VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[Dextersmom]

Hi everyone I would like to get your opinions as I'm on the fence about returning a VCA necklace I bought a month ago.

So I'm pretty new to the VCA brand and only got my first piece about a month ago. I bought the single vintage Guilloche pendant as my first VCA piece. This is meant to be my "everyday necklace" which is why I didn't go for the other precious stones because I can't wear those in the shower.

When I first saw this guilloche pendant I fell in love with it and after thinking about it for a couple of days I went ahead and bought it online. I didn't manage to try it on in store as we were still in lockdown. I honestly thought it was the prettiest pendant when I first received it but fast forward to a month later........I suddenly just don't think it's as pretty? I'm not sure if it's just me who doesn't find it that pretty anymore or if I'm being swayed by the people around me who have said it looks "too big" for my frame (I'm 152cm so roughly 5 feet). Should I return this? I'm eyeing another pendant which I thinkkkkk may look better on me for everyday wear - i.e. the mini frivole in yellow gold.

Should I return the guilloche pendant and get the mini frivole? Would it be too much if I were to layer both the mini frivole and guilloche pendant?

I have attached some pictures of how the necklace looks like on me. Thanks everyone!

View attachment 5212908

View attachment 5212909

View attachment 5212911

I myself prefer and gravitate towards dainty and smaller jewelry pieces, so I kind of get where you are coming from in that you don't want the pendant to look too much for your frame. Honestly, though, it looks really lovely and feminine on you, imo.

 

[A bottle of Red]

Hi! I love that combo! Last time I was at the boutique, I tried on the 16 motif long magic necklace in WG (MOP, Chalcedony, GMOP). The SA then also showed me the YG Tiger Eye/Carnelian one, and wow it was gorgeous! You probably know by now I'm a WG only gal, but if I were a YG gal, that stone combo rocks! The red carnelian against the tiger eye with YG is a perfect combo.

This necklace is easy to wear casual as you have seen from @880 who looks fabulous in hers.
For your carnelian/tiger combo, the colors go great with jeans, and any color blouse except green.
Red is really a neutral, it works with everything (except green). Red is also bold, and red alone can get a bit in your face sometimes, but the tiger eye softens it and makes it so warm. The carnelian red and tiger eye to me is just a gorgeous combo.

I am thinking of getting the WG 16 motif. My idea is to wear my WG 20 motif and then layer on the WG 16 motif. I was surfing for photos on this idea, and I did find the 20 motif layered with the 16 motif. I love the look, but guess what, the photo I fouind is your carnelian and tiger eye combo! Is this photo not the bomb? I love it!

My point sharing this with you is you will rock in that necklace. The color combo is stunning.
I can't wait to see your gorgeous necklace! Hope your sunburn gets better soon.

View attachment 5213477

Oh that is amazing! I am much too short for long necklaces but these two stones work so well together!
Thank you for the warning about green; i have exactly 1 green item in my wardrobe though lol.
It's funny bec i know instinctively what colors/styles look amazing on dh but on me.... nope no idea (well except v necks bec i feel a little less short in those) idk why .

 

[Anabunny]

Hi everyone I would like to get your opinions as I'm on the fence about returning a VCA necklace I bought a month ago.

So I'm pretty new to the VCA brand and only got my first piece about a month ago. I bought the single vintage Guilloche pendant as my first VCA piece. This is meant to be my "everyday necklace" which is why I didn't go for the other precious stones because I can't wear those in the shower.

When I first saw this guilloche pendant I fell in love with it and after thinking about it for a couple of days I went ahead and bought it online. I didn't manage to try it on in store as we were still in lockdown. I honestly thought it was the prettiest pendant when I first received it but fast forward to a month later........I suddenly just don't think it's as pretty? I'm not sure if it's just me who doesn't find it that pretty anymore or if I'm being swayed by the people around me who have said it looks "too big" for my frame (I'm 152cm so roughly 5 feet). Should I return this? I'm eyeing another pendant which I thinkkkkk may look better on me for everyday wear - i.e. the mini frivole in yellow gold.

Should I return the guilloche pendant and get the mini frivole? Would it be too much if I were to layer both the mini frivole and guilloche pendant?

I have attached some pictures of how the necklace looks like on me. Thanks everyone!

View attachment 5212908

View attachment 5212909

View attachment 5212911

It happened to me too that after purchasing a piece that I thought was the prettiest thing in the world, a big ticket item too, I suddenly can’t stand it anymore. I think your heart is telling you this is not something you want to keep in your life. With jewelry, I feel obligated to wear them often because I paid a lot for them, and rationally it doesn’t make sense to not use them a lot. But then when I have to wear something that I don’t care for all the time, it’s torture. It’s difficult with jewelry, it feels like adopting a pet, long term responsibility....

