VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[Yoshi1296]

Hi!

I just bought a vintage alhambra 5 motif bracelet in YG and I LOVE it. I bought it in person at the NYC flagship. The experience is great, everything is fine so far, but I realized that I never received a certificate of authenticity for my piece. I don't really mind not having it, but do I need it? Should it be a concern if I did not get it? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

 

[ThisVNchick]

Hi!

I just bought a vintage alhambra 5 motif bracelet in YG and I LOVE it. I bought it in person at the NYC flagship. The experience is great, everything is fine so far, but I realized that I never received a certificate of authenticity for my piece. I don't really mind not having it, but do I need it? Should it be a concern if I did not get it? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

If you have the contact of the SA that sold it to you, reach out to him or her within the next month or so. It could very well be that they are completely out of the certs. They will be more than happy to issue you one once they have the certs in stock again. Sometimes, especially around the holiday season, the sales person simply just forgets, in which case, you should still request one.

Having the certificate is good for resale (if you choose to do so down the road) and sometimes, if the serial number wears away or becomes hard to see, having the certs is good, as VCA can look the item up via the cert when servicing is needed. If VCA cannot verify the serial number (either on the item itself or on the cert.), they will not service the item.

 

[RyukkuX]

Hi!

I just bought a vintage alhambra 5 motif bracelet in YG and I LOVE it. I bought it in person at the NYC flagship. The experience is great, everything is fine so far, but I realized that I never received a certificate of authenticity for my piece. I don't really mind not having it, but do I need it? Should it be a concern if I did not get it? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

The NYC flagship has run out of certificates per my SA. I am waiting for one for my most recent purchase as well. Most likely they will mail it to your address on record but probably a good idea to reach out the SA who helped you just to be sure.

 

[Yoshi1296]

If you have the contact of the SA that sold it to you, reach out to him or her within the next month or so. It could very well be that they are completely out of the certs. They will be more than happy to issue you one once they have the certs in stock again. Sometimes, especially around the holiday season, the sales person simply just forgets, in which case, you should still request one.

Having the certificate is good for resale (if you choose to do so down the road) and sometimes, if the serial number wears away or becomes hard to see, having the certs is good, as VCA can look the item up via the cert when servicing is needed. If VCA cannot verify the serial number (either on the item itself or on the cert.), they will not service the item.

The NYC flagship has run out of certificates per my SA. I am waiting for one for my most recent purchase as well. Most likely they will mail it to your address on record but probably a good idea to reach out the SA who helped you just to be sure.

Hello to you both! Thank you so much for the help! I will reach out to my SA, I have all his info and his card so I will call him. He didn't mention them running out of the certificates when I purchased my piece, so I think he may have just forgot about it. Thank you so much again!

 

[Bunny_in_Love]

Hi everyone! I just got my first VCA piece- vintage alhmabra in GMOP and RG. I’m thinking about adding a bracelet, but don’t know which direction to go. The diamond/GMOP is a little too flashy for my everyday wear and probably exceeds my budget.

Would you all go with the VA hammered RG 5 motif? I’m open to mixing metals, so it doesn’t have to be RG. I’d love a GMOP bracelet without diamonds, but that does not exist to my knowledge.

Alternatively, I was thinking about starting my stack with the small JUC from Cartier.

What would you all do?!

Hi! My five cents: RG hammered is beautiful and carefree, I have it and would get it again. Special order GMOP is an option, you can double check what would be the cost and see if it fits in your budget.

Small JUC is kind of too small to my taste to go with Vintage 5 motifs, so I would check how you feel about it to avoid regrets going forward.

Good luck!

 

[cjwls]

GMOP bracelet is special order. I have it in rose gold

I’m sure that’s beautiful!

Hi! My five cents: RG hammered is beautiful and carefree, I have it and would get it again. Special order GMOP is an option, you can double check what would be the cost and see if it fits in your budget.

Small JUC is kind of too small to my taste to go with Vintage 5 motifs, so I would check how you feel about it to avoid regrets going forward.

Good luck!

TYSM! Carefree is a big plus for me on a bracelet. That’s interesting about the small JUC size. It sounds like I really need to go to the stores and not order online or over the phone. So I guess I’ll be waiting until things clear up. More time to contemplate all the options

 

[jwilli]

Hi!

I just bought a vintage alhambra 5 motif bracelet in YG and I LOVE it. I bought it in person at the NYC flagship. The experience is great, everything is fine so far, but I realized that I never received a certificate of authenticity for my piece. I don't really mind not having it, but do I need it? Should it be a concern if I did not get it? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

For my first purchase only 6 weeks ago in Zurich, my SA also forgot the certificate of authenticity, definitely get it
in case you need it in the future. I was pretty annoyed that such a basic thing was missed. Second purchase 4 weeks later they forgot the travel pouch (my husband was buying) and I emailed the store manager and asked for it to be posted. Thank goodness for this forum or else Id have no clue was was meant to be standard with a purchase.

 

[TankerToad]

Happy New Year to all!!

 

[Yoshi1296]

For my first purchase only 6 weeks ago in Zurich, my SA also forgot the certificate of authenticity, definitely get it
in case you need it in the future. I was pretty annoyed that such a basic thing was missed. Second purchase 4 weeks later they forgot the travel pouch (my husband was buying) and I emailed the store manager and asked for it to be posted. Thank goodness for this forum or else Id have no clue was was meant to be standard with a purchase.

Hi there! Thank you, I will call my SA tomorrow and ask for one.

 

[nightbefore]

Does anyone have a photo of mini frivole next to vintage alhambra? I am curious how they compare in terms of size

 

[RAEDAY]

Does anyone have a photo of mini frivole next to vintage alhambra? I am curious how they compare in terms of size

I do! I had wondered the very same thing as I was considering the Mini Frivole bracelet as a future purchase to go with my Onyx 5 Motif. I was able to try it on last month along with the Small Frivole ring. Hope this helps!

 

[spykitty]

GMOP bracelet is special order. I have it in rose gold

How do you like it? I'm saving up for this beauty. I currently have 5 motif letterwood and want to stack with GMOP. Am I crazy for having two delicate pieces??

 

[880]

Hello to you both! Thank you so much for the help! I will reach out to my SA, I have all his info and his card so I will call him. He didn't mention them running out of the certificates when I purchased my piece, so I think he may have just forgot about it. Thank you so much again!

@Yoshi1296, congrats on your vintage 5 motif! you might want to ask your SA re registration in their system. When I got my necklace, VCA also said it’s registered in the system in case I need to bring it back (presumably he meant repairs). Happy new year!

 

[nightbefore]

I do! I had wondered the very same thing as I was considering the Mini Frivole bracelet as a future purchase to go with my Onyx 5 Motif. I was able to try it on last month along with the Small Frivole ring. Hope this helps!
View attachment 4946753

Thank you very much this is very helpful! It looks great! I like frivole most as earring and ring

 

[nightbefore]

Now I am curious how would mini frivole and sweet alhambra stack would look as ear party or two mini frivole's one with pave and one without maybe