VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[couturequeen]

I'm not sure I'll really do it, but I am thinking about paring down my collection a little. I track cost per wear only inexactly and wondered if anyone whose mentioned doing it keeps closer track. I am also struggling a little with how to do it *now*, since I'm still not going out like I used to. Does a day worn at home count as a wear? I also wonder sometimes about it as I will often put on a few pieces and just wear them for like a week straight -- seven wears? Even if I was just too lazy to change it and might have rather worn something else?

For now to the extent I'm considering selling anything it's because I'm also doing a bag reorg (which I find much easier to think about, ID gaps in collection) so I'll probably be getting quotes etc anyway, and because of a bad experience I had with some chalcedony pieces earlier this winter. It's so hard because I think chalcedony really is the most beautiful stone, but I find it does not suit me at all. Luckily I didn't go for the amazing chalcedony 20 so even if I rarely wear it ppw isn't much, but otoh it feels silly to hold onto anything I feel "off" or out of sorts wearing. I might as well put that $ toward pieces I would wear or bags to fill the collection or art I have my eye on.

Anyway, any tips on how those of you who are more methodical do it would be much appreciated! Thank yoU!

Funny, I’ve had the same thought. It feels odd to be counting something I wear at home for a few hours or running really tiny errands for multiple days as one wear, because it’s not the same “wear” outside? Like the item isn’t really wearing if it’s not being used used?

 

[DeryaHm]

Funny, I’ve had the same thought. It feels odd to be counting something I wear at home for a few hours or running really tiny errands for multiple days as one wear, because it’s not the same “wear” outside? Like the item isn’t really wearing if it’s not being used used?

I haven't taken any action yet, because a chronic health issue I have (nothing serious) has flared up so I haven't been up to doing much. BUT I have been thinking about it a lot and I think *definitely* wearing around the house counts, at least in terms of winnowing. If you love to wear it so much you put it on to wear around the house, that says a lot about how much you love the piece. For me, because I often sleep/shower in jewelry without changing it, there is a difference between "no need to change this, might as well leave it on" and "what shall I put on to cheer myself up today". I've been doing a lot of the latter lately since the last week or so I've been doing medical things that require no jewelry, so if I put something on it is intentional. This is maybe a better measure of what do I really love than what do I really not love/use, but it has been interesting. The clear winner is my clover, which hasn't given me any insights about what to do with the pieces I don't wear much, but I will tell DH I want to focus on building sets to coordinate, or maybe getting more in different metals once they're available again, so it has provided some clarity

 

[lolakitten]

Funny, I’ve had the same thought. It feels odd to be counting something I wear at home for a few hours or running really tiny errands for multiple days as one wear, because it’s not the same “wear” outside? Like the item isn’t really wearing if it’s not being used used?

If this doesn’t count then my cost per wear of anything is zero

 

[BigAkoya]

Funny, I’ve had the same thought. It feels odd to be counting something I wear at home for a few hours or running really tiny errands for multiple days as one wear, because it’s not the same “wear” outside? Like the item isn’t really wearing if it’s not being used used?

I honestly think we need to stop torturing ourselves by using cost per wear as a justification. Scratch that from our vocabulary as it is doomed for failure and certain to bring guilt.

Many people take big, grand vacations every year which is a costly expense. Vacations are one-time events, so definitely not cost friendly. Oh... "but you have the memories" one might justify. Yes, you do, the memories are forever in your head.

Well, with bling, we can one-up that!
No memories needed... the bling is right here, forever in the present for us to keep staring at, every day, all day!

Just go for the bling you want and enjoy it. No guilt ladies. Men never have guilt over their expensive toys; we should not either.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Funny, I’ve had the same thought. It feels odd to be counting something I wear at home for a few hours or running really tiny errands for multiple days as one wear, because it’s not the same “wear” outside? Like the item isn’t really wearing if it’s not being used used?

Home wear counts for me. That’s the only place I am these days.

 

[DS2006]

I honestly think we need to stop torturing ourselves by using cost per wear as a justification. Scratch that from our vocabulary as it is doomed for failure and certain to bring guilt.

Many people take big, grand vacations every year which is a costly expense. Vacations are one-time events, so definitely not cost friendly. Oh... "but you have the memories" one might justify. Yes, you do, the memories are forever in your head.

Well, with bling, we can one-up that!
No memories needed... the bling is right here, forever in the present for us to keep staring at, every day, all day!

Just go for the bling you want and enjoy it. No guilt ladies. Men never have guilt over their expensive toys; we should not either.

Totally agree! Once I have purchased an item I really want, I absolutely do not even consider cost-per-wear. Besides my diamond ring and studs, I maybe wear other pieces once a month or less. I have sold a few items that I thought I didn't want or need in my collection any longer so I could buy other things I wanted more. There are some pieces that I love but rarely wear, but I know my daughters will want them at some point. I do hand down certain things to them along the way.

 

[DeryaHm]

Totally agree! Once I have purchased an item I really want, I absolutely do not even consider cost-per-wear. Besides my diamond ring and studs, I maybe wear other pieces once a month or less. I have sold a few items that I thought I didn't want or need in my collection any longer so I could buy other things I wanted more. There are some pieces that I love but rarely wear, but I know my daughters will want them at some point. I do hand down certain things to them along the way.

