VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

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I was wondering if anyone owns the first two cluster frivole rings and how do they wear? Is it practical for everyday wear? How do they compare with the two flower version? I know two flower version is a beloved piece here but I like the idea of a bouquet and some variety with diamonds in 4 flowers ring :smile: “small” frivole size is the ideal size for me and I planning to wear these together with the small frivole earrings. Maybe down the road I might consider 3 flowers cluster earrings… If you don’t own any of these styles, opinions are still welcome… :)
 
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Lailli Mirza posted a video where she calls
Alhambra bracelets as “basic.” She then mentions she only wears her two bracelets and proceeds to open two more Alhambra pieces. I found her comments really irritating. Anyone else agree?
For what it is worth, there is some internet gossip suggesting she is lying about her entire lifestyle and that she is simply a personal shopper. The Alhambra motif in various iterations is worn by celebrities and literal royalty. If that is basic, we aren’t in bad company.
 
For what it is worth, there is some internet gossip suggesting she is lying about her entire lifestyle and that she is simply a personal shopper. The Alhambra motif in various iterations is worn by celebrities and literal royalty. If that is basic, we aren’t in bad company.
I have heard this rumor too but I don’t know what it is based on. I thought she owned her own company? In any case, the hypocrisy was just maddening to me as she bashed people who wear Alhambra bracelets but then still wears hers. I know on social media it seems like “everyone and their mother and their dog wears a Van Cleef bracelet” but in reality I don’t see many people wearing theirs in the wild.
 



I was wondering if anyone owns the first two cluster frivole rings and how do they wear? Is it practical for everyday wear? How do they compare with the two flower version? I know two flower version is a beloved piece here but I like the idea of a bouquet and some variety with diamonds in 4 flowers ring :smile: “small” frivole size is the ideal size for me and I planning to wear these together with the small frivole earrings. Maybe down the road I might consider 3 flowers cluster earrings… If you don’t own any of these styles, opinions are still welcome… :smile:
I think Frivole is a gorgeous collection, and there is no pretty or ugly piece.
It's all preference, and everyone has their own style.
I'll share my thoughts on my preferences, and I am sure there are those who have opinions as well.

The first ring is what I would call the classic "dome cluster ring." It's the "big look for a cheap price" design. This is my least favorite of the three. There are so many tiny little flowers, but because there are so many, you cannot truly identify they are flowers. The eye does not stop to stare at the beautiful Frivole design. It's just a big blob to the eye. That said, some people love dome cluster rings. If you're not familiar with the dome cluster ring design, you may want to google it. To some, it's a cheap look, so dome cluster rings do have a bit of a bad rap. Yes, I know, this is a VCA ring so how can it be called "cheap?" Most people don't know about VCA, much less Frivole. I try to look at pieces as if it were a no name piece. See if looking at it from that perspective changes how you feel about this ring. One word for how the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Costumey.

The second ring is very pretty. The look I see is dainty. If you want dainty, this is it. It may be too dainty, and you may tire of it after a while. Also, while it has diamonds, the diamonds are very tiny, and there are only a few on a tiny single flower. The diamonds take a back seat. The three-flower cluster grabs the eye first with its polished metal. Then the eye says oh, there's second super tiny flower with micro diamonds. That would be the downside to this ring for me. For a dainty look, I like it and think it's quite pretty. I do like that it's a BTF ring which adds character and makes it unique. Another similar look is the Socrates ring, but it's in WG, and I think you may be looking for YG. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Delicate.

The third ring is the original two flower ring. It's a statement ring, and it grabs the eye. There is no mistake they are flowers. It is bold and chic, the opposite of ring #2. The petals are big, so you truly see the Frivole design. There is also a lot of polished metal bling because of the size of the petals (think big mirrors flashing back at you). This is a beautiful ring, lots of flash. The downside to this ring is some people may find it too bold. It is definitely not delicate. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Artistic.

