VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[couturequeen]

Anyone here a historian? I came across an old auction for this pair with no date listed. Any clue? Also were they only available in a certain country? I feel like I may have seen this in another stone (other than onyx).

Putting it out into the universe ... I’d love something like this in agate.

 

[LuckyMe14]

Okay gotcha. Thank you for clarifying this, I was definitely confusing myself lol. I’ll definitely need to go back and try it on again to see how many I’ll really need removed. So again this may sound like a dumb question, but is having 4 links removed the only way to make it look even throughout the motifs?

Yes. However 2 links is symmetrical so 1 link from both ends of the bracelet. I would do 4 if you can. Otherwise 2 is better than 3 in my opinion. Hope this all makes sense. I have a love in size 16 and took 4 links out of my VCA so it is 17cm. VCA is bigger, but I like it a bit more loose (as opposed to my Love, which is more fitted).

 

[cmadtmifyb0623]

Yes. However 2 links is symmetrical so 1 link from both ends of the bracelet. I would do 4 if you can. Otherwise 2 is better than 3 in my opinion. Hope this all makes sense. I have a love in size 16 and took 4 links out of my VCA so it is 17cm. VCA is bigger, but I like it a bit more loose (as opposed to my Love, which is more fitted).

Thank you so much this helps me a lot! I’m definitely going to try and see if the 4 links will work for me as symmetry is what I would prefer if feasible. I see some women on IG with small wrists that don’t even alter their VCA bracelet and it looks sooooo loose coming down their hand, that would drive me nuts.

 

[DS2006]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think by 3 links she meant 3 links/pairs so 3x2=6 actual pieces is how I understood it. I don’t think VCA would take out an uneven amount of links anyways but again I may be wrong. Because yes that would bother me or I wouldn’t even alter the piece at all.

Now that I type this out now I’m confused even more lol. So are you saying you either take out 4 links only no less?? Ugh lol

Yes, 3 links means 3 double loops, so it would be uneven to do that. I personally would only take out 4, but I am afraid that would be slightly shorter than I want. I even asked if I could have 4 removed and add one back on the end near the clasp and the answer was that they would not do that. Some people take out two between motif 1 + 2 and 4 + 5, but that would bother me, too, since there'd be two sections longer than the other two. I don't think they will take two off the ends.

 

[Aimee3]

Yes, 3 links means 3 double loops, so it would be uneven to do that. I personally would only take out 4, but I am afraid that would be slightly shorter than I want. I even asked if I could have 4 removed and add one back on the end near the clasp and the answer was that they would not do that. Some people take out two between motif 1 + 2 and 4 + 5, but that would bother me, too, since there'd be two sections longer than the other two. I don't think they will take two off the ends.

If you go into a VC&A boutique and you need to size the bracelet they take out a bunch of “bracelets” I think made of stainless steel, and those have the proper number of links removed so that the bracelet’s symmetry isn’t compromised. You try these on and see which length suits you, and you’ll see the exact fit of your bracelet once it’s shortened. IIRC there was a definite difference in the sizes, so I’m assuming they only had them in the preferred sizes. I hope you understand what I’m trying to describe!

 

[N00dle]

Forgive me if I’m posting this in the wrong thread, I searched for a little bit and didn’t really find a dedicated thread for Alhambra sizing but for those who have Cartier Love bracelets specifically size 17, how many links did you have removed on the vintage Alhambra bracelet? My wrist measures 15-15.25 ish. I did try on the malachite and was large but passed on it since I had just purchased 2 Love bracelets the day before so I had to be good but now it’s all I can think about lol. Thanks in advance!

I wear a loose love size 17 and removed 4 links so it would stay symmetrical.

 

[cmadtmifyb0623]

I wear a loose love size 17 and removed 4 links so it would stay symmetrical.

Thank you! Yes my 17 Loves are a loose fit too so I’m starting to think I should be okay with 4 links removed since symmetry is important for my OCD lol

 

[may3545]

Hello fellow VCA lovers! I would like advice on which pendant to get.

