Special Orders

[BigAkoya]

I am thinking about RG with GMOP and Guilloche motifs, much like the Magic 16-motif necklace comes with Carnelian and Tigers Eye, which has just two different materials in the motifs. I like the variation that the size of the motifs gives you. And I would probably want RG GMOP Vintage earrings to go with it. Or maybe RG Guillohe. I didn’t know that several options are available in MTO. I will ask about those as well. Thank you!

Magic 16s are really beautiful to me as I love long necklaces (50" or more). Magic 16 comes in at 47". I was thinking of getting the WG Magic 16 (WMOP, GMOP, chalcedony). However, when I tried it on, I felt there was too much space between the motifs and too much "chain" so it looked a bit like an airy station necklace, not a bold necklace. It did not really pop. That's just me, and I prefer the 20 far more than the Magic 16. I was also going to wear the Magic 16 long, not doubled.

I think a 20 pops more than the Magic 16 due to the motifs being closer together so you don't see all that chain. The Magic 16 though is beautiful, very light and airy. Sometimes, I still think if I should get it.

While I love super long necklaces, I wear my "standard" long necklaces (e.g. 32"-38") the most. I would think about how you plan to wear Magic 16 and with what outfits. If you plan to wear it doubled most the time, I would look into the Magic 6. For a "Magic" look worn short, I think the Magic 6 is a gorgeous look, much more so than the Magic 16 doubled. A Magic 16 doubled to me looks like a big bib-necklace, a bit busy all over the chest given where it lands, no focus. A Magic 6 is very focused and pops near the face which it lands higher.

A SO with the unique stone combo you mentioned you would be beautiful on a Magic 6.

Just my two cents for what it's worth and another point of view. All VCA is beautiful, and it's purely preference. Good luck deciding.

 

[BigAkoya]

I’m in the US and been quoted 30%. Never did a MTO though, only SO.

Your WG onyx bracelet is technically a MTO (anyone can order it and there is an established price), but your WG carnelian is definitely a SO. It would be interesting to know if the WG carnelian had a higher uplift than the WG onyx, or were they still in the 30%-35% range.

You would have remember the price of the YG onyx and the YG carnelian at the time you purchased your WG versions as the uplift is based on the stone given each stone is priced differently. Maybe you still have that info. It would be good to know.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Your WG onyx bracelet is technically a MTO (anyone can order it and there is an established price), but your WG carnelian is definitely a SO. It would be interesting to know if the WG carnelian had a higher uplift than the WG onyx, or were they still in the 30%-35% range.

You would have remember the price of the YG onyx and the YG carnelian at the time you purchased your WG versions as the uplift is based on the stone given each stone is priced differently. Maybe you still have that info. It would be good to know.

Hi @BigAkoya. My WG and onyx was an SO back when I ordered it. They did not have MTO yet. Now it is a MTO for people that want to order it. I know I calculated it somewhere on one of these threads long time ago. I think the premium was 43% but I may be off. I think the YG/onyx was $3800 back then. I think I paid $5400 before tax.

 

[nicole0612]

I have 2 questions :

1- can onyx be ordered in RG?
2- can yellow gold guilloche be ordered for 2 motifs earings?

1- yes, this is MTO for most formats
2- you would need to submit this as a SO request. I have not seen it approved yet, but I don't know if anyone has asked.

 

[nicole0612]

I am thinking about RG with GMOP and Guilloche motifs, much like the Magic 16-motif necklace comes with Carnelian and Tigers Eye, which has just two different materials in the motifs. I like the variation that the size of the motifs gives you. And I would probably want RG GMOP Vintage earrings to go with it. Or maybe RG Guillohe. I didn’t know that several options are available in MTO. I will ask about those as well. Thank you!

I probably would not get guilloche in a necklace that you are likely to wear doubled or overlapping like the 16 magic since it will be prone to scratching the guilloche motifs. RG GMOP earrings are MTO, so you can get those anytime. RG guilloche earrings are likely to be approved if you want to request them (this would be SO, not MTO).

 

[MomMomx3]

Thank you, @BigAkoya and @nicole0612. I tried on a Magic 6 today and completely agree that it is an amazing necklace. I had not noticed it until BigAkoya mentioned it. I also agree about the wear and tear on Guilloche. I have 2 10-motif necklaces and 1 5-motif bracelet in the YG Guilloche. In don’t string them altogether to double them up as much as I thought I would because I am fearful of scratching the motif’s. So, I think I will place an SO for the Magic 6. If it is approved I will add an MTO for GMOP earrings with RG. Thank you for your help!!

