VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[alohaina]

Also, apologies to all for taking up so much airtime on this thread! I so appreciate all of the great input

 

[waterlily112]

@waterlily112 @hmn002

Re: layering with my VA TE
First impression is - I don’t love it / I don’t hate it

View attachment 5756542

To date, I’ve been wearing either my TE VA or my magic carnelian basically every day lol (to me, they are all daily pieces )

But my soul can’t handle wearing either to the beach / outdoor activities - so aiming for the use case + just a different fun vibe to switch things up.

I really like it! But LOL! I also share the same sentiment as you about layering two alhambra pendants nowadays, don't love it, don't hate it. I originally bought the sweet carnelian thinking to layer it with the HP (RG/rhodonite). But 99% of the time I just wear the sweet carnelian and ditch the HP because it's more lightweight and comfortable. I guess it really comes down to your preference

 

[nicole0612]

@waterlily112 @hmn002

Re: layering with my VA TE
First impression is - I don’t love it / I don’t hate it

View attachment 5756542

To date, I’ve been wearing either my TE VA or my magic carnelian basically every day lol (to me, they are all daily pieces )

But my soul can’t handle wearing either to the beach / outdoor activities - so aiming for the use case + just a different fun vibe to switch things up.

View attachment 5756565

I think it is great for daily wear, so you have something on when you don't feel like wearing jewelry. It is a way to wear jewelry without having to think about it or feel it on your neck. I also personally like the attachment style of bail on the sweet and the magic compared to the Vintage.

 

[hmn002]

@waterlily112 @hmn002

Re: layering with my VA TE
First impression is - I don’t love it / I don’t hate it

View attachment 5756542

To date, I’ve been wearing either my TE VA or my magic carnelian basically every day lol (to me, they are all daily pieces )

But my soul can’t handle wearing either to the beach / outdoor activities - so aiming for the use case + just a different fun vibe to switch things up.

View attachment 5756565

A lot of girls I know are wearing dainty little chain necklaces with initials of their children on them. I think it’d be super cute w your sweet! I’m not a fan of two alhambras personally.

 

[Alienza]

Maybe something with diamond?

 

[snnysmm]

Hi! I'll share my thoughts...
Unless you really love the Magic Alhambra BTF ring, I would skip it. I love love love BTF rings, but when I tried this one on, it is very flat and very very logo-y. It's not artistic at all to me, and it looks like a huge four leaf clover on your finger. That said, if you like the logo-y look, this ring is it. It will scream Alhambra. Aside from the logo aspect, what kills it for me is the jumbo Magic motif which is very flat as a ring, and I prefer rings to have a bit more dimension and artistic looki. That's just me of course, and there are folks who love this ring and look.

That said, staying with your theme, what would I suggest?
I would suggest the Lucky BTF Ring. It is at least artistic, and the stones will match your other pieces. You can wear either your MOP or TE 5-motif bracelet, and it will look quite nice. You still get the VCA look, but it's more elegant as the Alhambra motif on the BTF ring is Vintage size and matches & compliments the bracelet motifs which is also Vintage size. This is not the case with the jumbo Magic BT ring which just screams logo. Then, and add a 5-motif bracelet, your wrist will scream logo jewelry wrist. You can tell I am anti logo jewelry look, and that's just me. Howver, if that is look you are after, the Magic Alhambra BTF is the ring!

Here is the Lucky BTF ring I am thinking of. I think it will be so gorgeous with your 5-motif TE bracelet or your MOP.

https://www.vancleefarpels.com/us/en/collections/jewelry/alhambra/vcarn05800---lucky-alhambra-between-the-finger-ring.html

Just my two cents, and hope this helps in your decision. Good luck!

P.S. I hope you liked Emma. Iceberg is awesome, a cool steely grey-blue.

