who would grow tired of pieces if I wear them daily for a long time, I need to switch around rotate the pieces, and my taste changes as time goes by! When i was younger, I bought whatever pieces I like. As I grow older, I learn to go slower in my purchases (and the price tag increases too. 😄)
My VCA collection so far:-
- gmop pave alhambra bracelet (my first and I still loooooove it so much),
- sweet perlee bracelet (love this too, so versatile),
- small sapphire frivole necklace (love to wear this to work),
- turquoise 2 butterfly necklace (beautiful!),
- agate 5 motif bracelet (elegant basic)
- Small alhambra watch (I'm a watch sucker)
- sweet mop bracelet (amazing little one great for stacking)
- frivole 5 motif bracelet (love this piece for weekends)
- XL frivole necklace (love this but not much opportunity to use, so afraid to bang it against table
I am going to read and re-read the valuable insights posted here and remind myself!I generally consider these factors - whether I would wear it often, does it cause my heart to skip a beat with a "wow" and the cost.
I know I am the type who would grow tired of pieces if I wear them daily for a long time, I need to switch around rotate the pieces, and my taste changes as time goes by! When i was younger, I bought whatever pieces I like. As I grow older, I learn to go slower in my purchases (and the price tag increases too. 😄)
My VCA collection so far:-
- gmop pave alhambra bracelet (my first and I still loooooove it so much),
- sweet perlee bracelet (love this too, so versatile),
- small sapphire frivole necklace (love to wear this to work),
- turquoise 2 butterfly necklace (beautiful!),
- agate 5 motif bracelet (elegant basic)
- Small alhambra watch (I'm a watch sucker)
- sweet mop bracelet (amazing little one great for stacking)
- frivole 5 motif bracelet (love this piece for weekends)
- XL frivole necklace (love this but not much opportunity to use, so afraid to bang it against table
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Would you consider blessing us with a photo or 10 or your VCA pieces? 🤩JOKING!!!
Ok, now I personally agree with a lot that @nicole0612 said.
My own guiding principles:
1. I need to live with something for a while before I really know whether it is something that will earn its spot in my closet. Sometimes I love something and I think it will stand my test of time, but seeing as how I’ve gone through 3 or 4 different hair colors in the last 20 years, much less style evolutions, wardrobe changes, and oh yes, those typical Gemini taste swings (one year it was allllll WASP-y Ralph Lauren; another year it was super-plain and fitted Scanlan Theodore; this year it’s been a whole lot of super girly LoveShackFancy (what does my kid call it? Coquette?), although I’m MUCH more thoughtful and consistent with my accessories. TBH, knowing how I am with clothing forces me to choose pieces that will go with (or own enough of a variety that I have pieces that will work with) many different styles.
2. With that said, I am fairly good at distinguishing between an impulse and an opportunity. At this point I can discern fairly quickly what I love but would either not wear enough to make it worth owning, or would not love enough to keep even though I may not wear it very often. I have made as many mistakes not purchasing something for the sake of safety as I have mistakenly purchased something I should not have.
3. Priorities for me are earrings and necklaces. I am a sucker for Earrings. I do not need so many watches or rings; right now I own two of each (RG ring and watch; WG ring and SS watch). My husband knows the watch I really want, and when that (eventually - he regrets not getting it when we saw it available) happens I will not need the RG watch I have, so that will go. I keep the SS watch because it has a PMOP face and is pretty, and is one of those pieces I love enough to keep and not wear much. There is an additional watch I’d like to add, but it’s not a priority. For rings, I know exactly which three I want to add; there is no rush. I prefer 20 motifs over 10s. I usually wear them doubled. I really like the versatility of adding a coordinating bracelet to a 20, or 2 bracelets together for a necklace. Or 3 + 1 extender for multi-stone wrap bracelet.
4. I have focused mostly on rose gold pieces over the last few years because they are now more available and they suit me, but I have some yellow gold and even a few white gold pieces. I am very visual and keep charts/lists of what I’d like to add, with prices and photos, and digital boards of everything. I like being able to move my photos around, add and delete, and see what would go with what. I don’t mind a challenge if I fall in love with something that might not necessarily blend seamlessly into my list; most often it really is just a matter of my eye adjusting.
5. I agree that “sets” don’t have to be many pieces; two is enough. Especially with VCA stones, if the color of the gold matches other pieces I own with no colored stones (like my Cartier 2-piece Love bracelet, which is Rose and White Gold), then it’s harmonious and doesn’t need more to look coordinated.
6. I am really into pieces that are familiar but slightly unusual. For example, my Love bracelet. (I nearly flipped when I once ran into another woman with the same bracelet. She loved hers for the same reason. The style has unfortunately been discontinued.) My favorite VCA pieces are the unique ones, especially my SOs. I have one two-piece set (YG Magic Pave), and one three-piece set (Magic alternating earrings and bracelet, 20 motif not alternating), and there is something about the 20 motif SO, which looks like a non-SO piece but to me is slightly different and therefore more meaningful to me, like it’s my secret. I also have a few HTF pieces that I enjoy because they’re beautiful and slightly different.
