Does anyone know if true special orders (not MTOs) have to be paid in full at time of ordering?
Special Orders
- Thread starter halliehallie
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I’ve had to pay 50%. I’m in the US. I know others have paid 30%. I think it varies. I’m sure others will chime in.
It definitely varies - I’ve never had to pay anything at the time of ordering, as recent as September of this year.
Just to clarify, I paid 50% when I agreed to the pricing when the request is approved by Paris. When I requested it I paid nothing because I didn’t even know if VCA would even make the piece. The carnelian and WG was a big question mark. The WG and onyx and hammered WG were all SO’s back when I ordered them which was before MTOs were a thing. I did not pay until the request was approved.
I always thought one needs to pay 100% once request is approved but before the workshop start making it. At least that’s what I was told for my SOs in Europe. SA will also give you an approximate time frame that the item will be ready. The clock starts ticking after you pay in full.
See? Inconsistent application of rules. Or different country, different rules. Who knows. I’ve never had to pay 100% in advance. I paid the balance when my SA Received the completed piece and was getting ready to ship to me.
Pretty new to the VCA world here, but I’d love to know more about the special stone order since dark colours don’t really suit me, and I’m not a big fan of the pavé or the guilloche.
MOP seems to be my only option from the permanent collection, which is frustrating because I’m dying to expand my VCA collection.
Are special stone really rare and do you have to have a big purchase history to place an order? If you successfully placed an order, which stones/colours did you managed to get?
MOP seems to be my only option from the permanent collection, which is frustrating because I’m dying to expand my VCA collection.
Are special stone really rare and do you have to have a big purchase history to place an order? If you successfully placed an order, which stones/colours did you managed to get?
I'm not sure which specific stone you are referring to when you say "special stone". Do you mean lapis, turquoise and rock crystal? All the other stones such as onyx, carnelian, malachite, blue agate, chalcedony, MOP and GMOP are generally available by special order. There are certain stone and gold combinations that are already approved. See the Made To Order (MTO) list. It's somewhere in this thread, and I'm too lazy to dig it up. Combinations not on the MTO list require a request and approval by Paris. TPFers have ordered all kinds of gold and stone combinations, so you will just need to research on this thread all the various combos that have been done. There are too many to list. It's been more challenging since the pandemic, which lead to the supply shortages, and Paris just halting special orders or restricting them to clients that have a certain spending history. They can barely keep up with producing the regularly offered pieces. The requirements for SOs seem to differ by country, or even by store or customer. My belief is lapis and turquoise are limited to VVIPs, and there have been some serious VVIPs that have been turned down. However, if you're Camila, or royalty, or some multi-million dollar a year spender, you might be able to get a new creation with these stones. I've seen stories of rock crystal being offered here and there. If you want some stone that was used in the 1970s or 1980s, you're better off trying the preloved market. We have a member that snagged a gorgeous green chrysoprase set and I've even seen some rare quartz and jade pieces. But if you want to order a new creation from the store now using a stone that is not in their current offerings, I wouldn't hold my breath. Hope this helps.
Makes sense. To your point via another post, there does not seem to be consistency. I haven't had to put anything down at the time of approval nor ordering, as you are right those are two different instances; however, it sounds like this is truly a YMMV situation.
Carnelian and WG was a great choice, btw.
Thank you so much for the information. I guess I’m stuck with all MOP Alhambra in this case.
Found the MTO and attached here for other people’s reference. But they only includes the regular stones, whereas I was thinking of the rock crystal or quartz. The preloved market do offer nice limited stones but with VCA, if you don’t look after them really well they kind of loose their shine and lustre.
These special stones really sounds impossible unless I (or my future husband) was making **** tons of money to buy their fine jewellery collection (since other VCA high jewellery pieces don’t appeal to me) lol. Jokes aside, aren’t their fine jewellery pieces just so beautiful and whimsical with all the colourful stone and animal motifs?!! Ah, one can only dream…
Has anyone ever tried to order a WG chalcedony two butterfly pendant? Or any SO two butterfly with a different stone for that matter? I saw a photo of a chalcedony rose de noel (stunning! not sure if MTO or SO?) and so I think they would be able to mold the stone like they do for lapis and turquoise. I think that would be a very pretty combo 
Having had to regretfully decline an approved SO (it was a HJ piece and just approved, they didn’t produce it yet, but the price was too much for me right now), I am playing around with ordering another 20, but alternating pave this time. I think it would also be PG.
SA suggested hammered (as opposed to guilloche). I wouldnt have even thought of hammered - I know people love it, it’s just not been on my radar. It’s beautiful and a classic.
Thinking about the various musings of our amazing @BigAkoya and not wearing my YG guilloche/pave, I‘m thinking maybe I should do the hammered alternating; first, it will go with all my other PG pieces. Second, Im starting to think that guilloche with pave almost cancels out the pave; like, it’s too much texture.
[Although in my head I can envision WG guilloche/pave working better because as BigAkoya says in wg the diamonds pop (And I can see ordering that eventually as I start to build a WG collection, but the next WG piece I want is absolutely the Magic 3 Motif Pave earrings).]
Anyway, I think the only other PG combination I would order would be WMOP alternating.
I am in no great rush, as I may get the 3 motif earrings first and also I think they ordered a Frivole piece for me which I am also waiting to arrive.
Opinions, please!
SA suggested hammered (as opposed to guilloche). I wouldnt have even thought of hammered - I know people love it, it’s just not been on my radar. It’s beautiful and a classic.
Thinking about the various musings of our amazing @BigAkoya and not wearing my YG guilloche/pave, I‘m thinking maybe I should do the hammered alternating; first, it will go with all my other PG pieces. Second, Im starting to think that guilloche with pave almost cancels out the pave; like, it’s too much texture.
[Although in my head I can envision WG guilloche/pave working better because as BigAkoya says in wg the diamonds pop (And I can see ordering that eventually as I start to build a WG collection, but the next WG piece I want is absolutely the Magic 3 Motif Pave earrings).]
Anyway, I think the only other PG combination I would order would be WMOP alternating.
I am in no great rush, as I may get the 3 motif earrings first and also I think they ordered a Frivole piece for me which I am also waiting to arrive.
Opinions, please!
This is exquisite!! This is THE combination! The most beautiful, most classic option, your taste is superb
This is exquisite!! This is THE combination! The most beautiful, most classic option, your taste is superb
This is right up your alley, sis! And ehem... I think right up the alley of @Notorious Pink as well... 