Thank you. I actually considered the ring you are talking about, but was worried that the butterfly would be too … young? as if i will one day age out of it. I’ll have to text my SA and try whatever I can. And also take another look at the VCA ring thread! I love that thread…

As for logos… I don’t love logos exactly, but I do love Alhambra. You are right though. I don’t want to go for that loud logo look with my ring. I have my agate magic pendant for that logo look, which I adore, but I don’t need another.

Speaking of, I do love the Emma! I love it so much that I got it in another color, blue Jean. The cream color is perfect for showing off that translucent blue agate magic pendant, so one day I will take a action pic. I would love to see the iceberg paired with some white gold VCA action shot!

 

[BigAkoya]

Thank you. I actually considered the ring you are talking about, but was worried that the butterfly would be too … young? as if i will one day age out of it. I’ll have to text my SA and try whatever I can. And also take another look at the VCA ring thread! I love that thread…

As for logos… I don’t love logos exactly, but I do love Alhambra. You are right though. I don’t want to go for that loud logo look with my ring. I have my agate magic pendant for that logo look, which I adore, but I don’t need another.

Speaking of, I do love the Emma! I love it so much that I got it in another color, blue Jean. The cream color is perfect for showing off that translucent blue agate magic pendant, so one day I will take a action pic. I would love to see the iceberg paired with some white gold VCA action shot!

If you are worried about that butterfly / Alhambra BTF ring looking young, yes.. it will definitely look that, so skip!
I think you know by now, my look is not dainty or cutesy/young, and I do think that butterfly / Alhambra ring combo comes across that way.

I did cave and buy the yellow sapphire / diamond butterfly BTF ring so it has some bling to it, but even then, it will not be a favorite ring of mine. I just love BTF rings.

How about Frivole? Can you find some love for Frivole?
I love love love Frivole! The design is so unique and creative; the 3D flowers just blossom on the finger. The ring is never fully copied. I know you love Alhambra. There is so much more to VCA (and also a well rounded jewelry collection), so maybe try some Frivole. I love the Ring thread too, so many beautiful photos!

I'll see if I can take a photo of my VCA WG pieces with Iceberg. Compared to Iceberg though, Sky is the bomb if you can find it (from last season). I think Sky will go great with your blue agate.

 

[snnysmm]

If you are worried about that butterfly / Alhambra BTF ring looking young, yes.. it will definitely look that, so skip!
I think you know by now, my look is not dainty or cutesy/young, and I do think that butterfly / Alhambra ring combo comes across that way.

I did cave and buy the yellow sapphire / diamond butterfly BTF ring so it has some bling to it, but even then, it will not be a favorite ring of mine. I just love BTF rings.

How about Frivole? Can you find some love for Frivole?
I love love love Frivole! The design is so unique and creative; the 3D flowers just blossom on the finger. The ring is never fully copied. I know you love Alhambra. There is so much more to VCA (and also a well rounded jewelry collection), so maybe try some Frivole. I love the Ring thread too, so many beautiful photos!

I'll see if I can take a photo of my VCA WG pieces with Iceberg. Compared to Iceberg though, Sky is the bomb if you can find it (from last season). I think Sky will go great with your blue agate.

I love Frivole hehe. But I didn’t want the YG mirror ring because I know I will scratch it instantly. If I get the pave version, I’d want the WG one, but it would be a standalone piece. I would love a pave pendant, but I already have so many pendants… but this is way into the future because I would like to complete my YG collection first.

I took some break from VCA shopping and just wore what I have. Now I’m starting to get that itch and see a need for a VCA ring… I was set on BTF ring, but maybe I’ll save that for the future. I could try the sweet perlee ring (the regular was not comfortable for me)… hmm (It’s also April and this is usually when I start to fall off the wagon lol).

Congratulations on your butterfly BTF ring. I would love to see some action shots when you are able!

 

[BigAkoya]

I love Frivole hehe. But I didn’t want the YG mirror ring because I know I will scratch it instantly. If I get the pave version, I’d want the WG one, but it would be a standalone piece. I would love a pave pendant, but I already have so many pendants… but this is way into the future because I would like to complete my YG collection first.

