MOB necklace

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Ladies with MOP vintage alhambra necklace... how is yours holding up? Do you wear it everyday and in the shower? I am considering to purchase one and need to know about the maintenance on it? I have a very active lifestyle and work out everyday until i am drenched in sweat so i need to know if MOP will work for me. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
I have had the vintage MOP Alhambra necklace for more than 8 years. I wear it every day and rarely take it off. I shower in it, work out in it, have worn it in pools and the ocean, and until recently wore it to the beach (I stopped because I felt like sunscreen/sun/ocean combo was probably not great for it). It's held up beautifully, in my opinion. Some slight wear and tear perhaps, but no scratches and nothing dramatic like some photos I've seen of damaged pieces on this forum. This may not be a popular take because I've seen lots of posts on here about how MOP needs to be taken care of and is more fragile than other stones. I don't disagree with that and think you should care for any VCA piece, but my MOP necklace has held up well!

I also recently found out that VCA will replace the MOP motif for roughly $200-- obviously you don't buy something hoping to replace it, but relative to the necklace price, this isn't a bad replacement cost in my view.

Hoping this helps you in your decision!
 
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There are other threads where this has been discussed, and sometimes the motifs shrink when exposed to water. I guess with a single motif, if you want to wear it like that, it's not so costly to replace. It would be much more expensive in a 10-20 motif.

VCA advises against wearing their jewelry in the shower, swimming, etc.

https://www.vancleefarpels.com/us/en/care-and-services/jewelry-care.html

"Your Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry creation is delicate and thus requires special care and attention.
To prevent damage to your piece, we recommend avoiding exposure to fragrance, soap, chemicals or cosmetics, as these could affect its color and form. It is best to wait until fragrances and cosmetics have dried completely before wearing your jewelry.
It is important not to expose your creation to water (fresh, chlorinated or salt) or to high temperatures (such as prolonged sun exposure).
We generally recommend that you do not wear your jewelry when performing certain activities (sports, gardening, etc.) to prevent it from being knocked or from coming into contact with harmful substances."

"Derived from sea shells, the mother-of-pearl selected by Van Cleef & Arpels is remarkable for its lustrous shine and delicate, iridescent reflections. We recommend avoiding contact with water to prevent any damage to your creation. Mother-of-pearl can be delicately cleaned with a soft, dry cloth.
As mother-of-pearl is a naturally soft substance, it is susceptible to small scratches on its surface."

I never wear any fine jewelry in the shower. I wouldn't want soap scum to collect on it, even if it isn't a delicate stone.
 
My vintage MOP necklace is a couple of years old, and it's still looking new, but I don't wear it 24/7. I really dislike the way necklaces feel if I'm in the shower or pool anyway (and chlorine is harsh on some metals), or if my neck is sweaty. I don't really feel that MOP is super-fragile, but I don't find it to be as care-free as a solid gold piece would be.
 
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It’s likely easier to get the original vintage Alhambra in solid gold for the activities you want to partake in and feel carefree about it. I just bought the solid yellow gold VA necklace in ten motif. I’m in Africa and I know it will withstand max heat, etc.
 
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