VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[september1985]

hello everyone. I am new to VCA (so much that my first piece should arrive in 2-4 months from now lol) and I have seen some posts on here that have raised the question of etiquete when it comes to wearing VCA pieces. do “hacks” cheapen and/or cloud the integrity of these luxury pieces? what is proper etiquete?

I don’t mean offend anyone. I am genuinely curious as to the opinion of various VCA enthusiasts.

 

[cmadtmifyb0623]

hello everyone. I am new to VCA (so much that my first piece should arrive in 2-4 months from now lol) and I have seen some posts on here that have raised the question of etiquete when it comes to wearing VCA pieces. do “hacks” cheapen and/or cloud the integrity of these luxury pieces? what is proper etiquete?

I don’t mean offend anyone. I am genuinely curious as to the opinion of various VCA enthusiasts.

Yes I do believe it cheapens the look as another TPFer stated above. Some people such as @Notorious Pink can pull it off beautifully but you have to think about how the piece wasn’t necessarily made to mix and match and be connected by the clasps. Also, the clasps showing bothers a lot of people. It just looks like you’re trying to make a piece work instead of buying the original piece. This is all assuming you mean connecting bracelets to make it a necklace, etc. If you want to wear something as a necklace I personally would just buy the necklace. By the time you buy 2 5 motif bracelets to make a necklace, it’s always about, if not the same exact price as the necklace anyhow. There are so many pieces VCA makes for each specific reason and person that we shouldn’t need to mix and match. I do not want to offend anyone that does this, some people 100% make it work!!! Personally it’s just not for me though and I think that’s the general consensus for the most part.

 

[eternallove4bag]

Would like to seek our ladies views here.

I have the pink sapphire Frivole necklace. Would it be too much of matchy matchy if I have the Frivole single flower pave ring as well?

Besides this ring, what else would be a complement to the necklace that is not from the Alhambra series? My budget is less than Usd $14k as I cannot justify paying so much extra for missing the 13 Oct price increase craze (Asia).

Many thanks!

Nope but then I am a matchy matchy person. .. I like sets. Would you do the single Frivole pave ring in YG or WG or would you SO it in RG? @oranGetRee
If you don’t want to be too matchy matchy and get the matching earrings to your beautiful pendant, I would place a SO for the mirror Frivole earrings in RG. Alhambra earrings won’t go well with the Frivole pendant imo. You could also wear your pendant with simple non-VCA diamond hoops or studs.

 

[snnysmm]

Did you get this catalog in the mail? Forget the jewelry (though I am of course a fan and they are beautiful.

I need to know where the clothes are from!!! I really want some of the dresses

 

[oranGetRee]

Error. To delete.

 

[EpiFanatic]

Would like to seek our ladies views here.

I have the pink sapphire Frivole necklace. Would it be too much of matchy matchy if I have the Frivole single flower pave ring as well?

Besides this ring, what else would be a complement to the necklace that is not from the Alhambra series? My budget is less than Usd $14k as I cannot justify paying so much extra for missing the 13 Oct price increase craze (Asia).

Many thanks!

I’m not matchy matchy but there is enough distance between pendant and ring. And I am partial to the Frivole single ring. I think it’s beautiful.

 

[BigAkoya]

Would like to seek our ladies views here.

I have the pink sapphire Frivole necklace. Would it be too much of matchy matchy if I have the Frivole single flower pave ring as well?

Besides this ring, what else would be a complement to the necklace that is not from the Alhambra series? My budget is less than Usd $14k as I cannot justify paying so much extra for missing the 13 Oct price increase craze (Asia).

Many thanks!

I think that would be gorgeous! Like others here, I am also matchy matchy.
I would for sure get the ring. If they have earrings, maybe try some on while you are there? I know your budget is $14K max, so maybe see if the mini size might look good with your pendant and ring.

I think your metal is RG, so I think there are mini RG pave earrings. If you don't like them or if that brings you over your budget (I don't recall how much the ring is), try the mini RG metal with the ruby center. I know rubies are not sapphires, but the stones have the same red blue understone, so it might be okay. Plus, the ruby is so tiny it might be a nice little accent to enhance the pink. Both the RG and the flower design will bring it together. I can almost see that combo in my head, but maybe try it to see if it really works in real life.

