Help me decide- 5 motif vintage Alhambra bracelet or perlee clover diamonds

[vagabag]

Hi Everyone! I would love to hear your thoughts between these two bracelets. I currently wear the Cartier love and Cartier nail bracelets. This would be my first VCA bracelet. I want to wear it everyday bc I don't like to take my jewelry off. I don't think I would wear both my Cartier with this new VCA on one hand though as I feel that's too much. I might move one bracelet to my other hand although I'm not sure since it might bang up against my watch. Last resort is to store one away and just wear two together. I dress casually usually in cardigans and hoodies if that matters. I'd love to hear the pros and cons you see to these styles. The 5 motif absolutely takes my breath away but I haven't seen the perlee one irl so I'm sure it's stunning too. Thanks in advance for all your thoughts!!

Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs - VCARP4KN00 - Van Cleef & Arpels

Vintage Alhambra bracelet, 5 motifs, guilloché 18K yellow gold, round diamonds; diamond quality DEF, IF to VVS.

www.vancleefarpels.com

Perlée sweet clovers bracelet, medium model - VCARP6X600 - Van Cleef & Arpels

Perlée sweet clovers bracelet, 18K yellow gold, round diamonds, medium model; diamond quality DEF, IF to VVS.

www.vancleefarpels.com

 

[lill_canele]

What metal (YG, WG, RG) are your current Cartier pieces?

What metal color(s) are you looking at for your new VCA bracelet?

 

[vagabag]

What metal (YG, WG, RG) are your current Cartier pieces?

What metal color(s) are you looking at for your new VCA bracelet?

Ah good questions! My Cartier are both yg. I think it would get the VCA in yg bc that looks better on my skin tone but I didn't really think about possibly getting it in wg and I'm now wondering if I should. I do have a couple of wg necklaces that I occasionally wear but most of my jewelry is yg. My watch is two tone.

 

[A bottle of Red]

Are you looking for another bangle style or a softer bracelet?

 

[vagabag]

Are you looking for another bangle style or a softer bracelet?

I'm open! Whatever would complement well and be good for everyday wear!

 

[missie1]

I have both the sweet Perlee and Stone & pave 5 motif and although I wouldn’t wear either everyday the Perlee seems the most durable for daily wear. As you wear Cartier bracelets just know the Perlee isn’t the same exact shape as love so they don’t align perfectly. This doesn’t bother some people but it irks me.

 

[citykitty24]

I have a 5 motif Alhambra in YG and absolutely love it, so I can recommend that from personal experience! Light but substantial, so pretty and classic. Just everything about it.

The Perlee is a great design also. I have tried it on but do not have one in my collection.

You might ask yourself if you want something that is similar to what you currently have (ie Perlee and Cartier Love are both bangle-style) or different (Alhambra). If you are looking for a new jewelry adventure, what about the Alhambra?

Also, the durability factor. The Alhambra might require a little extra care but is special enough to merit it, at least for me.

I am excited for whatever you pick!

 

[DS2006]

Are you saying you don't take your bracelets off everyday? Neither of these bracelets should be worn 24/7. The original hammered solid gold would hold up better if you wear your bracelets 24/7. The guilloche will get all scratched up and cannot be repaired. It is really best worn alone. I think it would result in scratches to the sweet clover bangle, as well. These are pieces to wear out and then remove at home to keep them in nice condition. Either would be wonderful to own, but they need to be treated with care.

 

[DeryaHm]

I wear a YG JUC and love on one arm and usually at least two VCA pieces on the other arm every day based on how I am feeling or what I am wearing, without regard to whether they are YG, RG, or WG. I do not wear a watch though and the few times I have worn a 5 motif or even a sweet with my Cartier pair it seemed too busy to me. Before I received the love, which was never a favorite piece, as a present, I used to wear a YG 5 motif with my JUC and thought it looked great, got many compliments. However, I do not have a guilloche bracelet and have heard they scratch easily as others have mentioned. You didn't say if your Cartier pieces have diamonds or not. To me that would make a difference and I think they would look better w the perlee signature if they do.