 

[880]

thank you for your kind words @mikimoto007! I was thinking about it in the context of my other daily bracelets which are quite large and in the context of my preference of wearing necklaces against bare skin framed by a neckline.

In Rome I did try on the PG diamond Bulgari tubogas serpenti necklace, which was very expensive, but a relatively good price, and DH liked it. I held back bc

1. I d like to buy through my local SA
2. I wasn’t sure if it would be too matchy matchy with my Bulgari bracelet, seen in part in the first pic. (note to self not to leave jewelry in safe deposit box but wear it traveling — there was a lot of bling everywhere, and the parts of italian cities that we were in felt as safe as NY. maybe it is a reaction to being stuck inside for the duration of covid, but both locals and tourists seemed to be more blinged out than pre covid times. IDK. anyway, I prefer to buy jewlery when I am wearing my usual complement so see if the new piece ‘plays well’ with what I already have.
3. I’ve never bought major jewelry abroad and though Bulgari Rome and VCA Milan assured me that they would expedite VAT (I think they both said a representative would meet me at the airport but not sure if that makes sense since I told them I was flying out of a different city Venice), I think that I would have to declare and pay customs and state tax in JFK, so not sure if it’s a wash on price. However, Bulgari also offered an additional friends discount. Though the white agate liane was quoted as 122K euro including tax, and SA said with VAT back, I would be out 100k euro flat.
4. I promised myself after my 2021 avatar bracelet and the Bulgari diamond tubogas bracelet, that I wouldn’t buy anything else for the rest of the calendar year
5. I don’t see the Bulgari necklace being sold soon; it’s a specific taste, so I think I have time. What I loved was you could adjust the opening snake head biting its tail, so this was a bit like the liane. Actually, I don’t see the liane being sold anytime soon either; in fact, while I was in Italy the SA also texted me another variation was available (blue and green) that I think was available in my home store.

@A bottle of Red, I forgot to add, re the six motif, if you want a more demure look for a day, just tuck the two lowest motifs inside a neckline, and voila, a simple princess length choker. no one really notices the dangling chains of the two hidden charms. Here my hair hides some of the other charms, but you get the idea. . .

if you want to tone it down, a light grey and white knit does that

if you want to amplify the six motif and draw more attention to it, wearing it over a solid black fabric does that. (I prefer not to wear it this way, but that it simply personal preference

 

[A bottle of Red]

I love how different it looks in each photo. Cool & soft on the grey; bold and striking on the black; like a hidden secret with the bottom motifs tucked away.
So beautiful!
Let us know if you get any of those necklaces when you get home!

 

[Violet Bleu]

Hi everyone! I’m on the fence about getting the new holiday pendant that is out. I want a necklace to match with vintage pavé earrings in rose gold. I’m stuck between the following four choices:

1. SO a 10 motif in GMOP (rose gold) since I already have the 5 motif
2. Purchase the vintage GMOP pendant to match my 5 motif
3. Purchase the magic GMOP pendant
4. Purchase the holiday pendant since it’s rose gold and one of my favorite colors, pink

Any one have words of wisdom for me? In the past, I feel like I made a lot of mistakes with my VCA purchases and bought smaller pieces that I grew tired of quickly. So I am giving this decision a lot more thought. I absolutely love my pavé earrings and wear them nearly every day. So I want to feel the same way about my pendant purchase!

 

[Anabunny]

I'm also in need of words of wisdom here: I got the pave pink sapphire two butterfly ring, and can't makeup my mind about which butterfly earrings to go with them. I don't like how the pink sapphire disappears on my ear, and I dont like the two diamond version because they look a bit heavy on me. I'm contemplating getting the MOP version or rose gold pave special order. Which pair do you think will go well with my pink sapphire ring? A million thanks.

 

[4LV]

I'm also in need of words of wisdom here: I got the pave pink sapphire two butterfly ring, and can't makeup my mind about which butterfly earrings to go with them. I don't like how the pink sapphire disappears on my ear, and I dont like the two diamond version because they look a bit heavy on me. I'm contemplating getting the MOP version or rose gold pave special order. Which pair do you think will go well with my pink sapphire ring? A million thanks.

Are you set on getting butterfly earring? I have the dilemma reversed. I have the pink sapphire frivole earrings and pendant,
thinking of getting adding the pink sapphire BTF butterfly ring, but I have a yellow sapphire BTF butterfly ring already. What to do? Lol.
If you are not set on butterfly earrings then get the pink sapphire frivole earrings. That would be a match in heaven! as least to me.

 

[Anabunny]

Are you set on getting butterfly earring? I have the dilemma reversed. I have the pink sapphire frivole earrings and pendant,
thinking of getting adding the pink sapphire BTF butterfly ring, but I have a yellow sapphire BTF butterfly ring already. What to do? Lol.
If you are not set on butterfly earrings then get the pink sapphire frivole earrings. That would be a match in heaven! as least to me.