FWIW this concept is something I read about on tpf and have only ever heard used here. I feel a little guilty as I asked about it recently since I find it an interesting metric and a different way to think about things.

My preferred way of decision making is actually is it a one way or two way door, that is, can I reverse this decision and at what cost. As I’ve said I usually don’t buy jewelry for myself, but with certain purchases it is useful to know that you can usually sell it and recoup at least part of what you paid so you’re making let’s say a 3K mistake not a 10K one if that makes sense.

Anyway, sorry if I stirred things up by asking about the metric, I hadn’t heard of it before and heard several posters on here use it and found it intriguing. I like finding different ways to think about things and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anyone should feel guilty about anything.

 

[EpiFanatic]

FWIW this concept is something I read about on tpf and have only ever heard used here. I feel a little guilty as I asked about it recently since I find it an interesting metric and a different way to think about things.

My preferred way of decision making is actually is it a one way or two way door, that is, can I reverse this decision and at what cost. As I’ve said I usually don’t buy jewelry for myself, but with certain purchases it is useful to know that you can usually sell it and recoup at least part of what you paid so you’re making let’s say a 3K mistake not a 10K one if that makes sense.

Anyway, sorry if I stirred things up by asking about the metric, I hadn’t heard of it before and heard several posters on here use it and found it intriguing. I like finding different ways to think about things and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anyone should feel guilty about anything.

Don’t feel badly. Different people have different reasons for buying jewelry as we all have different life situations and we’re all different people. No one needs to feel badly because no one needs to justify anything to anyone except oneself.

 

[DS2006]

FWIW this concept is something I read about on tpf and have only ever heard used here. I feel a little guilty as I asked about it recently since I find it an interesting metric and a different way to think about things.

My preferred way of decision making is actually is it a one way or two way door, that is, can I reverse this decision and at what cost. As I’ve said I usually don’t buy jewelry for myself, but with certain purchases it is useful to know that you can usually sell it and recoup at least part of what you paid so you’re making let’s say a 3K mistake not a 10K one if that makes sense.

Anyway, sorry if I stirred things up by asking about the metric, I hadn’t heard of it before and heard several posters on here use it and found it intriguing. I like finding different ways to think about things and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anyone should feel guilty about anything.

Oh, yes, I was really just replying in general that I do not consider cost-per-wear in my own purchases, not really referencing a specific post. There are some things I may only wear once a year, but I may be saving them for my daughters because they are classic and beautiful. I try to buy jewelry that will be timeless future heirlooms rather than anything trendy. I think VCA fits that category!

 

[eternallove4bag]

FWIW this concept is something I read about on tpf and have only ever heard used here. I feel a little guilty as I asked about it recently since I find it an interesting metric and a different way to think about things.

My preferred way of decision making is actually is it a one way or two way door, that is, can I reverse this decision and at what cost. As I’ve said I usually don’t buy jewelry for myself, but with certain purchases it is useful to know that you can usually sell it and recoup at least part of what you paid so you’re making let’s say a 3K mistake not a 10K one if that makes sense.

Anyway, sorry if I stirred things up by asking about the metric, I hadn’t heard of it before and heard several posters on here use it and found it intriguing. I like finding different ways to think about things and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anyone should feel guilty about anything.

You should not feel sorry in any way. As @EpiFanatic said, we are all different people and the only person we need to justify buying anything to is ourselves. I use the cost per wear theory because for me it works. Just because it works for me doesn’t mean it needs to work for everyone. I have so much traditional jewelry lying in bank safe deposit boxes that never see the light of the day except for special occasions. I would never get rid of them ever because of the memories attached to them not to mention their exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. I ooh aah at them every single time I take them out to wear. Since most of my jewelry pieces were not meant for daily wear, I wanted a small collection of jewelry that I could wear and enjoy every single day. But, every person is different and rightly so. We all need to buy for reasons that best appeal to us specifically and our situations. Some believe in the ‘more the merrier’ outlook and some in ‘less is more’.
No right or wrong answer here.

 

[cafecreme15]

FYI for those discussing placing 30% deposits - I had put one down for the guilloche 10 motif at the end of January, and was told yesterday it will be here sometime in April. Faster than I expected!

 

[Klaneckya]

FYI for those discussing placing 30% deposits - I had put one down for the guilloche 10 motif at the end of January, and was told yesterday it will be here sometime in April. Faster than I expected!

Perfect. Thank yiu so much.

 

[kelsenia]

Also, if anyone is interested, there are multiple turquoise alhambra pieces for auction at Christies right now (both WG and YG), for what seems to be a reasonable price.

 

[nicole0612]

Also, if anyone is interested, there are multiple turquoise alhambra pieces for auction at Christies right now (both WG and YG), for what seems to be a reasonable price.

Most people already know I’m sure, but FYI for those new to Christies/auction houses to be aware of the buyer’s premium (calculated on the total post-tax/fees/shipping). That bit me the first time! Also try to inspect in person or have photos sent if possible.

 

[zlauren]

Also, if anyone is interested, there are multiple turquoise alhambra pieces for auction at Christies right now (both WG and YG), for what seems to be a reasonable price.

I peeked and there's also a YG lapis 20 motif and a chrysophase set, which was kind of cool to discover!