 

[BigAkoya]

Thank you, @BigAkoya and @nicole0612. I tried on a Magic 6 today and completely agree that it is an amazing necklace. I had not noticed it until BigAkoya mentioned it. I also agree about the wear and tear on Guilloche. I have 2 10-motif necklaces and 1 5-motif bracelet in the YG Guilloche. In don’t string them altogether to double them up as much as I thought I would because I am fearful of scratching the motif’s. So, I think I will place an SO for the Magic 6. If it is approved I will add an MTO for GMOP earrings with RG. Thank you for your help!!

On your two 10s, may I suggest shortening one slightly? Or lengthening one.
This will give it an organized layered look and since one is slightly longer, they will not overlap and make it look messy when two 10 motif of the same length are stacked (that's kind of a busy look to me and I like organization ).

Think of a double-strand of pearls, one strand on top of the other... so beautiful and striking.
I bet a "double-strand" of 10 motifs would be gorgeous.

 

[MomMomx3]

On your two 10s, may I suggest shortening one slightly? Or lengthening one.
This will give it an organized layered look and since one is slightly longer, they will not overlap and make it look messy when two 10 motif of the same length are stacked (that's kind of a busy look to me and I like organization ).

Think of a double-strand of pearls, one strand on top of the other... so beautiful and striking.
I bet a "double-strand" of 10 motifs would be gorgeous.

Actually, I had one of my 10-motif necklaces lengthened by an inch. I never thought to layer them as you suggested. Thank you! I am also thinking about a second SO—a bracelet made with the blue/green Sevre from the 2022 HP and WG Guilloche. I looked back through previous posts and see that VCA has made SO bracelets from HP sevre in the past. Perhaps they will consider doing so again.

 

[BigAkoya]

Actually, I had one of my 10-motif necklaces lengthened by an inch. I never thought to layer them as you suggested. Thank you! I am also thinking about a second SO—a bracelet made with the blue/green Sevre from the 2022 HP and WG Guilloche. I looked back through previous posts and see that VCA has made SO bracelets from HP sevre in the past. Perhaps they will consider doing so again.

If you like blue/green with WG, how about a WG blue agate? I requested a SO on a WG blue agate set, and the earrings and bracelet were approved, but not the 20 motif. For me, I like sets, and the 20 motif is my base, so without a 20 motif, I passed.

Since you only want a bracelet, it makes it easier.

As FYI, even though I was approved for the blue agate earrings, VCA no longer makes that option. This is just FYI in case you are thinking of earrings too. That said, I am sure if you are a VVIP, you can get whatever you want, including WG blue agate earrings.

For me, given the choice of porcelain vs. a natural stone (e.g. blue agate), I would choose a natural stone. Blue agate has a translucent glow vs. the flatness of porcelain. It's 100% preference of course.

 

[nicole0612]

If you like blue/green with WG, how about a WG blue agate? I requested a SO on a WG blue agate set, and the earrings and bracelet were approved, but not the 20 motif. For me, I like sets, and the 20 motif is my base, so without a 20 motif, I passed.

Since you only want a bracelet, it makes it easier.

As FYI, even though I was approved for the blue agate earrings, VCA no longer makes that option. This is just FYI in case you are thinking of earrings too. That said, I am sure if you are a VVIP, you can get whatever you want, including WG blue agate earrings.

For me, given the choice of porcelain vs. a natural stone (e.g. blue agate), I would choose a natural stone. Blue agate has a translucent glow vs. the flatness of porcelain. It's 100% preference of course.

Several SO have come in lately for BA earrings in vintage and magic, so the tide is turning again. Perhaps you should resubmit your request for the WG BA 20 as well, if you are still interested.

 

[BigAkoya]

Several SO have come in lately for BA earrings in vintage and magic, so the tide is turning again. Perhaps you should resubmit your request for the WG BA 20 as well, if you are still interested.

Thank you so much! I will ask him about the BA set again. My SA is going to think I am obsessed with the color blue.
I just spoke to him a few weeks ago about the Hellebore lapis ring. Yes, that silly ring that I cannot get over.
As I can no longer have that ring, I now really really want it.