I tried the rose gold frivole earrings but didn’t like it. Butterfly earrings are perfect for the shape of my ears. Right now I do have other white gold pave earrings to go with the pink ring, but I want butterflies

 

[4LV]

Well then go with your heart! butterflies they are! I heard if you get one pair of butterfly earrings, then you can order other color singles. This way you don't have to worry which ones to have. Get both of them and wear which ever pair fit you mood on the day. Lol

 

[A bottle of Red]

Ok i took a quick photo, excuse the crappy sweatshirt (about to do hmwk & dinner w my kids)
It glows a lot more in sunshine but cloudy today

 

[Anabunny]

Well then go with your heart! butterflies they are! I heard if you get one pair of butterfly earrings, then you can order other color singles. This way you don't have to worry which ones to have. Get both of them and wear which ever pair fit you mood on the day. Lol

Only one pair, I’m frugal.

 

[BigAkoya]

Hi everyone! I’m on the fence about getting the new holiday pendant that is out. I want a necklace to match with vintage pavé earrings in rose gold. I’m stuck between the following four choices:

1. SO a 10 motif in GMOP (rose gold) since I already have the 5 motif
2. Purchase the vintage GMOP pendant to match my 5 motif
3. Purchase the magic GMOP pendant
4. Purchase the holiday pendant since it’s rose gold and one of my favorite colors, pink

Any one have words of wisdom for me? In the past, I feel like I made a lot of mistakes with my VCA purchases and bought smaller pieces that I grew tired of quickly. So I am giving this decision a lot more thought. I absolutely love my pavé earrings and wear them nearly every day. So I want to feel the same way about my pendant purchase!

Hi! Here are my thoughts...

First, I would not get the HP. You're on the fence, so you don't love it. There is a lot of hype now around this pendant which adds to the allure of "I have to have it." Yet even with all the hype going on now, you're still on the fence and didn't drink the Kool-Aid. If there was no hype and the pendant was available anytime, my gut is you may not even be interested. On the color, the pink to me, does not work with GMOP. The HP pink is more casual fun/Barbie pink while GMOP is more softer/elegant iridescent stone. It's like putting a white porcelain motif with WMOP; it doesn't go even though both are in the white family. So, for me, I would pass on the HP unless you love the stone itself, but not to match your GMOP. You also mentioned you purchased smaller pieces that you grew tired of. I have a feeling the HP will be another one of these pieces.

Now... what to get to go with your earrings and GMOP bracelet.
I love GMOP and agree 100% with your idea to get more GMOP pieces to match I love sets, and one can be wearing shorts and still look chic because of nice matching sets. To me, matching set pulls any outfit together.

Here are my thoughts on the different types of pendants and necklaces. Necklaces and pendants are not the same, and each creates a different look and vibe. To me, a short pendant is more demure; it's basically a charm on a chain. Often times, short pendants disappear when seen on people in real life vs. looking at an online photo that zooms in right to the neck area, which is not real life. I think sometimes we stare online at mod shots all day long and forget how small a pendant really is. A necklace packs more of a punch, and since the 10 motif is on your list, I would get the 10 motif over a pendant. A 10 motif is gorgeous and has presence; you can't miss it. To your comment on smaller pieces you grew tired of, I think you will grow tire of VA GMOP pendant and find it lacking presence (just a gut feel here). Of course, you may love the single pendant demure look, so these are just my thoughts for you to consider. I think the 10 motif would be gorgeous with your earrings and bracelet. The one thing I will say about a 10 motif is it may be hard to wear. I think the 10 motif looks best with an open neckline and against skin. This is how you see most people model their 10 motifs in photos. But, that rules out round/scoop necklines, t-shirts, casual athleisure wear. Which then translates into the 10 motif looking best worn with "blouses," which means a 10 motif requires a bit dressier outfit than t-shirt/striped shirt with short/jeans.

For me, I like wearing my VCA with tshirts/striped shirts/scoop neck cashmere sweaters... very casual, all of which I think does not go well with a 10 motif as it competes with the neckline.

Which brings me to a suggestion..
On long necklaces... since you mentioned the long magic pendant, I assume you wear long necklaces.
May I suggest considering the 20 motif? For me, I would get a 20 motif RG GMOP. That would be my choice! I think a long necklace is such a versatile piece. When worn with a tee, it brings a casual elegance to the outfit. When wore with a nice outfit, it adds glamour. The 20 motif is fun yet it has a lot of presence. A 20 motif in RG GMOP... wow... that would be am amazing piece, one that can be worn casual or dressy, very versatile.

