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#5,777
nicole0612 said:
This seems to be the new normal; as some members here were charged for replacing diamonds on fairly new pieces! Cartier after care service is so much better, but as each house has special pieces to offer, I am still here! Chrysoprase Alhambra is not in production, but this was a VVIP SO from Switzerland where somehow they seem to get the most amazing SOs approved and the best pieces in stock, still the client waited 2 years for approval and the SO price was completely unbelievable, it came out to over $2.4k for *each* chrysoprase motif AFTER the SO markup calculation was deducted. It was not my SO and not shared here, so I don’t want to give the specifics of the item, but that made me feel very, very content with only paying ~$250 per motif x10 to replace/repair.
I wish there were more 10 motif options also! I would love a 10 motif alternating pave other than malachite and a 10 motif alternating guilloche/carnelian!
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That’s an insane markup for each motif..Yikes they sure know how to get coins from individual. You got extremely lucky to replace at this price point. It’s so interesting for them to claim no stock yet they always can repair all motifs on rested pieces or build out SO. The definitely need more ten options with variety.
 
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#5,778
lakesideohio said:
Just got two pairs of earrings. Hammered YG and large frivolous. Absolutely gorgeous❤️❤️❤️
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A couple of my favorites there! So happy for you. Enjoy them!

nicole0612 said:
Not really new, but just unboxing and trying on for the first time!
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Wow wow wow! Stunning pieces. Be sure to visit them in your jewelry box/vault/closet often and say hi for me!
 
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#5,779
A bottle of Red said:
@nicole0612 you have an interesting pendant that looks like frivole but in onyx, can you tell us more about it?
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Thanks! It is a very vintage and discontinued piece. The workshop did not know the name, though I found it in one of VCA’s posts on their IG showing heritage and discontinued items. I loved it because it reminded me of the large single clover/flower pendant that Grace Kelly often wore with her layered Alhambra necklaces.

I think this is my favorite IG account: VCA heritage
 

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#5,780
missie1 said:
That’s an insane markup for each motif..Yikes they sure know how to get coins from individual. You got extremely lucky to replace at this price point. It’s so interesting for them to claim no stock yet they always can repair all motifs on rested pieces or build out SO. The definitely need more ten options with variety.
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I know, it is unbelievable! I feel very lucky, that’s why I caved after a few weeks of back and forth and agreed to pay for it; better than if they told me no materials to repair it at all!
 
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#5,782
nicole0612 said:
This seems to be the new normal; as some members here were charged for replacing diamonds on fairly new pieces! Cartier after care service is so much better, but as each house has special pieces to offer, I am still here! Chrysoprase Alhambra is not in production, but this was a VVIP SO from Switzerland where somehow they seem to get the most amazing SOs approved and the best pieces in stock, still the client waited 2 years for approval and the SO price was completely unbelievable, it came out to over $2.4k for *each* chrysoprase motif AFTER the SO markup calculation was deducted. It was not my SO and not shared here, so I don’t want to give the specifics of the item, but that made me feel very, very content with only paying ~$250 per motif x10 to replace/repair.
I wish there were more 10 motif options also! I would love a 10 motif alternating pave other than malachite and a 10 motif alternating guilloche/carnelian!
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You’re right. What they’re charging you is not bad at all. That SO price is stomach turning. Cannot wait to see it.
 
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#5,784
nicole0612 said:
Thank you all so much!

Let me first say, my apologies, my onyx needs to be cleaned, nothing a quick toothbrush won’t fix, but if I crop it out then the photos won’t be helpful.

Unfortunately, the chrysoprase was chipped while adjusting the length in the VCA workshop and now has been in France for about 9 months getting all motifs replaced (as is the requirement)! I hope these photos will do with onyx and rock crystal. Sapphire is very deco also, so maybe the pietersite can stand in. Blue agate will not do, as it would need to be in white metal to be true art deco vibes. I do have a Cartier necklace with amethyst and chrysoprase, so let’s place it here also.

Here are more photos of the box. I don’t really know what more to tell about it, because I did not examine it really. I just placed my jewelery on top of it, which is classic me, and it is also why I just found three pairs of earrings in their boxes under the loveseat near where I keep my wolf trays (placing jewelry cases on top of the wolf trays over time…crack open the wolf tray to retrieve a piece of jewelry…there is a loud sound…but I have 3 young children, so I shrug it off…then earrings are lost for weeks!…and then just found again! A happy ending).