I have: mini rose de noel MOP earrings in YG, two butterfly earrings in MOP and RG, and 3 flower mini frivole earrings in YG. I love them all, but now want to find a pendant that would go with them? They are all so different, but any ideas? Doesn't have to be VCA. But I was thinking the MOP two butterfly pendant in RG, as it will still complement the YG earrings.

I have the pave vintage Alhambra in YG and a magic MOP pendant in YG, but I don't think the quatrefoil clover motif goes with those earring designs.

Any feedback appreciated!

 

[Notorious Pink]

Hello fellow VCA lovers! I would like advice on which pendant to get.

I have: mini rose de noel MOP earrings in YG, two butterfly earrings in MOP and RG, and 3 flower mini frivole earrings in YG. I love them all, but now want to find a pendant that would go with them? They are all so different, but any ideas? Doesn't have to be VCA. But I was thinking the MOP two butterfly pendant in RG, as it will still complement the YG earrings.

I have the pave vintage Alhambra in YG and a magic MOP pendant in YG, but I don't think the quatrefoil clover motif goes with those earring designs.

Any feedback appreciated!

I think the RDN Pendant would also work as well as a Pave Frivole Pendant.

 

[may3545]

I think the RDN Pendant would also work as well as a Pave Frivole Pendant.

I have the lapis mini rdn pendant, but i guess it boils down to personal preference. The butterfly earrings goes with the flowers, but frivole and rdn aren’t the same flowers.
Maybe just a custom diamond pendant? Tennis necklace? Endless search and wanting lol.

 

[fdc]

You have a gorgeous skin tone and I think these bracelets look fab on you!! I particularly like the blue agate. But you can never go wrong with onyx!! I like to have matched sets, so I always match necklaces to bracelets.

Thanks for your kind words and suggestion!
Unfortunately my skin was kind of allergic to the Onyx yellow gold necklace and became red. I wonder if they’ll let me return it. I bought it in Paris place Vendome less than a month ago, does anyone know as I didn’t see any return policy mentioned on the receipt.

 

[HADASSA]

Hello fellow VCA lovers! I would like advice on which pendant to get.

I have: mini rose de noel MOP earrings in YG, two butterfly earrings in MOP and RG, and 3 flower mini frivole earrings in YG. I love them all, but now want to find a pendant that would go with them? They are all so different, but any ideas? Doesn't have to be VCA. But I was thinking the MOP two butterfly pendant in RG, as it will still complement the YG earrings.

I have the pave vintage Alhambra in YG and a magic MOP pendant in YG, but I don't think the quatrefoil clover motif goes with those earring designs.

Any feedback appreciated!

Have you considered the TWO-BUTTERFLY YG PAVÉ PENDANT? The diamonds will match easily with any of the mentioned earrings.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Anyone else dealing with the US website for days? Argh!

 

[BigAkoya]

Hello fellow VCA lovers! I would like advice on which pendant to get.

I have: mini rose de noel MOP earrings in YG, two butterfly earrings in MOP and RG, and 3 flower mini frivole earrings in YG. I love them all, but now want to find a pendant that would go with them? They are all so different, but any ideas? Doesn't have to be VCA. But I was thinking the MOP two butterfly pendant in RG, as it will still complement the YG earrings.

I have the pave vintage Alhambra in YG and a magic MOP pendant in YG, but I don't think the quatrefoil clover motif goes with those earring designs.

Any feedback appreciated!

Hi! I agree the Alhambra quatrefoil does not go with it. I vote the Cosmos pave pendant. I think it will go great with all your pieces. The flower is soft with rounded petals (vs. Lotus which has sharp and pointier harsher petals).

 

[wenlet]

Anyone else dealing with the US website for days? Argh!

yes wtf is going on!? It just doesn’t load anything other than the top logo most of the time