I asked my SA and she said that’s all they had, even though she requested dark green for me weeks ago in preparation for this exchange. But you’re right. Sorry I didn’t buy the lotus this time around but I think spending 19k on a necklace (including tax) still should guarantee I get the green I want! Ugh I’m so annoyed. I mean it’s still a beautiful necklace (it almost looks like chrysoprase!) I’m just frustrated I wasn’t given the options I asked for so I have to ask again and again.I will wait for your pics in sunlight before I can give a more constructive response. Just from these pics alone, there seems NOT to be enough contrast of the striations to the main green shade within the stone. @DS2006 gave a good explanation of this.
I do believe that you can request a few necklaces from which you can choose. Trust me, you will find one that will sing to you
Share Your Latest VCA Purchase
- Thread starter sbelle
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Well it’s gorgeous and I hope you LOVE it! It’s an art deco dream! If it’s a coa you worry about ask your SA to get you new documentation. It’s extra money but at least you’ll have peace of mind. I also hope it fits!Christie's. To be honest I'm now kind of regretting the purchase (haven't even seen it yet!) because I was so excited that one was available, I got too wrapped up into it without thinking it through. I do not know how it will fit (all my VCA rings seem to be different sizes, even if on the same finger), it is not returnable, does not include COA, and I hate the 25% commission fee you pay on top of it.
Then I found one listed on VC that is probably a better size, with documentation, returnable, and no upcharge (though with taxes and customs fees it would still be priced ~2.5K over what I paid at auction). This experience (good or bad) will definitely inform future purchases. I'm not typically an impulse buyer.
Supposed to arrive tomorrow and I will post pics.
Let your SA arrange to have a couple more at least brought in. COVID should not limit your choice. Send a couple of my pics to show her what you would prefer.
The beauty of stones like Malachite and Tiger's Eye is character - for Malachite, the contrast of striations and for Tiger's Eye, the chatoyance.
Hadassa, do you own anything in tiger's eye as well? That is another one I have coveted. I am a blonde so that one is especially versatile with all the neutrals. I am in the US and one of our newscasters, Maria Bartiromo, wears her 20 TIger's eye often and I so enjoy looking at it!
Sadly I don't - because of my skin colour, the TE blended right in and there wasn't enough "pop."
I am reposting @PennyD2911's TE 20 - some of the stones are really amazing. And I am happy to add that Penny shared her NM DSA info with me
Last edited:
i managed to pull out an old vintage black velvet coat with white silk lining. the striations are so blurred that it makes the whole stone look much lighter. i can't tell whether i love it or hate it. it doesn't look as crisp as yours and i know that's the standard. but this is also kind of unique? or is it considered subpar quality? i'm texting my SA first thing tomorrow.
Tbh it looks quite blase. The color is very pale & you don't sound thrilled with it.
Can you return it and wait a bit before you purchase something that you really love- whatever it ends up being?
i want the malachite but only if i can have what im looking for. why in the world is my normally diligent SA dropping the ball? are 20's just crappy necklaces? it seems they use the worst stones to fill up all the motifs. the less motifs an item has, the better the stone. it's like she knows this and gives up.
the frivole is a 51 and i believe it runs a bit big which is why i went a size down.
i have a long and stern (usually we are joking and sending little hearts to each other) text written waiting to be sent tomorrow morning.
This is not the case - I have seen a Malachite 20 with gorgeous colour and striations. You need to tell your SA very politely that she needs to do her job and find you a necklace that you can be happy with.
I agree with @A bottle of Red - this shade of green is just too pale
I saw your lot in the auction, I was interested too, the kite motifs are beautiful. But I got another ring not long ago, couldn’t justify buying a second one so soon. Your ring is gorgeous and rare, I hope you’d enjoy it.Christie's. To be honest I'm now kind of regretting the purchase (haven't even seen it yet!
Then I found one listed on VC that is probably a better size, with documentation, returnable, and no upcharge (though with taxes and customs fees it would still be priced ~2.5K over what I paid at auction). This experience (good or bad) will definitely inform future purchases. I'm not typically an impulse buyer.
Supposed to arrive tomorrow and I will post pics.
Before you decide to buy something from auctions next time, you can ask the associates to send you more pictures of the lot on an actual person. They are usually very happy to help. I have eliminated many pieces when I see how they sit on an actual ear(mostly earrings). If the item is in New York location, i would go in there a few times to inspect and try them one. Even in this Covid time, some auction houses are available for viewing appointments, not Christie though. Hopefully this helps.
thank you for letting me know it is possible. i feel like i've settled for a bad lover and now realize i can do better.This is not the case - I have seen a Malachite 20 with gorgeous colour and striations. You need to tell your SA very politely that she needs to do her job and find you a necklace that you can be happy with.
I agree with @A bottle of Red - this shade of green is just too pale
seriously if i had to guess, what i think happened is that she thought i was going to buy the lotus ring that day and presented me with BS. she showed me only 2 malachite 20s and both were exactly the same, so hardly an option. The option was "settle for what you didn't ask for or buy the lotus ring for more money". that was a waste of my time. i felt pressured and i felt disappointed. part of my text says that if it's so hard finding the stones i ask for that i will be hesitant to buy stones from VCA in the future. this is true. imagine paying that kind of money and never getting the color you want. what is this, hermes? 
It seems they are pushing things on us with "buy or fly" attitude which I'm not fond of. (Which resulted in me buying one item only for each 2018 and 2019.)thank you for letting me know it is possible. i feel like i've settled for a bad lover and now realize i can do better.
Last edited: