VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[kelsenia]

Anyone else’s wallet sad after learning about this whole price 5.23% increase situation in the US? Finally bit the bullet on putting a deposit for the pink sapphire butterfly ring and single row perlee rg bangle. Been thinking about them for a while and those are significant enough purchases where that will make a good amount of difference. Thankfully the ring is MTO so it won’t be here for a while. So much for ban island…. You know it’s bad when you go on your amex spending report and your number one is VCA

 

[missie1]

Anyone else’s wallet sad after learning about this whole price 5.23% increase situation in the US? Finally bit the bullet on putting a deposit for the pink sapphire butterfly ring and single row perlee rg bangle. Been thinking about them for a while and those are significant enough purchases where that will make a good amount of difference. Thankfully the ring is MTO so it won’t be here for a while. So much for ban island…. You know it’s bad when you go on your amex spending report and your number one is VCA

Congratulations on the butterfly ring and single row perlee. Breakouts from ban island are allowed for special circumstances. This was definitely one.

 

[buttonyy]

Hi! I just bought a Sweet Alhambra watch 18K rose gold with pink Mother-of-pearl. I will be removing a rose gold guilloché to fit my wrist. Anyone has any experience on what to do with the spare guilloché motif? It will be such a waste to keep it in storage! I am thinking of converting it to a necklace, any advice?

Link of the watch: https://www.vancleefarpels.com/fr/e...atches/vcaro90100---sweet-alhambra-watch.html

 

[BigAkoya]

Anyone else’s wallet sad after learning about this whole price 5.23% increase situation in the US? Finally bit the bullet on putting a deposit for the pink sapphire butterfly ring and single row perlee rg bangle. Been thinking about them for a while and those are significant enough purchases where that will make a good amount of difference. Thankfully the ring is MTO so it won’t be here for a while. So much for ban island…. You know it’s bad when you go on your amex spending report and your number one is VCA

Yippee! Congratulations on your new pieces.
I think it will take a while. My SA told me VCA quoted him to SO a Trace Chain will take 6-9 months. For a chain!
You'll just love it that much more when they arrive. Can't wait to see your new pieces and congrat again! Those two pieces will look beautiful worn together.

 

[krawford]

Just received text from my SA that NY just announced there will be a 5.23% price increase starting Oct 13. Jewelry, timepieces and wedding bands.

 

[eternallove4bag]

Anyone else’s wallet sad after learning about this whole price 5.23% increase situation in the US? Finally bit the bullet on putting a deposit for the pink sapphire butterfly ring and single row perlee rg bangle. Been thinking about them for a while and those are significant enough purchases where that will make a good amount of difference. Thankfully the ring is MTO so it won’t be here for a while. So much for ban island…. You know it’s bad when you go on your amex spending report and your number one is VCA

Congrats @kelsenia I love the single row perlee bracelet so much! Can’t wait to see you pink sapphire ring. Is it the BTF butterfly ring which is half pave and half pink? Beautiful!

 

[Buddysmom]

Just received text from my SA that NY just announced there will be a 5.23% price increase starting Oct 13. Jewelry, timepieces and wedding bands.

My SA in Virginia said the price increase was only on high jewelry?

 

[tenshix]

Hi! I just bought a Sweet Alhambra watch 18K rose gold with pink Mother-of-pearl. I will be removing a rose gold guilloché to fit my wrist. Anyone has any experience on what to do with the spare guilloché motif? It will be such a waste to keep it in storage! I am thinking of converting it to a necklace, any advice?

Link of the watch: https://www.vancleefarpels.com/fr/e...atches/vcaro90100---sweet-alhambra-watch.html

Congrats on your beautiful purchase! Our dear member @chiaoapple converted her extra motif into a pendant with her jeweler, perhaps she can share her experience with you.

 

[LizzieBennett]

How difficult is it to find the hammered YG VA earrings or tiger eye VA earrings? The closest boutique to me is over 700 miles so I've always ordered through the website. I haven't seen either of these on the website in a good while.

 

[kelsenia]

Congratulations on the butterfly ring and single row perlee. Breakouts from ban island are allowed for special circumstances. This was definitely one.

Thank you! I guess it is half off from ban island because I wont actually get the pieces for a while, especially the ring. My fingers are too big for stock sizes lol. My SA said this was the biggest increase she’s ever seen on non-HJ items (although this increase also covers those too)!