7. As a visual person, I am very specific about shape. I love things that are genuinely pretty. Most of the time a lack of balance (I was going to say asymmetry but it’s balance), or something that looks disproportionate, will drive me crazy. There are some VCA lines I just can’t wear because of this. It’s also why my #1 non-VCA must have are Verdura Pinwheel Earclips. By the same token, I need to have aesthetically pleasing or exciting design elements, which is why I do not own studs and why I have worn my riviera necklace (a surprise anniversary gift almost 15 years ago) maybe five times.
8. Lastly, I am not into dainty or small pieces. More is more.
I’m sure I’m going to edit or add to this. Let me dig up some pics…
***** - I take my writing inspiration from Gabriel García Márquez, who must have said: ¿Por qué decir en sólo tres páginas lo que se puede decir de manera más tortuosa en treinta?
I also switch up my pieces daily. It is a bit of fun in the morning to find a combine things depending on my outfit that day. It is only when I travel that I wear same thing each day.This is one of my fav threads, have watched it!
I generally consider these factors - whether I would wear it often, does it cause my heart to skip a beat with a "wow" and the cost.
I know I am the type who would grow tired of pieces if I wear them daily for a long time, I need to switch around rotate the pieces, and my taste changes as time goes by! When i was younger, I bought whatever pieces I like. As I grow older, I learn to go slower in my purchases (and the price tag increases too. 😄)
My VCA collection so far:-
- gmop pave alhambra bracelet (my first and I still loooooove it so much),
- sweet perlee bracelet (love this too, so versatile),
- small sapphire frivole necklace (love to wear this to work),
- turquoise 2 butterfly necklace (beautiful!),
- agate 5 motif bracelet (elegant basic)
- Small alhambra watch (I'm a watch sucker)
- sweet mop bracelet (amazing little one great for stacking)
- frivole 5 motif bracelet (love this piece for weekends)
- XL frivole necklace (love this but not much opportunity to use, so afraid to bang it against table
Too bad you don’t use xl frivole more. It is such a gorgeous piece. Have you tried wearing it short? It goes on and off my list. I can’t decide if I need it or not but I do love it.
I tried wearing it short, long and used as brooch. I like the brooch version best.
Probably need to get used to the size and length, and motivate myself to get more mileage out of it.
My priority for every piece of jewelry I add to my collection is peace of mind. So for an extremely practical person, my baseline requirements are pieces that are light weight, low maintenance, easy to clean, damage resistant (thus diamonds 😉), reflect my personality and it's got in some way, to some degree, pop on me. To this end, WG, platinum and diamond pieces (and sturdy stones a la VCA) meet these criteria and it's very hard for me to stray elsewhere. Since I live a very casual lifestyle and have not a little bit of rebellion in me, most of my pieces are not dressy, and often go against the grain (in my own way). I have learned that getting to know myself has been crucial in helping me choose pieces that will stay in my collection and be worn. I know I've said before that it is important for me to put time between purchases, because my mind, my circumstances, my finances will change. A piece is on my mind for at least a few years, and I will have tried it on 3-5 times at a boutique before I will pull the trigger. I must try a piece on multiple times to be certain of my feelings. Like dating. When you meet a new person you're totally excited. But that wears off, and you want to find the one that doesn't. And how will you know unless you try the same thing on multiple times? One purchase can affect the next. After I bought the pave perlee pendant, I changed my mind on the ring I wanted. I also learned not to compromise. I always go back to what I wanted in the first place. Yeah, I guess I don't have much advice on how to curate a collection. I buy what gives me peace and joy, and that is different for everyone, and ignore the rest. There are no rules, just what makes you happy.
Done! Will absolutely take and share pics @lynne_ross
I sound like a parrot but honestly what I love about VCA pieces is the ability to mix and match! Nothing needs to absolutely match yet the designs coordinate seamlessly! The PG 2-motif earrings in Carnelian and Guilloche would be stunning! I have space for one more PG earrings to add and I am torn between simple Vintage PG Guilloche earrings or do a 2-motif with pave and guilloche. I am just afraid the latter might be too limiting and I might not wear it all the time. God knows I have enough of ‘special’ pieces that only get taken out for certain occasions thanks to my Indian heritage😅. I need a pair I can use the ‘hubbies-jibbies’ out of 😂 .. but again like you I am of the same mindset that there are so many beautiful designs, do I need another Alhambra piece? I wish VCA brought back the medium perlee hoops that @lisawhit has in RG and I would snap that up in a jiffy!
The three pieces I am 100% behind @missie1 I might end up joining you with WG signature and sweet perlee bracelets but that’s an endeavor for 2027😂 I am all tapped out till 2026 WL
Hi @Marishshka you have beautiful pieces yourself! As much as I love matching earrings and pendant, and since you have VA pave earrings my first instinct would have been ‘go for the VA pave pendant’ but since you already have the large pave Frivole pendant, I would say you don’t need the VA pendant at all.
