VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[Prada Prince]

I like #2 and #4 too

 

[lolakitten]

@Storm Spirit I like #4 as well.

 

[nicole0612]

I like #2 & #5.

 

[winks]

wohohoo the Zurich store finally got the WG alhambra ear rings in stock & can pick them up on Saturday!

 

[BigAkoya]

Thank you so much for the links. The large size looks great because they don't look like a cross to me but maybe they are bigger than Lotus?

I might try them on at their boutique later.

It's actually not a cross. Today, the marquise cut diamond represents leaves of a vine. Earlier, the Victoria collection represented Xs and Os (hugs and kisses). Of course, one can interpret anything as they wish.

It's a beautiful collection, and I love the symbolism of the Xs and Os, especially when seen in the Victoria Alternating ring (aka. eternity ring).

Just FYI to share a perspective of this collection. It's not a cross, although Tiffany does do a beautiful cross too.

 

[BigAkoya]

I'm in the process of purchasing a carnelian bracelet but can't make it to a boutique anytime soon (the photos below are sent by the boutique). The shades of carnelian I've seen before these, were either brownish (like no. 1), or orange (like no. 3).

I think I'm leaning towards no. 4 as it looks like a nice burgundy red, but I'm not sure if it would be too dark IRL - does carnelian come in any redder shades than this? Which one would you pick?

I like 3, the one you say looks red-orange. I think it pops the most and glows.
Red is a really tough color to purchase for stones because a true red (red without any drop of yellow or blue) is nearly impossible to find in nature.

Here are my thoughts on choosing a red...
- I selected the bracelet based on the first photo. This is because looking at the gold metal in the second photo, I think the lighting is too bright; hence the Carnelian is not a true view of what your bracelet will look like in real life, in everyday lighting.
- We live our lives mostly indoors, with artificial lighting. Red turns dark indoors, so your bracelet will be "darker" most of the time, and certainly at night. When I choose red stones (e.g. ruby), I like to look at the stones under the worse light. Of course a stone looks wonderful in great lighting, but that's not our normal environment. Hence I like to see a stone at its worst so I know what I am getting.
- In the absence of a perfect red, I would choose red with a drop of yellow (e.g. red-orange) over red with a drop of blue+yellow (e.g. burgundy). Yellow pops, and I think it's the red-orange in the carnelian that makes the bracelet pop.
- I personally do not like deep reds or burgundy at all. Those reds looks dark indoors and recede. I prefer a color that pops.
- In my experience with the color red, a little drop of yellow makes a huge difference in brighting the red. It makes the red look like a fiery bright red sunset, which is how I would want my carnelian to look.

That's just my preference of course, and I wanted to share my thoughts to help you decide.
In the end, color is what you like... do you want a deep dark bracelet, do you want a brighter red-orange bracelet?
Whatever bracelet you choose, once you take it home and do not have other bracelets to compare, I am sure you will love it!

Hope this helps. Congrats to you on your future bracelet!

 

[Storm Spirit]

I like 3, the one you say looks red-orange. I think it pops the most and glows.
Red is a really tough color to purchase for stones because a true red (red without any drop of yellow or blue) is nearly impossible to find in nature.

Here are my thoughts on choosing a red...
- I selected the bracelet based on the first photo. This is because looking at the gold metal in the second photo, I think the lighting is too bright; hence the Carnelian is not a true view of what your bracelet will look like in real life, in everyday lighting.
- We live our lives mostly indoors, with artificial lighting. Red turns dark indoors, so your bracelet will be "darker" most of the time, and certainly at night. When I choose red stones (e.g. ruby), I like to look at the stones under the worse light. Of course a stone looks wonderful in great lighting, but that's not our normal environment. Hence I like to see a stone at its worst so I know what I am getting.
- In the absence of a perfect red, I would choose red with a drop of yellow (e.g. red-orange) over red with a drop of blue+yellow (e.g. burgundy). Yellow pops, and I think it's the red-orange in the carnelian that makes the bracelet pop.
- I personally do not like deep reds or burgundy at all. Those reds looks dark indoors and recede. I prefer a color that pops.
- In my experience with the color red, a little drop of yellow makes a huge difference in brighting the red. It makes the red look like a fiery bright red sunset, which is how I would want my carnelian to look.