So, it appears to have several compartments, some are removable; for necklace/pendant, for earrings, for rings, for bracelets or a watch. Some others here have this tray and may have more helpful info. When closed, it looks like an XL watch roll.

The only background I have is my pleasant memory of receiving a smaller VCA multipurpose case a little while ago, and though I never am one for SA gifts at all, for some reason such a useful and pretty little utilitarian thing made me so pleased. I had to laugh that I would be moved over a VCA box, but it is just so adorable. That was the PM size and then imagine my delight when I beheld this MM size. I think I was more delighted by the cases than the jewelry! Of course, maybe it is the pleasure of a surprise which really can warm our heart, even as a grown adult.
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I am in AWE of your collection Nicole 😍 @nicole0612
 
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#5,786
nicole0612 said:
Thank you all so much!

Let me first say, my apologies, my onyx needs to be cleaned, nothing a quick toothbrush won’t fix, but if I crop it out then the photos won’t be helpful.

Unfortunately, the chrysoprase was chipped while adjusting the length in the VCA workshop and now has been in France for about 9 months getting all motifs replaced (as is the requirement)! I hope these photos will do with onyx and rock crystal. Sapphire is very deco also, so maybe the pietersite can stand in. Blue agate will not do, as it would need to be in white metal to be true art deco vibes. I do have a Cartier necklace with amethyst and chrysoprase, so let’s place it here also.

Here are more photos of the box. I don’t really know what more to tell about it, because I did not examine it really. I just placed my jewelery on top of it, which is classic me, and it is also why I just found three pairs of earrings in their boxes under the loveseat near where I keep my wolf trays (placing jewelry cases on top of the wolf trays over time…crack open the wolf tray to retrieve a piece of jewelry…there is a loud sound…but I have 3 young children, so I shrug it off…then earrings are lost for weeks!…and then just found again! A happy ending).

So, it appears to have several compartments, some are removable; for necklace/pendant, for earrings, for rings, for bracelets or a watch. Some others here have this tray and may have more helpful info. When closed, it looks like an XL watch roll.

The only background I have is my pleasant memory of receiving a smaller VCA multipurpose case a little while ago, and though I never am one for SA gifts at all, for some reason such a useful and pretty little utilitarian thing made me so pleased. I had to laugh that I would be moved over a VCA box, but it is just so adorable. That was the PM size and then imagine my delight when I beheld this MM size. I think I was more delighted by the cases than the jewelry! Of course, maybe it is the pleasure of a surprise which really can warm our heart, even as a grown adult.
Click to expand...
OMG. Where does one even start with these photos? Such a gloriously vibrant and effortless tangle - like something you'd find on the other side of the long-lost gate to the Secret Garden 😍 And knowing that what we're seeing is just a tiny part of your treasure chest just makes it even more magical ❤️

The pietersite. You must be tired of people going googly over it. But I can't not add myself to that pile, it's my holy grail of Alhambra.

I'm so sorry about your chrysoprase!! I don't think much of them charging you after they chipped it, how cheeky is that :shocked: But on the other hand... It is rather nice to have effectively an all new necklace, like Missie said, for $2500 more... I hope the new motifs have a colour you love! Did you make any specific requests re. Color or translucency? Do you have any idea what status is now, or when you'll get it back?

I'm so curious about the new RdN. I know chalcedony was one of your top choices - I hope your SA can reel a pair in for you!

Thank you again for sharing more from your treasure chest! ❤️
 
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#5,788
Yssie said:
OMG. Where does one even start with these photos? Such a gloriously vibrant and effortless tangle - like something you'd find on the other side of the long-lost gate to the Secret Garden 😍 And knowing that what we're seeing is just a tiny part of your treasure chest just makes it even more magical ❤️

The pietersite. You must be tired of people going googly over it. But I can't not add myself to that pile, it's my holy grail of Alhambra.

