VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

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#21,331
DS2006 said:
I think MTO is a piece they have had in regular inventory but now has to be ordered and it will be at the regular price like the Cosmos onyx you mentioned. SO is anything that you have to pay the 30% (or so) premium to have made. The list of Alhambra pre-approved is still SO as it commands the extra premium. That's how my SA explained it.

I do think it's absurd to charge a SO premium to stick onyx in wg when they already make Alhambra settings in wg and they cut the onyx clovers!
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Terminology is odd as my SA called the WG oyinx set he priced for me a MTO. He said it is pre-approved and always available, just at a premium. So strange SAs call them differently.

Regardless of what SAs call it, he said you can get the "pre-approved" pieces such as WG oynx anytime. My SA just pulled up pricing for the WG oynx pieces from the computer and wrote down the prices for each piece one by one. He did not have to get any special approval or a quote; he just showed me it was all there on the computer.

The "SO" pieces (his terminology) such as WG blue agate he said he had to first ask and get approval/pricing. That took a few weeks as I recall, he did not just bring up the pricing on the computer. .
 
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#21,332
I am so sorry if this is a stupid question. Does the onyx alhambra come in the sweet size? I am interested in layering with my (few months new) carnelian pendant. I don't like the onyx in the vintage size because my skin tone doesn't match-- but i love my carnelian so much, I want to give it a layering partner :smile:
 
#21,333
BigAkoya said:
Terminology is odd as my SA called the WG oyinx set he priced for me a MTO. He said it is pre-approved and always available, just at a premium. So strange SAs call them differently.

Regardless of what SAs call it, he said you can get the "pre-approved" pieces such as WG oynx anytime. My SA just pulled up pricing for the WG oynx pieces from the computer and wrote down the prices for each piece one by one. He did not have to get any special approval or a quote; he just showed me it was all there on the computer.

The "SO" pieces (his terminology) such as WG blue agate he said he had to first ask and get approval/pricing. That took a few weeks as I recall, he did not just bring up the pricing on the computer. .
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This is consistent with my SA. Though I have not heard of a minimum spend on either. Fortunately (or unfortunately for my wallet) I would think I met the minimum spending requirements for the values folks quoted here.
 
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#21,334
BigAkoya said:
Terminology is odd as my SA called the WG oyinx set he priced for me a MTO. He said it is pre-approved and always available, just at a premium. So strange SAs call them differently.

Regardless of what SAs call it, he said you can get the "pre-approved" pieces such as WG oynx anytime. My SA just pulled up pricing for the WG oynx pieces from the computer and wrote down the prices for each piece one by one. He did not have to get any special approval or a quote; he just showed me it was all there on the computer.

The "SO" pieces (his terminology) such as WG blue agate he said he had to first ask and get approval/pricing. That took a few weeks as I recall, he did not just bring up the pricing on the computer. .
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Yes, they may be using the terms slightly differently, and as you said, the pre-approved Alhambra items were able to be ordered anytime without approval previously. I am just not sure what this apparent new restriction means, because the person who was told about the minimum spend was mainly asking about items on the pre-approved list. Hopefully someone can find out.
 
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#21,335
shup said:
I am so sorry if this is a stupid question. Does the onyx alhambra come in the sweet size? I am interested in layering with my (few months new) carnelian pendant. I don't like the onyx in the vintage size because my skin tone doesn't match-- but i love my carnelian so much, I want to give it a layering partner :smile:
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i don’t know about sweet necklaces. I like carnelian with hammered motif, which does come in sweet and I think might pair better than onyx?
 
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#21,336
My understanding is that there’s also an element of… The company wanting people to appreciate the brand as-is before customizing it… Specifying a minimum spend threshold on stock pieces before SOs are permitted is one way to force that…

I’m very confident this is a temporary hard quota though - in place only until inventory is under control. And even then, I should think any SA would advocate for a longtime repeat client who clearly values the house and heritage even if she or he hasn’t spent $85,001 or $100,001 (yet).
 
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#21,337
shup said:
I am so sorry if this is a stupid question. Does the onyx alhambra come in the sweet size? I am interested in layering with my (few months new) carnelian pendant. I don't like the onyx in the vintage size because my skin tone doesn't match-- but i love my carnelian so much, I want to give it a layering partner :smile:
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I personally think the best layering piece for an Alhambra pendant is a small diamond pendant such as the single Tiffany diamonds by the yard (with the diamond one worn shorter).
 
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#21,340
missie1 said:
Has anyone heard about new policy for SO that person must have 85K spend history before anything can be SO for them. Im flying into Houston next week to see about my 20 motif so I will report back on what I find out. If this is case then they definitely need to make stock items available in all the metal colors.
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I did hear about this at one of the boutiques I’ve shopped at a few months back. I forgot to ask if all the purchases had to be from one VCA boutique or if it could be from several boutiques? Does anyone know? Thanks.
 
#21,341
missie1 said:
i saw one for around 18k……it does feels like a lot But my fear is that I spend and get the other items and im still not satisfied. Then I will end up spending double when I should just bite bullet and spend the 18K. Another option could be to get WG Perlee clover this year and get SO agate and go sit down. That would delay my necklace which I was planning to order this year
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OMG, 18K for a 5 motif bracelet, I wonder what that would make my 20 WG turquoise motif necklace worth?
 
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