I am in the same boat .
VCA is my reward at the end of the year for working hard, and sometimes in the middle of the year to put an extra smile on my face
VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!
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VCA is my reward at the end of the year for working hard, and sometimes in the middle of the year to put an extra smile on my face
Go with what you love absolutely! For 99.9999% of the world any Alhambra looks exactly the same. Get the WG MOP if you love those the most since you know that MOP works so well for you!
Love all the advice from this forum...just ordered the medium, I had the smaller one but I gave it to my daughter....Hi! I find travel jewelry cases with pre-determined slots do not fit anything well!
They are worthless for earrings, and bulky rings are impossible in those cheesy ring slots.
I use the Maria travel pieces because they are open "holes" and work perfectly. I can then layer with my pouches however I wish.
Here are the two I use:
I love love love this little guy and use him the most.
Maria Zip Jewelry Cube
Take Maria with you wherever you go for business, leisure, and everything in between. Keep your jewelry in place in style.www.wolf1834.com
When I bring more or bulkier pieces, I use this medium guy:
Maria Medium Zip Case
Take Maria wherever you go while keeping your jewelry in place. The Maria collection creates a travel style that is just for you- business, leisure, and everything in between.
By the way, Maria now comes in the color orange which is nice and bright (it only came in navy, white, and yellow for the longest time).
Here are photos to show you how the VCA pouches fit inside both sizes.
The Maria cube is the first photo. I love it. I can fit a ton inside.
I put the medium pouch at the bottom of the Maria cube so you can see how perfectly it fits.
I use the medium pouches for my Clover bangle, 20 motif, 5 motif bracelets (I put one bracelet in each slot).
I use the small pouches for earrings (one earring in each slot) and rings. Works great.
Oh... and I always put a cleaning cloth at the top. You never know when you need a wipe.
The Maria medium is the second photo. It is good when you carry bulkier pieces such as wide cuffs and chunky necklaces.
I also layered it with the VCA pouches to show you how the pouches fits.
Hope this helps.
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For those of you who have the MOP pieces and layer them with other things, are you concerned about scratching the motifs over time
I was trying on some VA pendants today for layering with my sweet pave and felt like the MOP was lovely in the way it shone in the light (I especially loved the GMOP but was sad to hear it only comes in rose gold). The SA only really cautioned me against regularly getting MOP wet to maintain its luster but didn't mention anything about how susceptible it is to scratches. If I were to layer the two pendants but take the MOP off for showering/exercising do you think I would need to worry about scratching it over time and plan to replace the motif? I also tried on the guilloche with a different sweet just for sizing. What that be a better choice instead or would that probably similarly result in scratches that couldn't be replaced down the line? I also tried on the chalcedony, which was pretty but I didn't think it was what I want now.
Attaching pics below of what I'm envisioning (WG MOP + sweet pave) vs what I tried on in store (WG guilloche + YG sweet carnelian). I'm contemplating between getting the MOP and planning to replace the motif in a few years vs getting the WG guilloche and maybe planning to get the MOP in another piece down the line. Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated as always! (Also, I just wanted to add that I love how nice everyone is in this forum because I've lurked on others in the past that were much less so.)
I was trying on some VA pendants today for layering with my sweet pave and felt like the MOP was lovely in the way it shone in the light (I especially loved the GMOP but was sad to hear it only comes in rose gold). The SA only really cautioned me against regularly getting MOP wet to maintain its luster but didn't mention anything about how susceptible it is to scratches. If I were to layer the two pendants but take the MOP off for showering/exercising do you think I would need to worry about scratching it over time and plan to replace the motif? I also tried on the guilloche with a different sweet just for sizing. What that be a better choice instead or would that probably similarly result in scratches that couldn't be replaced down the line? I also tried on the chalcedony, which was pretty but I didn't think it was what I want now.
Attaching pics below of what I'm envisioning (WG MOP + sweet pave) vs what I tried on in store (WG guilloche + YG sweet carnelian). I'm contemplating between getting the MOP and planning to replace the motif in a few years vs getting the WG guilloche and maybe planning to get the MOP in another piece down the line. Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated as always! (Also, I just wanted to add that I love how nice everyone is in this forum because I've lurked on others in the past that were much less so.)
My first 20 motif just arrived and I am a bit torn. I live at the beach and thought the Blue Agate 20 motif could be worn nice and casual but I have tried it on with tons of outfits and only seem to like it with a white shirt. I guess because the stone is translucent it looks different depending on what color is under it?
I would love to see any photos of others who have a 20 motif BA worn casually. I am questioning my purchase at the moment. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I would love to see any photos of others who have a 20 motif BA worn casually. I am questioning my purchase at the moment. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I have a gold large MOP motif (I think is similar to the white gold version they offer now) and I layer it with everything all the time (and shower with it). I’m pretty rough on my jewelry and have two kids who are rough on me and my jewelry and I personally have never noticed anything on the pendant scratch wise. I layer my 20 motif MOP as well and I’m sure my kids hit that piece when I lift them, etc. - also nothing noticeable. I may not notice scratches as much as others though so hopefully a couple more people will weigh in! I personally always layer and I like what you’ve done with the sweet micro pave.
