I’ve finally taken the plunge and entered the world of VCA! Buckle up, you’re in for a long read, if you’d like to put up with my frivolity on this journey…
Previously, I’ve always felt like I couldn’t partake in their collections as a guy, and my only experiences with VCA was vicariously living through my friends.
In fact, I assisted one of my best friends (who lives outside of London, with no VCA store where she is) with purchasing the Alhambra MOP vintage pendant, followed by the 5-motif MOP bracelet, and swiftly followed by the magic MOP earrings… She added on the Frivole between the finger ring on her last trip in September.
She was in town this past week, and we went to the VCA store in Harrods two weekends ago to pick up her latest acquisition, the 5-motif vintage Malachite bracelet.
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Buddies who Birkin together, stay together!
Whilst we were there, I decided to dip my little toe into the VCA pond and tried on a few bracelets, including the Byzantine, and a couple of the sweet Alhambra single-motif bracelets amongst others. I was pretty enamoured by the sweet rose gold hammered Alhambra bracelet, thinking that would be a pretty addi to my existing staple stack of my YG Cartier thin LOVE bracelet and my RG Tiffany DBTY bracelet.
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Trying on some various pieces…
I pretty much felt that this was the piece for me, but I wanted to be absolutely sure of it, and decided to wait a week before revisiting with my bestie.
Whilst browsing the website, I then came across the 6-motif sweet Alhambra bracelet, which immediately drew me in. I knew that I had to try that on as well before I could make an informed choice. But of course, the website (and subsequent phone call to the VCA mainline) made it clear that there was no stock anywhere.
Undeterred, I left a message with my bestie’s SA asking her to keep an eye out for a 6-motif bracelet, and if possible to have one on hold for me if in the unlikely event it arrived in time for my next scheduled visit this past Friday (the last day my bestie was in town).
No promises, as was expected.
But strangely enough, I then got a callback from the online boutique saying that the Old Bond Street boutique had just received one piece and would I like her to put it on hold for - and she stopped short, and apologised profusely saying she would have to call me back.
She called back a minute later breathlessly apologising, saying that as she was about to promise the piece to me, her colleague gesticulated wildly on the other side saying that the piece was already spoken for.
Another disappointment, yet again, I thought, even though I was expecting I was only going to get the single-motif bracelet in any case.
But then, whilst she had me on the line, she paused for an interminable moment, and then said, how far away would Harrods be for me. I was like, lady, that’s like my corner shop and my preferred store for my purchases anyway, so spill the beans already!
She told me that she could see that Harrods was due to receive one piece, but I couldn’t hold her to it as it was possible that the piece might already be spoken for.
Thumbs frantically tapping away like a hyperactive typist from the ‘50s, I sought assistance from my new SA, who said that if it came in, she would put it aside for me to view on Friday…
So I went back on Friday after a lovely lunch with my bestie…
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Should we play spot the difference?
My SA wasn’t there but we were assisted by an obliging young Frenchman. When i mentioned the 6-motif sweet hammered bracelet, he said I highly doubt we have it, given that it’s been out of stock for ages, but let me check. I also told him I wanted to see the single motif sweet hammered bracelet.
After waiting what seemed like an eternity, he finally came through with the goods!
I don’t know what I was thinking at the time, but it was an absolute clear winner by a country mile. I had to have the 6-motif bracelet and my bestie agreed wholeheartedly.
So after all that, and if you haven’t collapsed from sheer boredom at my tale, I present my first foray into the world of VCA, my beautiful new Rose Gold 6-motif hammered Alhambra bracelet!
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I’m of two minds as to where I would stack it on my wrist.
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The SA was sweet enough to give me some chocolates as well to celebrate my entrance into the VCA world!
Thank you for letting me share!
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A very happy bunny with his purchase!
But I should not complain because the 2020 price of my turquoise was about 6% less than that of 2019. So I am OK with the average price
. (They are now much more expensive than other diamond alternating 20s, including WG onyx diamond 20.) I bought the bracelet to make a 25 look!
