VC&A as Costume Jewelery? NOT!!!

Is REAL Van Cleef & Arpels Fine or Costume Jewelry

  • Fine Jewelery, no doubt

  • Costume jewelry

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T

tbbbjb

O.G.
Jul 21, 2006
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#1
An acquaintance (NOT( a very close one thankfully) equated the Van Cleef & Arpel's Alhambra line as costume looking like costume jewelery and basically stated who in there right mind would spend so much money on something that is clearly junk.

My mind went blank and for I just assumed that I was dealing with a VERY UNEDUCATED person.

Has anyone EVER had this response to VC&A? Please let me know as I love the VC&A stuff whether or not someone else thinks it is costume to me that is their problem, but I am curious.

I have always thought of VC&A to be a very delicate and classy line that would look good now and still stand the test of time in the future. A true classic.

What you you ladies think?


In the post above I meant to say Authentic and wrote REAL instead, and now of course I cannot fix it. If someone can I would be much obliged!
 
#2
I have not had that experience before. In fact my friends want some for themselves!
I love VCA! I am on a binge, lol. Yes the Alhambra peices are very overpriced and w/o diamonds. I don't think many people would pay for High End jewelry that has no diamonds. I could of got a great pair of diamond studs or a major diamond band, for what I just spent on my Magic earrings. That said, I love the Ahlambra ligne so much. It makes me happy. The peices are very good quality and are a true classic. I love VCA!

This person is ignorant , let them preach and ignore. I got the talk when I got my Cartier jewelry. Again about what I spent on them.

There are copies and knockoffs of VCA Alhambra ligne. Mabe this person sees them and things the real thing is a waste. Same as our bags. Ignore Ignore Ignore! LOL
Did I say I love VCA?
 
#3
I should mention that we live in a large metropolitan but have no VCA, as of yet. Which is yet another reason I adore VCA so much as I have almost never seen another person wearing it and always get compliments. I just recently bought the Lucky butterfly in yg mop for myself to match my dd's sweet version and it looks so cute on us!

I guess I never looked at it before, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
#4
Perhaps it's because motifs like the flower, heart and butterfly are very simple, like those often featured in costume jewelry? Personally I like it, but I think many people have set ideas of what costume jewelry is like vs fine jewelry, and they don't think deeply about it.
 
#5
I'm sorry, maybe it's early for me, but that is a pretty ridiculous comment for someone to make.

In other forums, we've have people who have made similar comments about their Birkin, LV, Chanel, etc. Either "how can you spend that much $?" or "it looks fake" or something like that.
Most of the time people say things like that it's either jealously or ignorance. I would just ignore her comments.
 
#6
being.myself said:
Perhaps it's because motifs like the flower, heart and butterfly are very simple, like those often featured in costume jewelry? Personally I like it, but I think many people have set ideas of what costume jewelry is like vs fine jewelry, and they don't think deeply about it.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I think something similar happens with the Cartier Love bracelet. Many people just assume it's a gold bangle, nothing special. The specialness is in the eye of the beholder.
 
#7
Bethc said:
I'm sorry, maybe it's early for me, but that is a pretty ridiculous comment for someone to make.

In other forums, we've have people who have made similar comments about their Birkin, LV, Chanel, etc. Either "how can you spend that much $?" or "it looks fake" or something like that.
Most of the time people say things like that it's either jealously or ignorance. I would just ignore her comments.
Click to expand...

Perhaps they are neither jealous nor ignorant, instead, it is how they truly feel. Nevertheless, I love VCA and wear them to make me happy. I really do not give a fig what others think. I'm sure some ppl think my birkins are ugly and nothing more than a piece of junkie leather. :p

On the side note, there are many jewelries that are very expensive, and do not have diamonds in them. And not everyone loves diamonds.
 
#8
Ow, that was a mean comment! I would have reacted the way you did... that being said I do think that some pieces VCA occupy a more "casual" place - especially some of the Alhambra line, but that's why I love it! I often don't feelcomfortable being more "blingy" and that's when VCA is great!
 
#9
I have never had anyone say that before. I LOVE VCA. I know that there were several designers trying to copy the clover design for costume jewelry. I agree with all the comments too. Ultimately, it comes down to what makes your heart skip a beat. Who cares about anyone else. Beauty is definitely subjective and there are MANY of us that agree that VC&A makes BEAUTIFUL jewelry! More so than not....I think.:tup:
 
#10
Doesn't costume necessarily mean not made from precious metals like gold? I mean unless they don't know that it's actually 18K gold, they're just ignorant!

I thought costume was classified as non-precious items, designer or not.
 
#11
Many of the wealthiest women in the world choose to wear VC&A Alhambra pieces over diamond jewelry to high-profile events. They certainly don't view Alhambra as costume jewelry-like, and neither do I. I think the pieces are exquisite and timeless, and I have fallen in love with several of the pieces over the past year or so.

I would ignore comments like the one your acquaintance made. I don't know the motivation or the reasoning behind them, but I would just disregard them because I personally don't agree with them at all.
 
#14
I think this is one of those threads where no one will speak up if they disagree.

Kind of like how everyone who posted in the "How much do you weigh?" thread weighed less than 200 pounds, and eveyone who posted in "How much debt do you have?" had no debt.

:cool:
 
#15
Why cant you post what you feel? I hope people do, instead of just clicking the poll. Come out and speak your mind!
I think the peices are overpriced, same as my Chanel bags. I buy them because I love the design. I would never buy a copy of anyone's design or a fake.
I have seen good copies at jewelry shoes for very very cheap! They are also made with real gold and stones. But they are fakes.
I choose to spend for them. They are very over priced! But they are not costume jewelry.
Chanel makes costum jewelry that is in some cases as much as VCA , no precious metals are used.

Why would someone be scared to share what they feel on jewelry? I am not offended by it. It doesn't make me love or hate my stuff .
 
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