VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

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Hello dears~
So far I have a sweet alhambra rose gold bracelet, a perlee signature ring in rose gold and a vintage alhambra MOP pendant in yellow gold. Id like to add another VCA piece to my collection, but it has to be daily wearable, gold (no stones) because I like to shower, sleep with my daily jewelry (except rings, i don't bother to take bracelets or pendants out). Out of the 3 pieces i currently have, the vintage alhambra pendant is my least used because i cant shower with it so that is a killer for me. What do you guys suggest looking into? Thanks~
The guilloche pendant? It’s lovely and very close to the style/use of your current one, but good for daily wear, unless you’re stacking necklaces then maybe the regular gold pendant?
 
Hello dears~
So far I have a sweet alhambra rose gold bracelet, a perlee signature ring in rose gold and a vintage alhambra MOP pendant in yellow gold. Id like to add another VCA piece to my collection, but it has to be daily wearable, gold (no stones) because I like to shower, sleep with my daily jewelry (except rings, i don't bother to take bracelets or pendants out). Out of the 3 pieces i currently have, the vintage alhambra pendant is my least used because i cant shower with it so that is a killer for me. What do you guys suggest looking into? Thanks~

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I would just wear and enjoy your MOP pendant, including in the shower. Eventually (probably after years, not months) it'll be visibly shrunken and you can pay a little to get the MOP replaced.

For me, part of the appeal of buying branded jewelry is knowing that it can be repaired. I can't stand having things I don't use, so I would just wear, enjoy, and repair when the time comes, rinse & repeat :flowers:
 
Hello everyone I need some help. For those of you who have the Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace, did you have an extender added or kept it’s original chain length? I’m curious how short 16.54 inches looks like on without an extender and if anyone has had an extender added at VCA what that looks like as well. You see pictures all over here and IG but cannot tell if anyone has had it altered. Thanks in advance!!
 
Hello everyone I need some help. For those of you who have the Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace, did you have an extender added or kept it’s original chain length? I’m curious how short 16.54 inches looks like on without an extender and if anyone has had an extender added at VCA what that looks like as well. You see pictures all over here and IG but cannot tell if anyone has had it altered. Thanks in advance!!

This isn’t the best photo but you can get an idea: the mini lotus is the original length of 8 in per chain and the holiday pendant is extended 2 in total to 9 in per chain. I think where they fall would be a function of your neck circumference too? Mine is about 12.75 in at the base, for reference. You might also experience chain twisting while you wear it, which usually happens to me and the pendant shifts upwards over time if you don’t adjust.

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Hello everyone I need some help. For those of you who have the Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace, did you have an extender added or kept it’s original chain length? I’m curious how short 16.54 inches looks like on without an extender and if anyone has had an extender added at VCA what that looks like as well. You see pictures all over here and IG but cannot tell if anyone has had it altered. Thanks in advance!!
I'm debating this exact thing but already have a removable extender to wear at 17.5 and 18.5 in addition to the 14.5 and 16.5 (see separate thread). Jus fyi the 14.5 jump ring is not visible when wearing at 18.5 though probably would be if going to 20 inches.

For me the consideration is what length will I wear it most of the time. If you get the permanent extension and usually wear it at 16.5, you will have 2 inches of chain hanging off which I find a bit annoying.

With the removable, you can have it with no chain hanging off whatever length u want. The one I have is an extremely good match look wise and also 18k WG. Feel free to pm if u want deets.
 
This isn’t the best photo but you can get an idea: the mini lotus is the original length of 8 in per chain and the holiday pendant is extended 2 in total to 9 in per chain. I think where they fall would be a function of your neck circumference too? Mine is about 12.75 in at the base, for reference. You might also experience chain twisting while you wear it, which usually happens to me and the pendant shifts upwards over time if you don’t adjust.

View attachment 5058743
Love love love your mini lotus! Is that extended but worn at the original length or u didn't extend at all?
 