Also, the way you are wearing them in the bottom picture as an example, I don’t think they would hit each other to cause scratching.
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I know what you mean about the translucent quality of that stone. When I got the 10 motif I had never seen one in person - I heard it was coming out and bought immediately. When I got it I was a bit surprised though though I should have expected it given the type of stone!
Because the 10 motif is shorter it usually sits against my skin and as such maintains that deep blue color.
Hmmmm, I despise second guessing expensive (or any) purchases. For what it is worth, I personally think the necklace is gorgeous. The color is outstanding and I do not see the 20 motif very often (if at all, actually). What is it you aren’t liking against other colors? Does it not pop as much as against white? Is it completely changing the color because of the translucence? Can you post a photo of an example (if you want of course).
It is absolutely gorgeous in your photo! I have a lot of pieces that are a particular color that can’t be worn with much but I adore them and love to bring them out when they can be worn. This piece is excellent - do you think you could keep it and save it for the outfits it look phenomenal with? Or, understandably, are you wanted something that you can wear with anything, always?
Hi! First, I think a 20 looks fabulous on you! As you know, I love love love 20s!
On the blue agate stone, here is my two cents...
I love blue agate, and I think it looks great on you. The color difference is not much compared to the overall pop of the blue agate.
That said, if I may be so bold to suggest...
I think you should exchange it for a YG MOP 20. Why?
Blue agate, while gorgeous, is hard to wear with outfits. I say this from a turquoise set I have. I had been waiting for a VA 20 turquoise set which will never happen for me. So, I purchased a Tiffany turquoise set instead to get it out of my system. My Tiffany set includes two long necklaces which I layer and earrings. I thought I would love it and wear it all the time, especially in the summer.. so bright and cheery!
Well, I rarely wear it. It is due to the same reason you stated. It doesn't work with a lot of my outfits.
On the other hand, YG MOP goes with everything! I am talking E V E R Y T H I N G!
I have a VA WG MOP set, but even then, of all the VA stone and metal combos, I think the YG MOP is the bomb!
YG MOP just makes you glow and is so versatile.
So... unless you can find several outfits to go with your blue agate, my recommendation is to exchange it for a YG MOP.
I do love a 20 motif on you! It looks great!
Just my two cents. Hope this helps and congratulations on your necklace, whichever one you decide.
Thank you for your thoughtful response! The turquoise is my dream as well...10 or 20 in YG but like you...I don't think it will ever happen so I was drawn to the BA. I have the YG MOP on my radar as well. Unfortunately, I do not have a boutique near me so maybe I should order it and compare the 2 at home knowing I will have to return one of them.
MOP is delicate but I don't think you'll scratch it by layering it with your sweet pave. If you want to be extra careful and to make the layering look cleaner, hook both necklaces into one long strand, then wrap it around your neck, close the clasp, and adjust the distance between the two pendants to your liking, with the VA size being heavier so it'll always sit lower and won't move much.
Here's a short video for demostration:
Yes, I think it's a great idea to order the YG MOP to compare.
I do think you will love the YG MOP. It doesn't scream "color" as the BA does.
But.. that is what makes it so gorgeous and so wearable. It glows and screams sheer beauty.
If you hang out at the beach a lot, the YG MOP will be so beautiful on you in that setting.
Here is another thought on the BA.. I think BA is hard to wear in the winter. BA screams summer to me (as does turquoise).
MOP is year round chic!
Love your pics and your taste! Congrats! I am so happy for you!
Love the hammered!
@Buddysmom , I love the blue color on you and think it’s gorgeous.
But I don’t have any ideas for how to make it more versatile, unless you can simply ignore translucence
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I feel like it can only be worn with solid colors...it looks busy with prints. Since my original post I tried it on with a green t-shirt and thought it looked good. I wear a lot of navy blue which it did not compliment well. Black was pretty but it made the stones look darker. Honestly, my dream is turquoise but that will never happen so I thought BA was my second best blue option. Here it is with green:
Also wondering if it is partly due to the color of the stones. I love the electric blue like this and mine is darker. I am wondering if this electric blue is really out there or is the color skewed due to the photography lighting?
Yes...hate to 2nd guess such an expensive purchase!!!
@Buddysmom - I've seen some 5 motif blue agate in the wild looking very much like the photos on the VCA website, yours is darker and more muted so I can totally see why you're second guessing your purchase. It's such an expensive piece if you're not totally in love with it then best to return it, and then maybe work with a SA to procure one in the right shade of blue for you?
I live on a small island in FL so it is practically summer all year. I feel like the MOP is kinda beachy so maybe I will exchange. Again, thanks for all of your valuable input!Yes, I think it's a great idea to order the YG MOP to compare.
I do think you will love the YG MOP. It doesn't scream "color" as the BA does.
But.. that is what makes it so gorgeous and so wearable. It glows and screams sheer beauty.
If you hang out at the beach a lot, the YG MOP will be so beautiful on you in that setting.
Here is another thought on the BA.. I think BA is hard to wear in the winter. BA screams summer to me (as does turquoise).
MOP is year round chic!