That's just my preference of course, and I wanted to share my thoughts to help you decide.
In the end, color is what you like... do you want a deep dark bracelet, do you want a brighter red-orange bracelet?
Whatever bracelet you choose, once you take it home and do not have other bracelets to compare, I am sure you will love it!

Hope this helps. Congrats to you on your future bracelet!

This makes SO much sense!! Maybe I've been looking for the wrong shade all this time... looking at pictures online, I liked the look of burgundy as it's a rich, saturated red. But you make a great point about the lighting - most of the time I'm indoors, and while I like burgundy, I don't think I'd like it as much if it looked too dark (like onyx).

This photo was taken in store a few weeks ago:

I forgot to take photos of them on the tray The one on the left was a darker red on the tray, whereas the one on the right was very very orange, and looked almost plasticky. I was surprised to find myself preferring the one on the right on me, but wasn't sure if it was because of the lighting. I didn't want an "orange bracelet" so I decided to continue searching as these were the only ones available.

Maybe an orangey red is actually what I should be looking for Your advice has been super helpful, thank you so much

 

[BigAkoya]

This makes SO much sense!! Maybe I've been looking for the wrong shade all this time... looking at pictures online, I liked the look of burgundy as it's a rich, saturated red. But you make a great point about the lighting - most of the time I'm indoors, and while I like burgundy, I don't think I'd like it as much if it looked too dark (like onyx).

This photo was taken in store a few weeks ago:

I forgot to take photos of them on the tray The one on the left was a darker red on the tray, whereas the one on the right was very very orange, and looked almost plasticky. I was surprised to find myself preferring the one on the right on me, but wasn't sure if it was because of the lighting. I didn't want an "orange bracelet" so I decided to continue searching as these were the only ones available.

Maybe an orangey red is actually what I should be looking for Your advice has been super helpful, thank you so much

I am so glad it helped. I love the bracelet on the right! It pops, and my eye goes right to that shade first as it says "look at me." The bracelet on the left is secondary and to me, fades into the background when competing in the photo.

Carnelian is not meant to be a true red (that would belong to a ruby or red spinel).
To me, the beauty of Carnelian is that it glows a fiery orange-red, the color of a beautiful sunset!

 

[BigAkoya]

This makes SO much sense!! Maybe I've been looking for the wrong shade all this time... looking at pictures online, I liked the look of burgundy as it's a rich, saturated red. But you make a great point about the lighting - most of the time I'm indoors, and while I like burgundy, I don't think I'd like it as much if it looked too dark (like onyx).

This photo was taken in store a few weeks ago:

I forgot to take photos of them on the tray The one on the left was a darker red on the tray, whereas the one on the right was very very orange, and looked almost plasticky. I was surprised to find myself preferring the one on the right on me, but wasn't sure if it was because of the lighting. I didn't want an "orange bracelet" so I decided to continue searching as these were the only ones available.

Maybe an orangey red is actually what I should be looking for Your advice has been super helpful, thank you so much

I have one more thought if I may...
On your comment of the stones looking plasticky...

Any natural stone looking plasticky or fake is perfection to me. Nature is never perfect, yet we seek perfection in stones. That's the allure of buying gemstones. As an example, emeralds are generally included, and a very fine, clean emerald is rare and pricey. I would love it if someone said to me, "is your emerald real, it looks so clean, like green glass." That is the best compliment I could ever receive on my ring. I would say, "Yes ma'am, it's real, it's a fine Colombian emerald."

So your plasticky looking, glowy stone, set in a gorgeous VCA bracelet, is what I would call nature's perfection. Just food for thought.

 

[eletons]

It's actually not a cross. Today, the marquise cut diamond represents leaves of a vine. Earlier, the Victoria collection represented Xs and Os (hugs and kisses). Of course, one can interpret anything as they wish.