One final thought is buy what you really love, even though it may mean waiting to get it.
VCA is great in that there are so many options to mix and match. However, the downside is that sometimes, a person may purchase a piece just to have something now vs. wait a bit to have what they truly want. I say this because you mentioned you purchased smaller pieces that you tire of quickly. I sense you need pieces with more presence and make a statement.
For me, if I can't have it all (which I can't ), I would rather have only one gorgeous piece of bling that I love and wear everyday as my signature look vs. many smaller pieces of bling that yes, I can rotate wearing, but none really pack a punch or make a statement. Just a thought.

Jewelry styles are all preference of course which is why Alhambra comes in so many options.
I wanted to share my two cents so you have other perspectives. All VCA is gorgeous. I hope this was helpful.

 

[BigAkoya]

I'm also in need of words of wisdom here: I got the pave pink sapphire two butterfly ring, and can't makeup my mind about which butterfly earrings to go with them. I don't like how the pink sapphire disappears on my ear, and I dont like the two diamond version because they look a bit heavy on me. I'm contemplating getting the MOP version or rose gold pave special order. Which pair do you think will go well with my pink sapphire ring? A million thanks.

I would make this fun and play up the butterfly theme with different colors of butterfly.
Butterflies are whimsical, and everyone knows butterflies come in different colors. No two butterflies are exact, they are all different; each butterfly is a beautiful and colorful unique work of nature.

I'm not a butterfly gal at this point, but if I were, I would be sure my butterfly earrings do not match!
I would want different butterflies on my ears. I think that's the beauty of this collection, and it reflects the uniqeness of butterflies and you. Two matching pave butterfly earrings are nice, but matching butterflies are a bit expected. Non-matching butterfly earrings are magical. Non-matching earrings would would also be consistent with the non-matching butterfly theme in your ring.

For earrings, I would get the Pave Diamond and Yellow Sapphire earrings. It will be a nice compliment to your Pave Diamond and Pink Sapphire ring. In both pieces (earrings and ring), one butterfly is diamond pave, and the other butterfly is a colored butterfly. It stays in the diamond/colored gemstone/butterfly theme.

The downside is if you did not like the pink sapphire on your ears, my gut is you will not like yellow sapphire either. Yellow stones can be hard to wear near the face.

If no yellow sapphires, then plan B...
I would SO earrings, but with one butterfly being the diamond pave (as in your ring) and the second butterfly being WMOP.
This would still follow the "one diamond butterfly, one stone butterfly" theme. Basically, I would ask VCA for the RG MOP and pave ring, but made into earrings. I would not get the all MOP version as I think it might be a bit boring when worn with your pave/sapphire BTF ring. I think you need bling in at least one ear. Plus, the rule is no matching butterflies... each butterfly needs to be unique!

Here are two photos to help visualize. The photo on the left is the RG ring, but visualize that as a SO made into earrings. The photo on the right is your ring.

The look will be butterflies floating around, each butterfly being different, as nature intended.
Just my two cents. I hope this was helpful. Good luck!

 

[BigAkoya]

Are you set on getting butterfly earring? I have the dilemma reversed. I have the pink sapphire frivole earrings and pendant,
thinking of getting adding the pink sapphire BTF butterfly ring, but I have a yellow sapphire BTF butterfly ring already. What to do? Lol.
If you are not set on butterfly earrings then get the pink sapphire frivole earrings. That would be a match in heaven! as least to me.

Oh oh oh oh... this one is a no brainer for me! I want to chime in please!
For me, I would get the Frivole RG Pave Diamond BTF ring. It will complete your Frivole set of three of pieces. Wow.. how gorgeous will that be. You may already have the ring though. That ring just pops and is so blingy.

If you arleady have the Frivole pave BTF ring or don't like it, then if you love the pink sapphire butterfly, I would get it.
I buy multiples of things I love all the time, so it's not crazy at all. To me, it's a perfect decision! If you love it, you will wear it!
I love the Frivole pave BTF ring, and if that ring came in different colored gemstones (e.g. all sapphires, all rubies), I would collect them (and the matching earrings too)!

The one thing I do want to point out about the pink sapphire butterfly ring is that the diamonds are set in WG. However, your Frivole diamonds are set in RG, and while it's often called the pink sapphire Frivole, the pink sapphire is just one small stone. Most of the Frivole flower is diamonds, set in RG. Hence it may not be a great match with the WG butterfly ring which the diamonds are set in WG. I have not seen it in real life, and you may have and love it. If you love it, get it.

There is nothing wrong with buying repeats of the same/similar pieces. It's no different than buying the same bag or shoe in multiple colors (I am super guilty of this). If you love the butterfly BTF rings, go for it! Buy it because you love the ring. However, if you are thinking of buying it to match your Frivole, for me, I would skip it. I think the Frivole RG pave ring is a perfect match for your earrings and pendant.

Just my two cents. Hope this helps. I am so excited for you!