I do think mini earrings look really tiny worn alone, so think it that scenario bothers you. With your pendant and ring, I think it will look nice as an accent piece. Just a thought. I love Frivole so much I could drown in it!

And by the way, don’t panic buy. 5% against your $14K budget is $700. That is not going to make a difference in what you buy. But when you are ready and 100% sure. Impulse or panic buying leads to regrets in my opinion.

Congratulations on your new piece! I'm so excited for you!

 

[jenaps]

Did you get this catalog in the mail? Forget the jewelry (though I am of course a fan and they are beautiful.

I need to know where the clothes are from!!! I really want some of the dresses

View attachment 5629802

I had the same feeling flipping through the pages!

 

[BigAkoya]

Did you get this catalog in the mail? Forget the jewelry (though I am of course a fan and they are beautiful.

I need to know where the clothes are from!!! I really want some of the dresses

View attachment 5629802

I doubt VCA will advertise another designer brand's RTW piece, so my guess is this is a commissoned dress.
This dress looks very 60s geometric mod chic to me, and the retro 60s is a fashion period I love.

Pucci often makes sleeveless geometric dresses similar to this, but Pucci is more vibrant.
These two dresses are my favorite from their current collection, and they are the same theme as the VCA dress.
See if you might like them.

This one is sleeveless like the photo:

https://www.pucci.com/en-us/shopping/pesci-print-mini-dress-18232628

This one has long sleeves, they show it with tights (overkill to me), but Pucci double-layers their modshots often. Look beyond that, and look at the dress only. I bought a similar one from last season, and I wear it as a true dress, with heels.

https://www.pucci.com/en-us/shopping/pesci-print-mini-dress-18231921

If you like this print and are not familiar with Pucci, the way Pucci works is they have a set of prints every season and make dresses, tops, pants, etc using that print. Hence, look at the print first, and if you like it, search on the print name... this one is called Pesci.

Hope this helps.

 

[cmadtmifyb0623]

I think that would be gorgeous! Like others here, I am also matchy matchy.
I would for sure get the ring. If they have earrings, maybe try some on while you are there? I know your budget is $14K max, so maybe see if the mini size might look good with your pendant and ring.

I think your metal is RG, so I think there are mini RG pave earrings. If you don't like them or if that brings you over your budget (I don't recall how much the ring is), try the mini RG metal with the ruby center. I know rubies are not sapphires, but the stones have the same red blue understone, so it might be okay. Plus, the ruby is so tiny it might be a nice little accent to enhance the pink. Both the RG and the flower design will bring it together. I can almost see that combo in my head, but maybe try it to see if it really works in real life.

I do think mini earrings look really tiny worn alone, so think it that scenario bothers you. With your pendant and ring, I think it will look nice as an accent piece. Just a thought. I love Frivole so much I could drown in it!

And by the way, don’t panic buy. 5% against your $14K budget is $700. That is not going to make a difference in what you buy. But when you are ready and 100% sure. Impulse or panic buying leads to regrets in my opinion.

Congratulations on your new piece! I'm so excited for you!

Omg thanks once again for saving me from impulsing! I never even did the math since I knew I wasn’t going to impulse on anything before this price increase but this puts it into perspective. The only thing you made me impulse on is the Working Hands night cream and I am OBSESSED lol! ❤️

 

[BigAkoya]

Omg thanks once again for saving me from impulsing! I never even did the math since I knew I wasn’t going to impulse on anything before this price increase but this puts it into perspective. The only thing you made me impulse on is the Working Hands night cream and I am OBSESSED lol! ❤️

Try Healthy Feet Nightime too!

 

[innerpeace85]

I think that would be gorgeous! Like others here, I am also matchy matchy.
I would for sure get the ring. If they have earrings, maybe try some on while you are there? I know your budget is $14K max, so maybe see if the mini size might look good with your pendant and ring.

