VCA Van Cleef & Arpels addiction - support group

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I finally got my letterwood Magic pendant! Although this picture isn't crystal clear, I think you'll see why I fell in love! The zebra-look of the wood really got to me. My LE letterwood does not look like this.


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I love the pattern and it looks so rich with the RG. Congrats!
 
I'm surprised to hear you "say" that. You have so many premier vca pieces, I thought you'd add one of these to your extensive collection. It is quite expensive and don't you have 2 16 magic motifs .... I believe I am remembering correctly. What are you planning on getting?

You are right-- I do have two 16 motif Magic necklaces but they were purchased before the price got so crazy!

I am thinking about the 20 motif, but I have to say that the Magic pendant is on my mind too. I love the look!
 
I went through so many hoops to get this pair of Malachite earrings. After nearly one and a half years, they are finally with me. This pair was a part of London Selfridges' limited edition series for its opening back in 2011. I was so excited to hear about it, as I love emerald greens and want everything in emeralds. I had wired the deposit to Selfridges to secure a pair, as I was nowhere near London and had no prospects of going there any time soon. Since the deposit came in 3 payments, the British banking system alerted the authorities, and my deposit was frozen for several weeks! Finally, it went through and the pair was secured for me. It took another 9 months for me to be able to go to London, and I finally picked them up. Sadly, as soon as I arrived in the hotel, I noticed a crack in one of my the motifs. So I went back to Selfridges (Selfridges has exceptional customer service!) and they took it in for repair. They said that once the repair was done, it would be forwarded to my local boutique in San Francisco. I wait for many months, and the earring is still not returned to me. So I call Selfridges and they said the earring was back in London! LOL! :laugh: Paris sent it back to London instead of forwarding to SF. Then there was this whole drama about how Selfridges can't mail it to me in SF because I would have to pay customs duties as high as $1000 USD. So it stayed in London, and now I have finally picked them up! :yahoo: :yahoo: I am a bit dismayed at the fact that VCA is going to release a new Malachite line universally after all, since I went through so much just to get my Malachite pair! But my baby is finally with me after a year and a half of hide and seek

OMG they are TDF! But what AMAZES and truly ASTONISHES me is that YOU had to tell THEM about the fault in the product. HELLOOO, you are paying TOP DOLLAR for these items. Can't someone take the time to approve them before they end up in the customer's hands? Frankly I'm appalled...
 
I don't know about the VCA stand alone boutiques, but I bought my LE blue sevres porcelain necklace at VCA's boutique at Galleries Lafayette. They processed the charge without VAT, contingent on receiving the forms back within the specified timeframe. If the forms weren't timely received, the VAT would be charged to my credit card. So unlike every other place I made purchases, I did not have to wait for the credit to show upon my card weeks later.

I would guess that all VCA stores would use the same system, but I wouldn't count on it. I bought items at two different Louis Vuitton stores and each used a different company to process the VAT tax refund. One company processed the return after about a month and the second took two months!

Hi sbelle!
Quick question -- were you able to use your 10% discount card (available to all non EU travelers by simply showing your passport) on the item or is VCA (and perhaps the entire "boutiques luxes" area) exempt from that discount?
[I think i know my answer but one can only hope!...]
 
Just had a call from my SA and she gave me some of the malachite prices, but not all.

earrings (I am assuming vintage alhambra) - $4,900
5 motif vintage alhambra bracelet - $4,450
10 motif vintage alhambra necklace - $8,900
20 motif vintage alhambra necklace - $17,800
magic long pendant - $5,750 (same as you cat eyes

I am still waiting to hear the price of the 16 motif malachite magic necklace. This is just a guess, but based on the fact that the 20 motif is $17,800, it appears that they are pricing it close to tiger's eye and carnelian. So since the tiger's eye/carnelian 16 motif magic is $24,500 I think the malachite 16 motif will be around $25,000. And with that price I will almost definitely have to say NO!

wow - that's pretty pricey. But it is SOOOO unique! I was just sitting here thinking great - i'll get a ring since it's only one motif, and can't be too pricey, but then it dawns on me that malachite is so sensitive that it would be foolish to get a ring since one washes one's hands so many times during the day and quite frankly I'm too lazy to take a ring off each time -- bummer because for a flash i thought - hey I can afford that....!
 