I will wait to hear back about the Hellebore ring (he resubmitted) and then ask him about resubmitting the BA set, as I want the Hellebore first.

I am still waiting for my butterfly BTF ring too which is dragging. That's just a regular order, not a MTO or SO.

Thanks again so much about the BA!

 

[BigAkoya]

@nicole0612 Hi again! You know everything about SOs and have probably seen every VA combo.
I have been thinking about a WG malachite set.

My SA said he has never seen one to even send me a photo. I have googled and nothing. I found a website that sells replicas and did see the WG malachite combo there.

YG malachite is gorgeous, and my concern with WG malachite is that it will look like a cheap silver set as it did on the VCA replica website.

I am curious if you have ever seen this combo. It's amazing I cannot even find one photo.
It could be VCA thinks this combo is such a bad idea they refuse to make it (it did look super cheap on the VCA replica website).

 

[nicole0612]

@nicole0612 Hi again! You know everything about SOs and have probably seen every VA combo.
I have been thinking about a WG malachite set.

My SA said he has never seen one to even send me a photo. I have googled and nothing. I found a website that sells replicas and did see the WG malachite combo there.

YG malachite is gorgeous, and my concern with WG malachite is that it will look like a cheap silver set as it did on the VCA replica website.

I am curious if you have ever seen this combo. It's amazing I cannot even find one photo.
It could be VCA thinks this combo is such a bad idea they refuse to make it (it did look super cheap on the VCA replica website).

Good luck with your rings first of all, and then potentially the BA WG! I actually considered the same special order of malachite WG, because I find that the white gold pavé looks better when it flips compared to yellow gold. I did not ask about it in the end, because I plan to get a different 10 motif alternating pave/stone combo for the ability to wear it into the ground without any concern. However, I did take some pictures with my magic malachite with pave wg five motif laid on top of some of the stones to give a general idea. I am not at home now, but this is in my phone photos (taken on a baby bed!), so I hope it helps somewhat.

 

[MomMomx3]

If you like blue/green with WG, how about a WG blue agate? I requested a SO on a WG blue agate set, and the earrings and bracelet were approved, but not the 20 motif. For me, I like sets, and the 20 motif is my base, so without a 20 motif, I passed.

Since you only want a bracelet, it makes it easier.

As FYI, even though I was approved for the blue agate earrings, VCA no longer makes that option. This is just FYI in case you are thinking of earrings too. That said, I am sure if you are a VVIP, you can get whatever you want, including WG blue agate earrings.

For me, given the choice of porcelain vs. a natural stone (e.g. blue agate), I would choose a natural stone. Blue agate has a translucent glow vs. the flatness of porcelain. It's 100% preference of course.

This will be my first SO. You clearly have much more experience with the process. Do you understand why they approve or disapprove a request? Is it based on how much a client has spent? (BTW - I am sure I am not a VVIP.) Or perhaps VCA thinks the combination is unattractive and would degrade the brand? And would you recommendation that I try several requests at a time? As I think about the porcelain motifs I wonder if I should save my SOs or MTOs for natural stones.

 

[nicole0612]

This will be my first SO. You clearly have much more experience with the process. Do you understand why they approve or disapprove a request? Is it based on how much a client has spent? (BTW - I am sure I am not a VVIP.) Or perhaps VCA thinks the combination is unattractive and would degrade the brand? And would you recommendation that I try several requests at a time? As I think about the porcelain motifs I wonder if I should save my SOs or MTOs for natural stones.

I would slow down and savor the process. Honestly, the dreaming and planning is most of the fun of a SO.

The answers to your first two questions are "yes, but it is not totally cut and dry."

The answer to your last two questions are "It depends, but also be reasonable/know what you like and what you want and why".

I would start by reading through most of this thread, the new purchases thread, Ig searches for special order hashtags etc. Make a list of what you want in your next pieces. Format/line, length, color, delicacy/hardiness, formality/casual, versatile/special occasion, etc. For example; one thing on my wishlist is: alternating YG pave and non-pave/indestructible/versatile/semi-dressy/10 motif. They do not make it and no MTO, so it needs to be a SO. I already have most of my criteria, so then it becomes a decision only about which stones for the non-pave meet my needs. Once you get there, you should do a bunch of searches for images and have fun dreaming about it and changing your mind; then submit maybe one request and one backup request. You can also ask for two different at the same time, for example, perhaps I would get the coordinating bracelet.

Have fun!