Finally, I want to add the design behind VCA's Frivole is the beautiful artistic petals. Each petal is heart-shaped and 3D angle makes the flower look as if it is blooming. There are tons of flower rings on the market, but I have yet to see another flower ring design even come close to the Frivole design, with its heart-shaped petals and 3D angles.
That beautiful unique design is definitely lost to me in the first cluster ring. It's better in the second ring. The third ring is where the art and beauty of Frivole really shows itself.

Those are my thoughts for each ring. I hope that was helpful.
 
I think Frivole is a gorgeous collection, and there is no pretty or ugly piece.
It's all preference, and everyone has their own style.
I'll share my thoughts on my preferences, and I am sure there are those who have opinions as well.

The first ring is what I would call the classic "dome cluster ring." It's the "big look for a cheap price" design. This is my least favorite of the three. There are so many tiny little flowers, but because there are so many, you cannot truly identify they are flowers. The eye does not stop to stare at the beautiful Frivole design. It's just a big blob to the eye. That said, some people love dome cluster rings. If you're not familiar with the dome cluster ring design, you may want to google it. To some, it's a cheap look, so dome cluster rings do have a bit of a bad rap. Yes, I know, this is a VCA ring so how can it be called "cheap?" Most people don't know about VCA, much less Frivole. I try to look at pieces as if it were a no name piece. See if looking at it from that perspective changes how you feel about this ring. One word for how the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Costumey.

The second ring is very pretty. The look I see is dainty. If you want dainty, this is it. It may be too dainty, and you may tire of it after a while. Also, while it has diamonds, the diamonds are very tiny, and there are only a few on a tiny single flower. The diamonds take a back seat. The three-flower cluster grabs the eye first with its polished metal. Then the eye says oh, there's second super tiny flower with micro diamonds. That would be the downside to this ring for me. For a dainty look, I like it and think it's quite pretty. I do like that it's a BTF ring which adds character and makes it unique. Another similar look is the Socrates ring, but it's in WG, and I think you may be looking for YG. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Delicate.

The third ring is the original two flower ring. It's a statement ring, and it grabs the eye. There is no mistake they are flowers. It is bold and chic, the opposite of ring #2. The petals are big, so you truly see the Frivole design. There is also a lot of polished metal bling because of the size of the petals (think big mirrors flashing back at you). This is a beautiful ring, lots of flash. The downside to this ring is some people may find it too bold. It is definitely not delicate. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Artistic.

Finally, I want to add the design behind VCA's Frivole is the beautiful artistic petals. Each petal is heart-shaped and 3D angle makes the flower look as if it is blooming. There are tons of flower rings on the market, but I have yet to see another flower ring design even come close to the Frivole design, with its heart-shaped petals and 3D angles.
That beautiful unique design is definitely lost to me in the first cluster ring. It's better in the second ring. The third ring is where the art and beauty of Frivole really shows itself.

Those are my thoughts for each ring. I hope that was helpful.
@BigAkoya you are now selling me on this ring!
 
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Not sure whether you lovely people remember the story of the counterfeit stuff…

I was just in time for a refund and I had the pleasure of the proper VCA boutique experience. I bought the The Beers Talisman and the VCA sweet Alhambra single motif rose gold and picked that one up today. Had to wait for the bracelet and got the call two days ago. SA wanted me to either pay in full over the phone or she wouldn’t hold it longer than a day for me… Thought it was a bit pushy (but do understand too). Anyway, picked it up today which was lovely. I am still waiting for a VCA vintage Alhambra necklace. Enjoying my little stack…
 

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Not sure whether you lovely people remember the story of the counterfeit stuff…

I was just in time for a refund and I had the pleasure of the proper VCA boutique experience. I bought the The Beers Talisman and the VCA sweet Alhambra single motif rose gold and picked that one up today. Had to wait for the bracelet and got the call two days ago. SA wanted me to either pay in full over the phone or she wouldn’t hold it longer than a day for me… Thought it was a bit pushy (but do understand too). Anyway, picked it up today which was lovely. I am still waiting for a VCA vintage Alhambra necklace. Enjoying my little stack…
So happy for you! It's just worth the little extra to get new pieces from the boutique! Their supplies are still so limited that they do have to ask for payment in order to hold things since demand is great.
 