I took some break from VCA shopping and just wore what I have. Now I’m starting to get that itch and see a need for a VCA ring… I was set on BTF ring, but maybe I’ll save that for the future. I could try the sweet perlee ring (the regular was not comfortable for me)… hmm (It’s also April and this is usually when I start to fall off the wagon lol).

Congratulations on your butterfly BTF ring. I would love to see some action shots when you are able!

I thought I posted a fun modshot somewhere in the Ring thread, but I can't find it.
Here it is again (sorry for the dupe). It’s a two in one modshot… butterfly ring and Frivole. The butterfly ring is not my actual ring as it is not my ring size.

I do not live near my VCA, so my SA sent me two rings to try on, a pink sapphire butterfly in size 53, and a yellow sapphire butterfly in size 52. Well, I needed the size 53, so I had to order that size.

The photo is the size 52 yellow sapphire that fit, but I prefer my rings on the loose side, so it's not my actual ring which I am waiting for.

The Frivole is my ring... my favorite VCA ring! I think you will love the Frivole pave BTF ring. You can then get the matching Frivole pave pendant for a set.

But… stay on the wagon. Buying jewelry never ends, and it’s not a race to buy the next piece. The journey is part of the fun!

For now, I would just enjoy the lovely pieces you have.

 

[missie1]

@waterlily112 @hmn002

Re: layering with my VA TE
First impression is - I don’t love it / I don’t hate it

View attachment 5756542

To date, I’ve been wearing either my TE VA or my magic carnelian basically every day lol (to me, they are all daily pieces )

But my soul can’t handle wearing either to the beach / outdoor activities - so aiming for the use case + just a different fun vibe to switch things up.

View attachment 5756565

I like them layered…. I think the sweet works by itself also. It’s not a wow piece but I don’t feel that’s the purpose of this piece.

 

[alohaina]

Oh WOW. Cosmos rings in RG a on the US site right now, if anyone is looking. Limited on sizing though.

 

[pink20pink]

I've read on this forum in the past that when you get a VCA bracelet resized, they resize it so that the number of links between the motifs are uniform. I want to purchase the following preowned bracelet, but noticed the number of links are not the same between the motifs. Does this mean it was resized by a third party?

 

[Emily1830]

I've read on this forum in the past that when you get a VCA bracelet resized, they resize it so that the number of links between the motifs are uniform. I want to purchase the following preowned bracelet, but noticed the number of links are not the same between the motifs. Does this mean it was resized by a third party?View attachment 5757026

No, this isn’t always true. Sometimes the links are uneven.

 

[BigAkoya]

I've read on this forum in the past that when you get a VCA bracelet resized, they resize it so that the number of links between the motifs are uniform. I want to purchase the following preowned bracelet, but noticed the number of links are not the same between the motifs. Does this mean it was resized by a third party?View attachment 5757026

You can contact your boutique and ask your SA to pull up the serial on this bracelet. Work done on a piece is tracked, so this will give you peace of mind. The seller should also have a receipt of the repair work, so maybe ask.

The seller should also give you the extra links so depending on how many links were taken out (2,4,6,8), you can probably do the math too.

UPDATE: Since you have not purchased it yet, I would ask the seller where he/she got it shortened. If he/she is vague, I would skip. Sellers/resellers should be full disclosure on used VCA pieces. Lots of scammers out there on VCA.

 

[marbella8]

@waterlily112 @hmn002

Re: layering with my VA TE
First impression is - I don’t love it / I don’t hate it

View attachment 5756542

To date, I’ve been wearing either my TE VA or my magic carnelian basically every day lol (to me, they are all daily pieces )

But my soul can’t handle wearing either to the beach / outdoor activities - so aiming for the use case + just a different fun vibe to switch things up.

View attachment 5756565

It looks so good on you, layered or not. Keep it.