Hi all! I’m looking to purchase my first VCA piece that I would wear everyday (I can take it off at night, when exercising and in shower if needed, but don’t want to have to take it off otherwise). I’m looking for the Alhambra in white gold and am between the MoP and Chalcedony. Which is easiest to take care of / maintain or is most hard wearing? Does anyone have either stone for a review? Are they equally easy to match? Thanks in advance!
Mother of Pearl vs. Chalcedony for Pendant
- Thread starter catmdl
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Hi! While VCA will always say to keep stones away from moisture (shower, sweat, etc.) from a practicality perspective Chalcedony is hardier then MOP. As for matching, some people find Chalcedony can get lost on them or that it is too pale while others, myself included, find it's a beautiful stone which gives just enough of that blue-purple effect without being too much of a pop of color. MOP of course serves almost as a neutral and basically can pair with everything, so in regards to wearability and matching with clothes, other jewellery, etc., MOP would be easier to wear. MOP with WG, however, is typically a softer look than with YG. Again, you have to keep in mind ones skin tone. Sometimes MOP with WG can look a bit ashy on some skin tones (MOP WG can look this way on me when I'm pale but better when I am tanned). Have you tried both Chalcedony and MOP on? If both work for you color wise and both worth with your clothes and other jewellery, then I tend to actually like Chalcedony as its less common and the stone more unexpected. I find depending on the shade of the stones chosen it can be quite interesting to look at. MOP is classic and so very feminine. It does not disappoint. I think the fact that you don't really want to worry about caring much for the stone means you plan to wear it in the shower, swimming, etc. and therefore Chalcedony may be a bit harder-wearing. That being said, a lot of women wear their MOP in the shower, etc. and if they eventually experience some clouding or shrinkage, they get VCA to replace it for a minimal fee (depending where you are say in and around $200 give or take a bit). Some have worn for years without any issues. For the safest bet all gold versions are the easiest to wear (keep in mind the guilloche necklaces are a bit more delicate, mind you I've had my pendant and 10 motif for a couple years without any issues). I strongly encourage you to try them on in store if possible. Good luck.
I have chalcedony because it’s more unusual than MOP. I’ve seen a few fake MOP versions too, which has put me off. Also, chalcedony is only available in WG, so if you love WG, I think this makes it more special.
Both are beautiful though so enjoy trying and making your choice.
Both are beautiful though so enjoy trying and making your choice.
I have both. TBH, the MOP in YG is definitely more striking than the Chalcedony (which only comes in WG). I do love my Chalcedony pendant though because it's not a very common stone and the icy blue/purple tones compliment my light brown skin. However, I've seen it on lighter skin and it does tend to get lost in translation because the stone is semi transparent.
I highly recommend that you try them both on at the store if you can...if you don't have a VCA boutique near you, I'd recommend the MOP as it is a safe but beautiful choice regardless.
FYI: Both are very low maintenance stones for me (but I do take them off when showering and exercising).
It cannot get more classic and versatile than mop imo. Easiest stone to wear and take care of at least for me. Chalcedony is stunning but it depends on how it looks on different skin tones. On some I find it stunning! On me, it gets lost! I would say try both multiple times, take pictures so you can compare and contrast later and then go with what speaks to you!
Thanks all! I was able to go in store and try both on and the MOP definitely spoke to me more and looked brighter on my skin. When I went back to actually buy the necklace they had sold the MOP pendant so I’ve ordered it online to come to the boutique! Couldn’t be more excited I can’t wait for it to arrive - I do hope i like the stone as I know they can vary, but from what I’ve gathered each store only ever has like one of the WG necklaces in stock at a time so it’s not like I would get a choice in store either…
Looks so pretty on you! I am also considering MOP, and does your MOP necklace have iridescence to it? Or is it more white-based? Did you get to choose it at the boutique?
My MOP is actually pretty iridescent (which is what I wanted), but it’s hard to capture in a photo like the one I took above just on my iPhone. I ended up ordering mine online. The one in my closest boutique that they had in stock I didn’t love as it didn’t have much iridescence at all, so I took a chance with an online order and it was just perfect! A bit of a gamble in hind sight but that’s why I ordered it to come to my nearest boutique, so I could exchange then and there if I didn’t like the one that came. I would definitely recommend going in person and choosing between options if you have the ability to, as the mother of pearls can definitely vary (as all the stones can).
I find that MOP with YG brings out the iridescence of the stone more. When set against WG, the color tends to remain more uniformly.