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Aaawww thanks, lovely! And the experience is lovely as well as the reassurance. I don’t want to have to stress about authenticity (and still paying lots for it).

Indeed - I waited nearly a month for this one and the SA said that they were all sold out even before Christmas. I still want to have the MOP vintage bracelet too. One day… ☺️
 

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I think Frivole is a gorgeous collection, and there is no pretty or ugly piece.
It's all preference, and everyone has their own style.
I'll share my thoughts on my preferences, and I am sure there are those who have opinions as well.

The first ring is what I would call the classic "dome cluster ring." It's the "big look for a cheap price" design. This is my least favorite of the three. There are so many tiny little flowers, but because there are so many, you cannot truly identify they are flowers. The eye does not stop to stare at the beautiful Frivole design. It's just a big blob to the eye. That said, some people love dome cluster rings. If you're not familiar with the dome cluster ring design, you may want to google it. To some, it's a cheap look, so dome cluster rings do have a bit of a bad rap. Yes, I know, this is a VCA ring so how can it be called "cheap?" Most people don't know about VCA, much less Frivole. I try to look at pieces as if it were a no name piece. See if looking at it from that perspective changes how you feel about this ring. One word for how the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Costumey.

The second ring is very pretty. The look I see is dainty. If you want dainty, this is it. It may be too dainty, and you may tire of it after a while. Also, while it has diamonds, the diamonds are very tiny, and there are only a few on a tiny single flower. The diamonds take a back seat. The three-flower cluster grabs the eye first with its polished metal. Then the eye says oh, there's second super tiny flower with micro diamonds. That would be the downside to this ring for me. For a dainty look, I like it and think it's quite pretty. I do like that it's a BTF ring which adds character and makes it unique. Another similar look is the Socrates ring, but it's in WG, and I think you may be looking for YG. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Delicate.

The third ring is the original two flower ring. It's a statement ring, and it grabs the eye. There is no mistake they are flowers. It is bold and chic, the opposite of ring #2. The petals are big, so you truly see the Frivole design. There is also a lot of polished metal bling because of the size of the petals (think big mirrors flashing back at you). This is a beautiful ring, lots of flash. The downside to this ring is some people may find it too bold. It is definitely not delicate. One word for the senses on how I feel when I see this ring? Artistic.

Finally, I want to add the design behind VCA's Frivole is the beautiful artistic petals. Each petal is heart-shaped and 3D angle makes the flower look as if it is blooming. There are tons of flower rings on the market, but I have yet to see another flower ring design even come close to the Frivole design, with its heart-shaped petals and 3D angles.
That beautiful unique design is definitely lost to me in the first cluster ring. It's better in the second ring. The third ring is where the art and beauty of Frivole really shows itself.

Those are my thoughts for each ring. I hope that was helpful.
You are just amazing! Always so helpful:blush: I actually set my eye on two flower ring (it was also on my 2022 wishlist) but I think small frivole is the ideal size for mirror finish frivole, large frivole with mirror finish has too much metal for me and it makes it look a bit plastic-y (I remember somebody else also mentioned it here before). I like the diamond version much better for the large size…Here starts my problem, diamond version is currently out of my budget -but even if it was within my budget- I would like to purchase WG version of this ring. I think WG compliments the diamonds, it makes it look like a delicate flower “made” of diamonds. YG diamond version looks like flower petals are “filled” with diamonds. I am not sure if I could explain it well :biggrin: although I am not super matchy-matchy, I am still slightly matchy-matchy so WG ring wouldn’t match with my YG earrings. Maybe I should just think more about this, I am not really a ring person I would just buy this ring to not leave my frivole alone (opposite of what you have with lotus earrings and ring :biggrin:). I realized that I use earrings the most and diamond WG small frivole earrings would be amazing but unfortunately also out of my budget:biggrin:
 
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:heart:Wishing all you lovely ladies :hugs: with exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, a Happy Valentines Day!:heart:
Tomorrow, it is RED all day long :happydance: :hbeat::heart::heart:

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:heart::heart::heart::heart::heart:
 
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