I frequently wear my perlee clover full-sized bracelet on the other arm from my Cartier stack, and as posted in another thread am considering the Perlee signature in place of the love, which has never been my favorite. I also dress very casually and today was running around doing errands in yoga pants and a hoodie with the perlee clover, a five motif, and a sweet on my VCA hand plus the usual two Cartiers. So at least to me definitely not too much!

 

[vagabag]

Sounds like I need to try the bangle on for sure as that might or might not irk me!

I have both the sweet Perlee and Stone & pave 5 motif and although I wouldn’t wear either everyday the Perlee seems the most durable for daily wear. As you wear Cartier bracelets just know the Perlee isn’t the same exact shape as love so they don’t align perfectly. This doesn’t bother some people but it irks me.

 

[vagabag]

I have a 5 motif Alhambra in YG and absolutely love it, so I can recommend that from personal experience! Light but substantial, so pretty and classic. Just everything about it.

The Perlee is a great design also. I have tried it on but do not have one in my collection.

You might ask yourself if you want something that is similar to what you currently have (ie Perlee and Cartier Love are both bangle-style) or different (Alhambra). If you are looking for a new jewelry adventure, what about the Alhambra?

Also, the durability factor. The Alhambra might require a little extra care but is special enough to merit it, at least for me.

I am excited for whatever you pick!

I'm leaning towards the Alhambra for the different factor. I'm getting a little concerned about the durability factor though. What kind of extra care do you put in with yours

 

[vagabag]

Are you saying you don't take your bracelets off everyday? Neither of these bracelets should be worn 24/7. The original hammered solid gold would hold up better if you wear your bracelets 24/7. The guilloche will get all scratched up and cannot be repaired. It is really best worn alone. I think it would result in scratches to the sweet clover bangle, as well. These are pieces to wear out and then remove at home to keep them in nice condition. Either would be wonderful to own, but they need to be treated with care.

oh that is really gtk. I don't take my love of nail off so was hoping to get another easy piece like those. Hmm...

 

[vagabag]

I wear a YG JUC and love on one arm and usually at least two VCA pieces on the other arm every day based on how I am feeling or what I am wearing, without regard to whether they are YG, RG, or WG. I do not wear a watch though and the few times I have worn a 5 motif or even a sweet with my Cartier pair it seemed too busy to me. Before I received the love, which was never a favorite piece, as a present, I used to wear a YG 5 motif with my JUC and thought it looked great, got many compliments. However, I do not have a guilloche bracelet and have heard they scratch easily as others have mentioned. You didn't say if your Cartier pieces have diamonds or not. To me that would make a difference and I think they would look better w the perlee signature if they do.

I frequently wear my perlee clover full-sized bracelet on the other arm from my Cartier stack, and as posted in another thread am considering the Perlee signature in place of the love, which has never been my favorite. I also dress very casually and today was running around doing errands in yoga pants and a hoodie with the perlee clover, a five motif, and a sweet on my VCA hand plus the usual two Cartiers. So at least to me definitely not too much!

Thanks!! This is super helpful. I love the look of the guilloche but worry now about the scratches you all are mentioning. Does it end up looking really bad? That's definitely concerning. My Cartier nail has diamonds but the love does not!

 

[A bottle of Red]

Depending on how tight or loose it is, the 5 motif can slide under the love or maybe tangle with the juc. So definitely try it on with the other pieces you plan on wearing it with.
Guilloche is delicate & the scratches can't be polished off

 

[DeryaHm]

Depending on how tight or loose it is, the 5 motif can slide under the love or maybe tangle with the juc. So definitely try it on with the other pieces you plan on wearing it with.
Guilloche is delicate & the scratches can't be polished off

Ive never experienced tangling but a 5 motif definitely sort of sits on or catches on the head and tip of the nail. Not an issue for damage with regular 5 motifs but a good reason not to go for Guilloche. Since your JUC has diamonds maybe one of the 5 motifs w pave would be a better/more durable option?