I'm so sorry about your chrysoprase!! I don't think much of them charging you after they chipped it, how cheeky is that :shocked: But on the other hand... It is rather nice to have effectively an all new necklace, like Missie said, for $2500 more... I hope the new motifs have a colour you love! Did you make any specific requests re. Color or translucency? Do you have any idea what status is now, or when you'll get it back?

I'm so curious about the new RdN. I know chalcedony was one of your top choices - I hope your SA can reel a pair in for you!

Thank you again for sharing more from your treasure chest! ❤️
Click to expand...
I just love your turn of phrase! We really are kindred spirits :heart:

How evocative the imagery is of tangled strands of mismatched jewelry stumbled upon across the gate to the Secret Garden. Thank you for inspiring this majestic and romantic train of thought.

As you know, VCA is quite cheeky indeed! I think my SA would have been able to coordinate the repair more seamlessly, or at least to make the communication more palatable, but I have made my own bed in deciding to shop from a different country for the best buying experience, which leaves me without a strong advocate when I need to deal with the aftercare services in my own country. In the end, it is worth the trade-off, and it is fun to speculate what color it may be. I would love it to be entirely translucent and a bright apple green, but I can only hope for the best! The account profile info on the website was updated a few weeks ago, so now the purchase and service display are in a different format; I have never seen all of my purchases listed there (even ones from the current year), and now all of a sudden the necklace totally dropped off of my services underway; it has totally vanished from my profile. I contacted the service center customer service several days ago (they are the online boutique SAs actually; the phone number goes to the same place), and they said they would get back to me the next day. I just called them again; another promise to follow up, then an email link arrived, but it went to nothing. Another mystery! I am sure it will be resolved, but it may just end with a payment link arriving out of the blue with a notice that the necklace will arrive in the morning! (As I have experienced before). I choose to think of it as more magic and mystery from VCA, instead of as a loose management processes!

Thank you for the kind wishes about RDN!! Yes, chalcedony was always my dream, but now I am becoming confused with the options vs recalling the far-away memory what my heart truly wants most. My SA said that he could try to get a few of the pieces I am interested in, no promises, and asked what *ONE* item from that list I would want most. Well, isn't that a question?! I really have no idea at this point, so I am taking a breather to reassess. When I look at the other forum and the RDN thread, I feel like every photo I see is the piece that I want most at that nanosecond in time!
 
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#5,790
nicole0612 said:
I just love your turn of phrase! We really are kindred spirits :heart:

How evocative the imagery is of tangled strands of mismatched jewelry stumbled upon across the gate to the Secret Garden. Thank you for inspiring this majestic and romantic train of thought.

As you know, VCA is quite cheeky indeed! I think my SA would have been able to coordinate the repair more seamlessly, or at least to make the communication more palatable, but I have made my own bed in deciding to shop from a different country for the best buying experience, which leaves me without a strong advocate when I need to deal with the aftercare services in my own country. In the end, it is worth the trade-off, and it is fun to speculate what color it may be. I would love it to be entirely translucent and a bright apple green, but I can only hope for the best! The account profile info on the website was updated a few weeks ago, so now the purchase and service display are in a different format; I have never seen all of my purchases listed there (even ones from the current year), and now all of a sudden the necklace totally dropped off of my services underway; it has totally vanished from my profile. I contacted the service center customer service several days ago (they are the online boutique SAs actually; the phone number goes to the same place), and they said they would get back to me the next day. I just called them again; another promise to follow up, then an email link arrived, but it went to nothing. Another mystery! I am sure it will be resolved, but it may just end with a payment link arriving out of the blue with a notice that the necklace will arrive in the morning! (As I have experienced before). I choose to think of it as more magic and mystery from VCA, instead of as a loose management processes!

Thank you for the kind wishes about RDN!! Yes, chalcedony was always my dream, but now I am becoming confused with the options vs recalling the far-away memory what my heart truly wants most. My SA said that he could try to get a few of the pieces I am interested in, no promises, and asked what *ONE* item from that list I would want most. Well, isn't that a question?! I really have no idea at this point, so I am taking a breather to reassess. When I look at the other forum and the RDN thread, I feel like every photo I see is the piece that I want most at that nanosecond in time!
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Let me share a personal encouragement for a dear friend - a true collector wants everything. Looking at your amazing pieces, guess who is a true collector? So you should find an SA who understands the call to collect!:heart:
 
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