I am not a huge fan of layering necklaces but that’s just me. I wouldn’t layer the Large pave Frivole pendant with anything! Let it sparkle on its own! It’s such a statement piece on its own!
If you really want to coordinate the VA pave earrings with anything maybe ring or an alternating pave 5-motif?
I would do a more sparkly special piece since your current rg earrings suit everyday and you will continue to reach for them daily. 2 motif pave guilloche would be gorgeous and match your bracelet!
Thank you for sharing your invaluable experiences and thoughts with us @Notorious Pink I chuckled at the ‘it’s a matter of my eye adjusting’ bit because I have gone through the same with some pieces! Things that I had doubts about seamlessly pairing with my existing pieces, over time my eyes adjusted and to me they look perfectly fine together!JOKING!!!
Ok, now I personally agree with a lot that @nicole0612 said.
My own guiding principles:
1. I need to live with something for a while before I really know whether it is something that will earn its spot in my closet. Sometimes I love something and I think it will stand my test of time, but seeing as how I’ve gone through 3 or 4 different hair colors in the last 20 years, much less style evolutions, wardrobe changes, and oh yes, those typical Gemini taste swings (one year it was allllll WASP-y Ralph Lauren; another year it was super-plain and fitted Scanlan Theodore; this year it’s been a whole lot of super girly LoveShackFancy (what does my kid call it? Coquette?), although I’m MUCH more thoughtful and consistent with my accessories. TBH, knowing how I am with clothing forces me to choose pieces that will go with (or own enough of a variety that I have pieces that will work with) many different styles.
2. With that said, I am fairly good at distinguishing between an impulse and an opportunity. At this point I can discern fairly quickly what I love but would either not wear enough to make it worth owning, or would not love enough to keep even though I may not wear it very often. I have made as many mistakes not purchasing something for the sake of safety as I have mistakenly purchased something I should not have.
3. Priorities for me are earrings and necklaces. I am a sucker for Earrings. I do not need so many watches or rings; right now I own two of each (RG ring and watch; WG ring and SS watch). My husband knows the watch I really want, and when that (eventually - he regrets not getting it when we saw it available) happens I will not need the RG watch I have, so that will go. I keep the SS watch because it has a PMOP face and is pretty, and is one of those pieces I love enough to keep and not wear much. There is an additional watch I’d like to add, but it’s not a priority. For rings, I know exactly which three I want to add; there is no rush. I prefer 20 motifs over 10s. I usually wear them doubled. I really like the versatility of adding a coordinating bracelet to a 20, or 2 bracelets together for a necklace. Or 3 + 1 extender for multi-stone wrap bracelet.
4. I have focused mostly on rose gold pieces over the last few years because they are now more available and they suit me, but I have some yellow gold and even a few white gold pieces. I am very visual and keep charts/lists of what I’d like to add, with prices and photos, and digital boards of everything. I like being able to move my photos around, add and delete, and see what would go with what. I don’t mind a challenge if I fall in love with something that might not necessarily blend seamlessly into my list; most often it really is just a matter of my eye adjusting.
5. I agree that “sets” don’t have to be many pieces; two is enough. Especially with VCA stones, if the color of the gold matches other pieces I own with no colored stones (like my Cartier 2-piece Love bracelet, which is Rose and White Gold), then it’s harmonious and doesn’t need more to look coordinated.
6. I am really into pieces that are familiar but slightly unusual. For example, my Love bracelet. (I nearly flipped when I once ran into another woman with the same bracelet. She loved hers for the same reason. The style has unfortunately been discontinued.) My favorite VCA pieces are the unique ones, especially my SOs. I have one two-piece set (YG Magic Pave), and one three-piece set (Magic alternating earrings and bracelet, 20 motif not alternating), and there is something about the 20 motif SO, which looks like a non-SO piece but to me is slightly different and therefore more meaningful to me, like it’s my secret. I also have a few HTF pieces that I enjoy because they’re beautiful and slightly different.
7. As a visual person, I am very specific about shape. I love things that are genuinely pretty. Most of the time a lack of balance (I was going to say asymmetry but it’s balance), or something that looks disproportionate, will drive me crazy. There are some VCA lines I just can’t wear because of this. It’s also why my #1 non-VCA must have are Verdura Pinwheel Earclips. By the same token, I need to have aesthetically pleasing or exciting design elements, which is why I do not own studs and why I have worn my riviera necklace (a surprise anniversary gift almost 15 years ago) maybe five times.
8. Lastly, I am not into dainty or small pieces. More is more.
I’m sure I’m going to edit or add to this. Let me dig up some pics…
***** - I take my writing inspiration from Gabriel García Márquez, who must have said: ¿Por qué decir en sólo tres páginas lo que se puede decir de manera más tortuosa en treinta?
Now waiting for glimpses of your beautiful pieces as am sure many others here are too!
Those were my thoughts too @lynne_ross
The earrings would pair seamlessly with the only 5-motif piece in my collection! Good thing SOs are closed indefinitely and I don’t have to make any decisions soon! Will mull over these more till then!