This isn’t the best photo but you can get an idea: the mini lotus is the original length of 8 in per chain and the holiday pendant is extended 2 in total to 9 in per chain. I think where they fall would be a function of your neck circumference too? Mine is about 12.75 in at the base, for reference. You might also experience chain twisting while you wear it, which usually happens to me and the pendant shifts upwards over time if you don’t adjust.

View attachment 5058743

Thank you so much for this!! I’d have to measure my neck circumference but I’m 5’5” 120 lbs so it’s probably below avg or avg size. This helps a lot and I figured with the extender it might move around but I do like the look of it better on the neck. This helps me a lot!
 
Thank you so much for this!! I’d have to measure my neck circumference but I’m 5’5” 120 lbs so it’s probably below avg or avg size. This helps a lot and I figured with the extender it might move around but I do like the look of it better on the neck. This helps me a lot!
Hi! I want to add neck circumference is just one element to consider. The trunk of your neck is where you need to look. This is because regardless of neck circumference, everyone's base of neck varies. Some people have skinny necks, but the base of the neck flares out wider, which means you need a longer necklace. Others have a wider neck circumference, but their base of neck does not flare out, so they would need a shorter length.

Think of your neck as a tree trunk, and the trunk is the necklace would lay. Some tree trunks flare out, while others are straight. Also, depending on your flare, it may cause the pendant to pull up a bit, which then if you made it too short, it will end up creating a choker look. So if you find you have to keep pulling your necklace down, it's too short as your neck trunk probably has a flare. I hope all this neck trunk stuff makes sense, but it matters a lot for short pendants. :biggrin:

I would suggest you try it out for a few days. See where it always ends up laying as you move througout the day. Measure where you want it to be, and ask the SA to adjust according. Don't guess on this stuff if you are picky about lengths (I am super picky). I would also measure it from a fixed point, at the bottom of the hollow of your neck.

Good luck and congrats to you!
 
This isn’t the best photo but you can get an idea: the mini lotus is the original length of 8 in per chain and the holiday pendant is extended 2 in total to 9 in per chain. I think where they fall would be a function of your neck circumference too? Mine is about 12.75 in at the base, for reference. You might also experience chain twisting while you wear it, which usually happens to me and the pendant shifts upwards over time if you don’t adjust.

View attachment 5058743
Hi! I think this is one of the first times I recall seeing a mod shot of mini. Looks great on you!
 
Love love love your mini lotus! Is that extended but worn at the original length or u didn't extend at all?
Thank you! This was the longest original length, 16 in of chain total.

Thank you so much for this!! I’d have to measure my neck circumference but I’m 5’5” 120 lbs so it’s probably below avg or avg size. This helps a lot and I figured with the extender it might move around but I do like the look of it better on the neck. This helps me a lot!
Happy to help! Good luck! :flowers:

Hi! I want to add neck circumference is just one element to consider. The trunk of your neck is where you need to look. This is because regardless of neck circumference, everyone's base of neck varies. Some people have skinny necks, but the base of the neck flares out wider, which means you need a longer necklace. Others have a wider neck circumference, but their base of neck does not flare out, so they would need a shorter length.

Think of your neck as a tree trunk, and the trunk is the necklace would lay. Some tree trunks flare out, while others are straight. Also, depending on your flare, it may cause the pendant to pull up a bit, which then if you made it too short, it will end up creating a choker look. So if you find you have to keep pulling your necklace down, it's too short as your neck trunk probably has a flare. I hope all this neck trunk stuff makes sense, but it matters a lot for short pendants. :biggrin:

I would suggest you try it out for a few days. See where it always ends up laying as you move througout the day. Measure where you want it to be, and ask the SA to adjust according. Don't guess on this stuff if you are picky about lengths (I am super picky). I would also measure it from a fixed point, at the bottom of the hollow of your neck.

Good luck and congrats to you!
I completely agree—just to note I did put the circumference measurement for the base of my neck, close to where the necklace falls.