It's a beautiful collection, and I love the symbolism of the Xs and Os, especially when seen in the Victoria Alternating ring (aka. eternity ring).

Just FYI to share a perspective of this collection. It's not a cross, although Tiffany does do a beautiful cross too.

View attachment 5275028
View attachment 5275027

Thank you for the information. It does remind me of the cross. Anyway, I will try them on to see if I like them.

I also contemplating on VA pave earrings. I think I might drop the Idea of having lotus earrings because they are a bit heavy and it seems that VA pave is more office appropriate. Not sure if Frivole mini pave is better or VA pave earrings.

 

[Storm Spirit]

I am so glad it helped. I love the bracelet on the right! It pops, and my eye goes right to that shade first as it says "look at me." The bracelet on the left is secondary and to me, fades into the background when competing in the photo.

Carnelian is not meant to be a true red (that would belong to a ruby or red spinel).
To me, the beauty of Carnelian is that it glows a fiery orange-red, the color of a beautiful sunset!

I have one more thought if I may...
On your comment of the stones looking plasticky...

Any natural stone looking plasticky or fake is perfection to me. Nature is never perfect, yet we seek perfection in stones. That's the allure of buying gemstones. As an example, emeralds are generally included, and a very fine, clean emerald is rare and pricey. I would love it if someone said to me, "is your emerald real, it looks so clean, like green glass." That is the best compliment I could ever receive on my ring. I would say, "Yes ma'am, it's real, it's a fine Colombian emerald."

So your plasticky looking, glowy stone, set in a gorgeous VCA bracelet, is what I would call nature's perfection. Just food for thought.

If only I'd known this weeks ago! Until yesterday, I hadn't taken into account that the darker reds will appear almost black under most lighting... I'm now looking for orangish red carnelian Hopefully the boutique will have a few options; I'm in no particular rush but I'd like to find one sooner rather than later

 

[BigAkoya]

If only I'd known this weeks ago! Until yesterday, I hadn't taken into account that the darker reds will appear almost black under most lighting... I'm now looking for orangish red carnelian Hopefully the boutique will have a few options; I'm in no particular rush but I'd like to find one sooner rather than later

When you try them on, ask to go to their back area where they ring up your purchases. Or go to a corner and face the corner, away from light. I always like to see a colored stone at it's worst before I buy. I don't think a dark burgundy carnelian will look black black, but it will be definitely be darker. Some people love burgundy though. You'll know in a heartbeat what color you like and your preference.

I have to tell you a fun story... when I was upgrading my engagement ring, I had the SA bring in three rings that I pre-selected before I flew in to the boutique. Of course all the diamonds looked great in the Tiffany store lighting. I narrowed it down to one ring (I have the Tiffany classic solitaire). To be sure, I asked to see the diamond in the back, with low lighting. Then, I also asked to see the diamond outside, in natural light. The SA said checked with the manager and said she was not permitted to escort us outside, it had to be a security guard. We then had to wait for a security guard to accompany me and my husband to go outside (yeah... I brought hubby this time to jewelry shop as it was a big purchase). We selected the ring, left it there to be resized, and left the boutique. I told my husband, "that was so nice Tiffany had a bodyguard to protect us to go outside" My husband then quickly replied, " no honey, the bodyguard was not to protect us, it was to protect the ring!" He was right, it made me crack up.

So many stories when buying jewelry... these are the great memories of each piece. Every purchase is an adventure.
Good luck to you. Planning and buying is half the fun. I am sure gut will tell you exactly which shade you like!

 

[880]

@Storm Spirit, could you pls take action pics when you go try on the carnelian. I’d love to get a sense for how the different reds look on a real person. I think @A bottle of Red purchased a carnelian tiger eye six motif (my apologies if my memory is faulty) and it was very helpful to see the colors worn
hope you fall in love with the perfect one!

 

[missie1]

I like the dark oxblood ones.

 

[A bottle of Red]

Yes i have a carnelian tiger eye 6 motif & a carnelian rg guilloche bracelet! The necklace has a bit darker red the bracelet has a hint of the orange in bright sun but both are stunning.