Influencers & VCA

[waterlily112]

By quality I just mean it is actual gold; 18k or better.
Not that it is well made, or imitates well, or would fool some authenticator...
A cheap replica would be gold-plated silver, or even gold plated brass... Real cheap stuff.

A real gold replica still costs lots of money: you pay for the 18k or better gold, by weight and for the work of the goldsmith. In most non-western countries this is how the jewelry industry works: you show up at the goldsmith shop with a picture and they quote you a price and make it for you. So I am not shocked by that. I grew up in that. To me that's savvy.
Just be upfront.

Oh yeah I'm familiar with that. I have a family friend who's in the jewelry business & has mentioned the guilloche is easy to replicate by local jewelers nowadays that utilize 3D printing technology in the workshop. This is why I said hers may not even be a good replica, not just in a sense of it may not made in solid gold, but just the basic pattern that doesn't look right while many Chinese manufacturers have already gotten it down to a T using 3D printing when they're mass producing in gold plated sterling silver (the real cheap stuff).

I guess full honesty and transparency are too much to ask for from the influencers nowadays, they're only in it for the clout and sponsorships.

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

After viewing her TikTok, seeing the her “pave love bracelet” that was not mentioned in thee Jewelry collection, the “crocodile mini Kelly” dupe… I am side eyeing her. Funny she has videos trashing certain clothing or behaviors for being “fake rich”

I agree, I watched a video from her recently about her opinions on certain clothing and her attitude is very snobby. I get the vibe that she looks down at people who have less than her.

 

[GlamarousBarbie]

Apparently. Has not fallen in the lake yet... LOL!
She is more on TikTok than YouTube nowadays. That's where all the cool kids are, and the growth.
I think this is where the change in tone comes from. But that crowd doesn't mind fakes so... Why lie?

I agree. TikTok loves fakes, Jackie Aina admitted to her Cartier pave love bracelets being fake and that’s why people like her, cause she’s genuine

 

[eletons]

After watching the video, I find it even more shady because there's no sight of VCA certificate. A seasoned luxury collector doesn't have a clue how important it is to keep ALL certificates for repair?

I have not taken any of my vca to the boutique and asked for a repair but a certificate is the key for knowing what you have on hand is authentic or not by a non vca expert. Of course, maybe the people who sell fake also produce fake certificates.

Does vca ask clients to show certificates or not when you bring in a piece for repairs?

Anyway, I suspect that some influencers purchased the real one and then get a refund and keep the original authentic receipt, then buy a fake somewhere else.

Telling her audience that it's ok to swim wearing a MOP vca necklace is already a tell tale sign that she's not serious about her video , her vca jewellery and her audience.

 

[JLO1]

The response video from StyleHard actually hurt her reputation further instead of helping her case. Whether you purchase dupes/fakes StyleHard MISLED her viewers by not disclosing this jewelry was not real, JUDGED others who wear fakes and dupes, embarrassed her husband and put him in an awkward position on video, and gave advice on how to care for jewelry that she does not own that could actually hurt the MOP of customers that purchased real VCA. That "Bulgari" bracelet looks "sus" to me. Also, counterfeit jewelry can be sold with a receipt as we have seen on other Youtube videos. The trust is BROKEN.

 

[waterlily112]

After watching the video, I find it even more shady because there's no sight of VCA certificate. A seasoned luxury collector doesn't have a clue how important it is to keep ALL certificates for repair?

I have not taken any of my vca to the boutique and asked for a repair but a certificate is the key for knowing what you have on hand is authentic or not by a non vca expert. Of course, maybe the people who sell fake also produce fake certificates.

Does vca ask clients to show certificates or not when you bring in a piece for repairs?

Anyway, I suspect that some influencers purchased the real one and then get a refund and keep the original authentic receipt, then buy a fake somewhere else.

Telling her audience that it's ok to swim wearing a MOP vca necklace is already a tell tale sign that she's not serious about her video , her vca jewellery and her audience.

I've brought in pieces I've purchased oversea and online to the US boutique for service. The SA's never asked for the COA & simply look up the pieces on their iPad or PC by the engraved serial # and then put in the service request under my profile. I've also been told by the SA's that once the pieces get delivered to the workshop, the artisans also authenticate the pieces before working on them so while it's good to have the COA in hands, it's not a must for service/repair as sometimes people misplaced it or lost it.

 

[lovexchanel]

I’m not sure if it’s the angle, but the clasp on her pave onyx and her “controversial” Guilloche bracelet look the same. Especially the gap hole space inside the clasp looks quite big. I don’t want to add any more fire but it’s just my observation

 

[eletons]

Oh yeah I'm familiar with that. I have a family friend who's in the jewelry business & has mentioned the guilloche is easy to replicate by local jewelers nowadays that utilize 3D printing technology in the workshop. This is why I said hers may not even be a good replica, not just in a sense of it may not made in solid gold, but just the basic pattern that doesn't look right while many Chinese manufacturers have already gotten it down to a T using 3D printing when they're mass producing in gold plated sterling silver (the real cheap stuff).