Hi! I think this is one of the first times I recall seeing a mod shot of mini. Looks great on you!
Thank you! I vacillated a while on whether to get the pendant or the earrings and decided to get the pendant now and the small lotus earrings in the future. There’s always something to add to the wishlist :biggrin:
 
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I am trying to decide one my first VCA piece. I would like to get a bracelet to wear with my watch. I have several watches but mainly wear two watches. The first is a platinum diamond watch, and while a ‘bit much”, I wear it quite a lot. I wear with jeans, anything, I just love the watch. The second is a white gold rolex Cellini. I love that I can switch out the View attachment 5059187View attachment 5059185View attachment 5059187bands. I have so so many bands for this watch. I actually think it is a man’s watch, but I fell in love with it and have had it about 10 years. Clearly two different looks. I am thinking of a simple white gold Alhambra one motif bracelet. What do you guys think?

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Hi VCA lovers! I am new to this forum and ready to start building a VCA collection, at long last! I'm interested in the vintage Alhambra in Onyx, MOP, and gold, and love the onyx pieces with a diamond in the center. Are those currently being made? The VCA website is tricky to navigate. Also, I live between the Rodeo Drive location and the South Coast Plaza location. Where do you recommend I shop? Who are your favorite SAs at these locations? I'd like to build a relationship with a trusted SA who can help me build a collection to last a lifetime!

Thanks in advance! Love all the beautiful pieces on this thread!
 
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Hi VCA lovers! I am new to this forum and ready to start building a VCA collection, at long last! I'm interested in the vintage Alhambra in Onyx, MOP, and gold, and love the onyx pieces with a diamond in the center. Are those currently being made? The VCA website is tricky to navigate. Also, I live between the Rodeo Drive location and the South Coast Plaza location. Where do you recommend I shop? Who are your favorite SAs at these locations? I'd like to build a relationship with a trusted SA who can help me build a collection to last a lifetime!

Thanks in advance! Love all the beautiful pieces on this thread!
The vintage alhambra onyx pieces with the diamonds in the center - the holiday pendant and the earrings - were limited edition pieces a few years back (2016 for the holiday pendant and around 2017 for the earrings). They are not currently being produced so would need to be purchased on the second hand market
 
I am trying to decide one my first VCA piece. I would like to get a bracelet to wear with my watch. I have several watches but mainly wear two watches. The first is a platinum diamond watch, and while a ‘bit much”, I wear it quite a lot. I wear with jeans, anything, I just love the watch. The second is a white gold rolex Cellini. I love that I can switch out the View attachment 5059187View attachment 5059185View attachment 5059187bands. I have so so many bands for this watch. I actually think it is a man’s watch, but I fell in love with it and have had it about 10 years. Clearly two different looks. I am thinking of a simple white gold Alhambra one motif bracelet. What do you guys think?

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Hmm... both watches are two different looks, but if I could only have one VCA bracelet to work with both watches, I would choose a WG Vintage 5 motif.

Here is why:
I think the single motif will rotate to the bottom (unless you wear it super tight). I also think the single motif will get lost next to your Rolex on top of rotating to the bottom, so it will then look like you're wearing just a chain, no bling.

I think the 5 motif will look great next to your Rolex. For your platinum watch (has a Victorian vibe to me), depending on how big the dial is, I am thinking you might be able to wear it with a 5 motif and create a look as if it were two stacked bracelets, not so much a watch and a bracelet look. It's hard to see though, and I think you would need to wear your platinum watch to try it on. The problem is the Alhambra motif is bold, and the piece itself is thick and your watch is very dainty (the dial looks really tiny). I worry the 5 motif will take away from the delicate look of your platinum watch, so I really think it's a stretch and probably will not look good.

Does the bracelet have to be VCA? Seeing you like the dainty look, how about a Tiffany DBTY bracelet? It has diamonds stationed around, so it's not just one motif that will rotate to the bottom. I think it's delicate enough to go with your platinum watch, yet classic enough to go with your Rolex... little sparkles of light all around your wrist.

Here is the bracelet I am talking about. The diamonds come in different sizes, but here is an example:
Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® bracelet in platinum. | Tiffany & Co.

Just my two cents for some ideas... good luck!
 
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