Yippee! Congratulations on your new pieces.
I think it will take a while. My SA told me VCA quoted him to SO a Trace Chain will take 6-9 months. For a chain!
You'll just love it that much more when they arrive. Can't wait to see your new pieces and congrat again! Those two pieces will look beautiful worn together.

Wow 6-9 months for a chain?! I have been waiting over 6 months for my lapis butterfly ring. Who knows how long that and these two will take! She said no perlee single rows in WG or RG were in stock in the country in my size .

Congrats @kelsenia I love the single row perlee bracelet so much! Can’t wait to see you pink sapphire ring. Is it the BTF butterfly ring which is half pave and half pink? Beautiful!

@eternallove4bag I know your pictures of it + your RG butterfly ring are always inspo and enabling to me!!! Do you find that you can also wear the bangle more casually if you have no other jewelry on?
Yes the pink sapphire RG/WG diamond butterfly ring. I also want to get the RG one at some point but I already have the lapis on order too. Three butterfly rings seems like a lot, but the vca addiction is real. I prefer that style to the frivole, and if I were to do a pave frivole I would want to SO with pink sapphires to match my pendant/earrings set. I also like that the pink sapphires/diamonds is a little more care-free than a stone. After wearing my turquoise butterfly pendant *one* time with no lotion/sunscreen/perfume the back of it stained black a little bit. So stones somewhat scare me even though they’re so beautiful! Do you find the polished MOP hardier than the normal variation?

 

[kelsenia]

How difficult is it to find the hammered YG VA earrings or tiger eye VA earrings? The closest boutique to me is over 700 miles so I've always ordered through the website. I haven't seen either of these on the website in a good while.

I know tigers eye and hammered pieces in general, and all earrings have been pretty hard to get (especially magic or dangle earrings) since the pandemic. Your best bet is to contact customer service and have them connect you to your nearest boutique or see if they can order them for you, likely with at least a 30% deposit. Certain items are unable to be ordered right now due to super long waiting lists, but I don’t know if those pieces are on one of those do-not-order lists.

 

[snnysmm]

Maybe the HP this year seems pricier than all the past pendants because it accounts for the price increase in addition to it being WG…

I kind of want to pull the trigger on the pave Frivole BTF ring or the clover bangle, as they are the most expensive items on my list and the difference in price will be substantial enough…

 

[chiaoapple]

Congrats on your beautiful purchase! Our dear member @chiaoapple converted her extra motif into a pendant with her jeweler, perhaps she can share her experience with you.

Great memory tenshix! Yes, I converted the extra motif into a pendant. I simply went to my local jeweller whom I had good experiences with in the past with, and they added a loop and dainty chain; the motif moves freely along the chain. Note that this method will not make pendant look “perfect” as an existing loop will still remain on one side of the motif unless you ask for it to be removed — I did not as I didn’t want to take away any original element in case of future needs.
Hope this helps!

 

[BigAkoya]

Hi! I just bought a Sweet Alhambra watch 18K rose gold with pink Mother-of-pearl. I will be removing a rose gold guilloché to fit my wrist. Anyone has any experience on what to do with the spare guilloché motif? It will be such a waste to keep it in storage! I am thinking of converting it to a necklace, any advice?

Link of the watch: https://www.vancleefarpels.com/fr/e...atches/vcaro90100---sweet-alhambra-watch.html

@chiaoapple had a great idea to wear it as a pendant with a bale.
How about wearing it as a fixed pendant using both loops? You can rotate the motif to the loops are "east/west" and then add chains to either side.

Like this... this is a bracelet, but you get the idea.. make it long and wear it as a necklace. That way you can take advantage of both "loops." Just a thought.

 

[BigAkoya]

Maybe the HP this year seems pricier than all the past pendants because it accounts for the price increase in addition to it being WG…

I kind of want to pull the trigger on the pave Frivole BTF ring or the clover bangle, as they are the most expensive items on my list and the difference in price will be substantial enough…

I think if you are ready to buy, it's a great idea.
However, if you were not truly ready and feel pressured by the price increase, then wait.
Price increases in luxury goods happen all the time, and for me, I don't buy to get ahead of price increases.
I buy when I know 100% I am going to love the piece, no regrets.

That said...
Assuming the timing is right and you know what you want... I vote Frivole pave BTF!
You will love love love that ring! I would get that first over the Clover.
You can see that ring when you wear it... all day, all seasons, even when it's winter and you're wearing long sleeves!
Super blingy ring!

And yes on buying expensive items first. I completely agree with you.
Once you by the big pieces, you may find you don't even want the little pieces anymore.