I think your metal is RG, so I think there are mini RG pave earrings. If you don't like them or if that brings you over your budget (I don't recall how much the ring is), try the mini RG metal with the ruby center. I know rubies are not sapphires, but the stones have the same red blue understone, so it might be okay. Plus, the ruby is so tiny it might be a nice little accent to enhance the pink. Both the RG and the flower design will bring it together. I can almost see that combo in my head, but maybe try it to see if it really works in real life.

I do think mini earrings look really tiny worn alone, so think it that scenario bothers you. With your pendant and ring, I think it will look nice as an accent piece. Just a thought. I love Frivole so much I could drown in it!

And by the way, don’t panic buy. 5% against your $14K budget is $700. That is not going to make a difference in what you buy. But when you are ready and 100% sure. Impulse or panic buying leads to regrets in my opinion.

Congratulations on your new piece! I'm so excited for you!

100% agree with what @BigAkoya .
Also look at the resale prices and lots of inventory on Fashionphile and Rebag. I know we don’t buy to resell but if we are not 100% sure we could take more loss than the price increase!

 

[snnysmm]

I doubt VCA will advertise another designer brand's RTW piece, so my guess is this is a commissoned dress.
This dress looks very 60s geometric mod chic to me, and the retro 60s is a fashion period I love.

Pucci often makes sleeveless geometric dresses similar to this, but Pucci is more vibrant.
These two dresses are my favorite from their current collection, and they are the same theme as the VCA dress.
See if you might like them.

This one is sleeveless like the photo:

https://www.pucci.com/en-us/shopping/pesci-print-mini-dress-18232628

This one has long sleeves, they show it with tights (overkill to me), but Pucci double-layers their modshots often. Look beyond that, and look at the dress only. I bought a similar one from last season, and I wear it as a true dress, with heels.

https://www.pucci.com/en-us/shopping/pesci-print-mini-dress-18231921

If you like this print and are not familiar with Pucci, the way Pucci works is they have a set of prints every season and make dresses, tops, pants, etc using that print. Hence, look at the print first, and if you like it, search on the print name... this one is called Pesci.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for this detailed information! I’ve heard of Pucci, but am not familiar with the brand. It is so interesting they have seasonal prints and make clothes using the print (kind of like Hermès, whose shawls I absolutely love).

 

[Notorious Pink]

Yes I do believe it cheapens the look as another TPFer stated above. Some people such as @Notorious Pink can pull it off beautifully but you have to think about how the piece wasn’t necessarily made to mix and match and be connected by the clasps. Also, the clasps showing bothers a lot of people. It just looks like you’re trying to make a piece work instead of buying the original piece. This is all assuming you mean connecting bracelets to make it a necklace, etc. If you want to wear something as a necklace I personally would just buy the necklace. By the time you buy 2 5 motif bracelets to make a necklace, it’s always about, if not the same exact price as the necklace anyhow. There are so many pieces VCA makes for each specific reason and person that we shouldn’t need to mix and match. I do not want to offend anyone that does this, some people 100% make it work!!! Personally it’s just not for me though and I think that’s the general consensus for the most part.

Thanks for the reminder that I’ve owed you guys some photos.

Note that I am doing this with a 20 + 5, and when I’m wearing a 20 long, I like the length of the 20, so I have two extenders in the back, on either side of the 5. Otherwise I think it’s a bit too short.

The caveat being that I have a thin neck and long hair so you are not seeing any clasps or extenders. Also, I will usually wear this with a collared neckline.

 

[KristinS]

Thanks for the reminder that I’ve owed you guys some photos.

Note that I am doing this with a 20 + 5, and when I’m wearing a 20 long, I like the length of the 20, so I have two extenders in the back, on either side of the 5. Otherwise I think it’s a bit too short.

The caveat being that I have a thin neck and long hair so you are not seeing any clasps or extenders. Also, I will usually wear this with a collared neckline.

View attachment 5631582

View attachment 5631584

Appreciate you posting this look!! I have this vision of multiple layers (more than the standard 20) of MoP - similar to pearls, but I like MoP better.