I would say that despite it not being the popular opinion here, all fine jewelry is not supposed to be worn in the shower etc. This includes solid gold pieces from cartier or tiffany or VCA. The comment is that it will wear. If you go onto the VCA website it states that all their pieces are not to be worn or touch water, it doesn't specifically say MOP vs Onyx etc. is better. I have a MoP necklace that I've personally worn in the shower for a long time, and I take it off to inspect it once in a while. There really is no difference especially when compared to the 5 motif MoP bracelet my mother just purchased for her birthday. If there is damage eventually I will come to terms that the stone itself only costs around $100-$200 to replace from VCA as confirmed with my SA. If that is the cost of it to allow me to enjoy the piece more freely I think it is really reasonable. There is a lot of fear around these pieces, similar to fear on how the love bracelets can scratch or how Chanel lambskin doesn't hold up the way caviar does etc. I would say at the end when you purchase luxury I personally want to enjoy everything I save up for to purchase and not have to worry about babying it all the time, as it wouldn't fit my personal lifestyle.
Vca bracelet in the shower
- Thread starter myfirstchanel
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I think there are different attitudes toward firm jewelry among people. Some do feel like they want to wear and just let whatever happens happen. Some people can’t enjoy their jewelry if they don’t feel like they’re taking care by of it. And there are different standards of wear and observation. Someone might notice a scratch or dullness whereas a different person may not. It is hard to tell someone what that person will or will not notice or care about. I fall somewhere in between, probably more toward the careful side. I can wear it all day, even to sleep but will not let it get wet nor wear it to work out. I will take it off in the shower, so maybe not all day. However I also don’t loupe my jewelry either. Figure out what matters to you. Then do your thing and live with the consequences.
I tend to agree with you. Although I baby my pieces in the beginning, whether it’s a handbag or piece of jewellery I tend to protect it a little more. Once I’ve had it for a while and it’s had its first love mark/scratch, I’ll be freer with it. I feel like I enjoy it more as I’m no longer precious about it. That doesn’t mean that I’d drag my chanels or jewellery across the floor, I’d just be more relaxed about it and accept the side effects of loving, enjoying and wearing something I adore.
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Frivole is not too delicate. For a while I wore mine 24/7 on my "active" hand, shower in it, swim in pools or salt water, etc, however I have had it catch on things and break. The little extension loop on the clasp is a little fragile and when I've broken mine it's been because whatever it is caught on tugged too much and that loop came apart. Repaired in store. I may be a bad person to ask though as I don't baby my VCA or other jewelry, also swim and shower in MOP, no permanent damage to any of my pieces yet although I know these activities are strongly discouraged 
How does the mirror polish hold up?Frivole is not too delicate. For a while I wore mine 24/7 on my "active" hand, shower in it, swim in pools or salt water, etc, however I have had it catch on things and break. The little extension loop on the clasp is a little fragile and when I've broken mine it's been because whatever it is caught on tugged too much and that loop came apart. Repaired in store. I may be a bad person to ask though as I don't baby my VCA or other jewelry, also swim and shower in MOP, no permanent damage to any of my pieces yet although I know these activities are strongly discouraged
Just fine. Haven’t been wearing it lately. Will find and post comparison pics w my frivolous earrings which I love but don’t wear much, never in shower, pool etc
Unpopular opinion here but I wear my MOP daily in the shower. Bracelets and necklaces are jewelry that I don’t take off very often because I find it annoying to do so daily but that’s just my personal preference & habit. Like user chi0e1213 mentioned, I also like to get great use out of my luxury purchases and eventually changing out the stone is a cost I’m willing to pay in exchange for daily convenience. I do admit the MOP doesn’t look as shiny after a while but I’m willing to accept that to make it work for my personal lifestyle. MOP has been pretty hardy in my opinion, but I don’t use any harsh soaps or shampoos anyways. However there are other stones I would be more diligent with since they’re very delicate, like malachite. I wouldn’t wear my VCA in the pool though.
Hi! I am in the camp that wears jewelry to enjoy, and I do not baby my pieces.
I'm a clean freak. For me, I need my jewelry to be clean, not for the sparkle, but more for the hygiene.
I use moisturizer all over my body, and, I am sure my pieces pick up some moisturizer from my soft silky skin.
So, just wiping down pieces is not enough for me. Plus, I think if you only wipe, you are just pushing any tiny parricles of dirt into the edges of the motifs which will accumulate over time. For my jewelry, I clean with a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Works great and it's very gentle. If Dawn liquid is gentle enough for fuzzy little ducks, it's gentle enough for my bling.
Harsh chemicals is what kills stones. Here is a great article on MOP, scroll down to read more about maintenance and care. This is what I have been told by many jewelers, and I've been cleaning my jewelry for years without issue. The only pieces I send in to clean are my pearls, and that is because the silk threads will weaken if I soak them. I asked Mikimoto how they clean and restring my pearls, and they said they put them in a mild cleaning solution before they are restrung. That also confirmed to me that getting pearls/MOP wet with a gentle liquid is fine. How To Wear And Take Care Of Mother Of Pearl Jewelry – Kobelli
Anyway, that's just my two cents to share. I know everyone is different.
I'm a clean freak. For me, I need my jewelry to be clean, not for the sparkle, but more for the hygiene.
I use moisturizer all over my body, and, I am sure my pieces pick up some moisturizer from my soft silky skin.
So, just wiping down pieces is not enough for me. Plus, I think if you only wipe, you are just pushing any tiny parricles of dirt into the edges of the motifs which will accumulate over time. For my jewelry, I clean with a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid diluted with warm water. Works great and it's very gentle. If Dawn liquid is gentle enough for fuzzy little ducks, it's gentle enough for my bling.
Harsh chemicals is what kills stones. Here is a great article on MOP, scroll down to read more about maintenance and care. This is what I have been told by many jewelers, and I've been cleaning my jewelry for years without issue. The only pieces I send in to clean are my pearls, and that is because the silk threads will weaken if I soak them. I asked Mikimoto how they clean and restring my pearls, and they said they put them in a mild cleaning solution before they are restrung. That also confirmed to me that getting pearls/MOP wet with a gentle liquid is fine. How To Wear And Take Care Of Mother Of Pearl Jewelry – Kobelli
Anyway, that's just my two cents to share. I know everyone is different.
This is such an old thread but finally back in my place where I have both pieces together, so here’s the long promised pic. Neither earrings nor bracelet have been worn since maybe November and haven’t been cleaned since before that
Carnelian and all gold RG are totally fine for showers, pools, etc. I’ve had my Carnelian bracelet for 3 years and it looks brand new.
I am trying to figure out the best method to use to clean my VCA onyx? Necklace and bracelet. Can I use the connoisseurs cloth for gold on it? Sorry if this is already discussed. I tried to search for the answer but could not find it.
I usually use q-tips, one moist and one dry. Onyx can get wet, and this is a way to get into the little corners. If it is just a little smudged you can use any soft cloth. Some of the jewelry polishing cloths have tiny elements in them meant to smooth and blend micro scratches on gold, so I would worry that it might scratch the onyx.
What about selvyt cloths? I saw a recommendation to use them. Can I use this to clean the onyx? It seems to have oil smudges, especially in the corners. I’m scared that I am going to damage it using a q-tips as I have a heavy hand.
Should be fine as long as it's not the sort with polishing compound in it.
Re. the older discussion - unless one has an identical specimen kept aside as a control, it is most likely impossible to discern the very slow accumulation of damage with wear and tear, but wear and tear is inevitable. Treating pieces gently can slow the aging process pretty dramatically though.
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