Just had a call from my SA and she gave me some of the malachite prices, but not all.

earrings (I am assuming vintage alhambra) - $4,900
5 motif vintage alhambra bracelet - $4,450
10 motif vintage alhambra necklace - $8,900
20 motif vintage alhambra necklace - $17,800
magic long pendant - $5,750 (same as you cat eyes

I am still waiting to hear the price of the 16 motif malachite magic necklace. This is just a guess, but based on the fact that the 20 motif is $17,800, it appears that they are pricing it close to tiger's eye and carnelian. So since the tiger's eye/carnelian 16 motif magic is $24,500 I think the malachite 16 motif will be around $25,000. And with that price I will almost definitely have to say NO!

London's Selfridges limited Malachite edition also offered a Magic necklace. At the time, the price was 16-17K pounds. I don't know if it is the same as the Magic that will be offered in the Spring.
 
OMG they are TDF! But what AMAZES and truly ASTONISHES me is that YOU had to tell THEM about the fault in the product. HELLOOO, you are paying TOP DOLLAR for these items. Can't someone take the time to approve them before they end up in the customer's hands? Frankly I'm appalled...

Thanks :)

When I picked them up, they looked to be fine. I don't know if it was my fault or the stone was chipped during the adjustment of the hook by the SA, so I'm not sure if there is anyone to blame. But they didn't charge me for the repair, which is the most important thing.
 
I went through so many hoops to get this pair of Malachite earrings. After nearly one and a half years, they are finally with me. This pair was a part of London Selfridges' limited edition series for its opening back in 2011. I was so excited to hear about it, as I love emerald greens and want everything in emeralds. I had wired the deposit to Selfridges to secure a pair, as I was nowhere near London and had no prospects of going there any time soon. Since the deposit came in 3 payments, the British banking system alerted the authorities, and my deposit was frozen for several weeks! Finally, it went through and the pair was secured for me. It took another 9 months for me to be able to go to London, and I finally picked them up. Sadly, as soon as I arrived in the hotel, I noticed a crack in one of my the motifs. So I went back to Selfridges (Selfridges has exceptional customer service!) and they took it in for repair. They said that once the repair was done, it would be forwarded to my local boutique in San Francisco. I wait for many months, and the earring is still not returned to me. So I call Selfridges and they said the earring was back in London! LOL! :laugh: Paris sent it back to London instead of forwarding to SF. Then there was this whole drama about how Selfridges can't mail it to me in SF because I would have to pay customs duties as high as $1000 USD. So it stayed in London, and now I have finally picked them up! :yahoo: :yahoo: I am a bit dismayed at the fact that VCA is going to release a new Malachite line universally after all, since I went through so much just to get my Malachite pair! But my baby is finally with me after a year and a half of hide and seek

WOWOWOWOWOW! WOW!
These are the most stunning earrings, may I request a modeling pic somehow?
I admire your calm attitude! Beautiful amazing! I need to stay off this thread! I really do.
 
I finally got my letterwood Magic pendant! Although this picture isn't crystal clear, I think you'll see why I fell in love! The zebra-look of the wood really got to me. My LE letterwood does not look like this.


photo-25.jpg

This is so beautiful! How long is the chain, and is the motif the size of, say a quarter? Just trying to get the actual size in my mind...lol. I think I'll love having a pendant like this on the longer chain.
 
Hi sbelle!
Quick question -- were you able to use your 10% discount card (available to all non EU travelers by simply showing your passport) on the item or is VCA (and perhaps the entire "boutiques luxes" area) exempt from that discount?
[I think i know my answer but one can only hope!...]

I have to admit I didn't know about that discount card. Is that something that Galleries Lafayette does? When we went there we walked straight to the VCA boutique and I bought my necklace. After that I felt very poor and we left!! I , like you, would guess that you wouldn't be able to use any discount on VCA, but I don't really know.
 
You are right-- I do have two 16 motif Magic necklaces but they were purchased before the price got so crazy!

I am thinking about the 20 motif, but I have to say that the Magic pendant is on my mind too. I love the look!

I wish I were in your shoes! They will both be divine-will be a fun choice to make:)
 
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