I guess full honesty and transparency are too much to ask for from the influencers nowadays, they're only in it for the clout and sponsorships.

Even though there are a lot of people selling fakes out there, I don't believe that there's one good fake out there no matter what.

I personally don't like guilloche at all because it reminds me of a disco ball. Now, after seeing the fake in the video, I realise that the guilloche pattern is difficult to duplicate.

I really appreciate how big brands put lots of effort and resources into inventing the machine that makes precise guilloche patterns for jewellery and watch dial. I don't believe that a manufacturer that produces fakes is willing to invest that much into innovation.

 

[lovexchanel]

After watching the video, I find it even more shady because there's no sight of VCA certificate. A seasoned luxury collector doesn't have a clue how important it is to keep ALL certificates for repair?

I have not taken any of my vca to the boutique and asked for a repair but a certificate is the key for knowing what you have on hand is authentic or not by a non vca expert. Of course, maybe the people who sell fake also produce fake certificates.

Does vca ask clients to show certificates or not when you bring in a piece for repairs?

Anyway, I suspect that some influencers purchased the real one and then get a refund and keep the original authentic receipt, then buy a fake somewhere else.

Telling her audience that it's ok to swim wearing a MOP vca necklace is already a tell tale sign that she's not serious about her video , her vca jewellery and her audience.

I think it was weird that she didn’t know it was fake , especially since she tried on the authentic one in store

 

[JLO1]

The title of her response video - is she admitting in the title it was fake?​

​

Lets Talk About My Fake Van Cleef Bracelet​

Style Hard
120K subscribers


<__slot-el>
Subscribe

 

[waterlily112]

Even though there are a lot of people selling fakes out there, I don't believe that there's one good fake out there no matter what.

I personally don't like guilloche at all because it reminds me of a disco ball. Now, after seeing the fake in the video, I realise that the guilloche pattern is difficult to duplicate.

I really appreciate how big brands put lots of effort and resources into inventing the machine that makes precise guilloche patterns for jewellery and watch dial. I don't believe that a manufacturer that produces fakes is willing to invest that much into innovation.

3D printing is actually not that big of an investment nowadays. A lot of local jewelers have it in-house to create custom jewelry pieces for their clients. Many clients like to design their own jewelry pieces & engagement ring settings so this technology comes in handy at a premium price. Chinese manufacturers already have this machine in hand not just to replicate VCA guilloche, but other luxury brands as well. Their actual investment would be purchasing the authentic pieces (new or preloved) to use a the blueprint for the 3D model.

If one thing that VCA has done an exceptional job in is sourcing high quality gemstones and their craftmanship in polishing & setting the stones. This cannot be replicate by 3D printing.

 

[eletons]

3D printing is actually not that big of an investment nowadays. A lot of local jewelers have it in-house to create custom jewelry pieces for their clients. Many clients like to design their own jewelry pieces or engagement ring so this technology comes in handy at a premium price. Chinese manufacturers already have this machine in hand not just to replicate VCA guilloche, but other luxury brands as well. Their actual investment would be purchasing the authentic pieces (new or preloved) to use a the blueprint for the 3D model.

I believe that the guilloche produced by VCA is not using the same method.

I don't believe that the manufacturers that produce fake can produce this 19 lines guilloche pattern.

Anyway, the amount of gold or other elements is a kept secret. The fakes can never have that shine and finish like an authentic piece.

 

[S0nia]

I believe that the guilloche produced by VCA is not using the same method.

I don't believe that the manufacturers that produce fake can produce this 19 lines guilloche pattern.

Anyway, the amount of gold or other elements is a kept secret. The fakes can never have that shine and finish like an authentic piece.

???

You know that any jewelry piece can be purchased and studied right?
There is nothing easier than finding out the composition of a metal alloy… VCA is 18k gold. The 25% remaining is no sorcery to figure out…

 

[waterlily112]

I believe that the guilloche produced by VCA is not using the same method.

I don't believe that the manufacturers that produce fake can produce this 19 lines guilloche pattern.

Anyway, the amount of gold or other elements is a kept secret. The fakes can never have that shine and finish like an authentic piece.

I mean, you're free to chime in ideas to VCA about their innovation in the guilloche design & the creation process so they can eventually obtain IP protection for the guilloche and the Alhambra collection. As of now, it hasn't been successful for them. I'm just sharing what local jewelers & manufacturers are capable of producing nowadays & their limitations when it comes to luxury jewelry pieces.

 

[eletons]

???

You know that any jewelry piece can be purchased and studied right?
There is nothing easier than finding out the composition of a metal alloy… VCA is 18k gold. The 25% remaining is no sorcery to figure out…

Anyway, there's no such thing as a good fake in my dictionary.