VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!

[BigAkoya]

Dear friends I seek your help (and frustrated because I just typed in this whole question and it got deleted...ugh). Paging especially @BigAkoya, @eternallove4bag, @880, @EpiFanatic and whoever wants to chime in to help me out.

I currently have the Frivole Small YG (photo attached so you can see proportion on my lobe). I want: A) Pave VA YG earrings, B) Single row Pave Perlee YG bracelet, C) Frivole Pave earrings (YG), D) Frivole Pave BTF ring, in no particular order. WG is something I will tackle down the road (have blingy WG earrings to suit me for now).

For C, I'm not sure if I should go with the small, since they are available, or hold out for the large Pave, if those are even attainable. I'm tall (5'9) long blond hair so I don't want them to be diminished. Don't have an opportunity to try any on for some time. If the small are basically "good" but the large "ideal" for me then I'll move on to the bracelet or something else (like B, D, or the Cartier Panthere ring I fell in love with in January) and wait.

You know, thinking on this I'm pretty sure if I had both the small and large Pave Frivole in front of me and had the chance to try on both I'd take the large in a heartbeat (ie, go big or go home), but if those are basically unattainable I won't have that choice......

View attachment 5780107

Hi! You've already received great input, so I will add my thoughts as well.
First, as @EpiFanatic mentioned, you can SO the Frivole large pave earrings.

If I had to estimate a cost, I would say it would be around $37K. How did I come up with that number?

You are basically buying two Frivole YG large pave pendants, plus maybe a little extra gold for the ear clips (vs. the thin chain on the pendant). One Frivole YG large pave pendant is $14.3K. Two Frivole YG large pendants is $28.6K. Add a 30% uplift for the SO, and it's $37.2K. Hence, the ballpark of $37K.

Another example on pricing is the Butterfly BTF ring. The yellow sapphire and diamond butterfly earrings with two butterflies is $25.4K The yellow sapphire and diamond BTF ring, with two butterflies, just like the earrings, is also $25.4K.
Hope that math helped to your to estimate the SO price. It's a ballpark of course.

If you really love love love the Frivole Large pave earring, yes, get them. However, I would not buy them just because they are bigger because to me, that's a lot of SO uplift for an earring that is not profoundly larger (the Very Large is profoundly larger, but not the Large, not to me).

I would also ask yourself what "category" jewelry is your first love. I think this is important as it helps to build a jewelry collection. For me, rings are my first love, followed by long necklaces, then bracelets, and last are earrings.

As rings are my first love, I do not hesitate spending money on a ring I love. However, I only buy earrings to match a ring or long necklace. Hence, I would not SO the Large earrings just to get something slightly bigger. Yes, the Frivole Large earrings are bigger, but they are not significantly larger in size. The small pave earrings already have tons of bling for sure. It's $37K vs. $17K, for earrings only slightly bigger.

For you, earrings may be your first love, and if yes, go for the Frivole Large pave earrings.
But... ask yourself what category is your first love... is it earrings? Do you love the Large size and have to have them? If the answer is yes to both, then go for it! Get that SO order in!

Assuming you do not want to get the Frivole Large earrings (or you do not get approved)... what would I suggest?

My thoughts on what to get...
Given your list, it seems you want to get a Frivole pave set, earrings and the BTF ring. I would prioritize those as your next pieces.
I would sell the YG Frivole earrings you have and get the Frivole small pave earrings and the matching BTF ring. I think once you get the pave earrings, you will not wear the YG ones much. For me, sparkly bling always wins over shiny metal.

Quick side note...
There was mention of earring height placement, so I want to mention depending on when you purchased your Frivole earrings, the post height may be adjustable. If you want to drop the earrings a bit, put the post in the top hole. It's all preference what you like, so just FYI here.

I vote for the Frivole small pave earrings and the matching Frivole pave BTF ring. Gorgeous set, and Frivole pave just rocks! Super sparkly, super gorgeous, and super versatile. You can wear it with a business outfit or shorts.

Just my two cents. Hope this helps in your decision, and good luck!

 

[WingNut]

Hi! You've already received great input, so I will add my thoughts as well.
First, as @EpiFanatic mentioned, you can SO the Frivole large pave earrings.

If I had to estimate a cost, I would say it would be around $37K. How did I come up with that number?

You are basically buying two Frivole YG large pave pendants, plus maybe a little extra gold for the ear clips (vs. the thin chain on the pendant). One Frivole YG large pave pendant is $14.3K. Two Frivole YG large pendants is $28.6K. Add a 30% uplift for the SO, and it's $37.2K. Hence, the ballpark of $37K.

Another example on pricing is the Butterfly BTF ring. The yellow sapphire and diamond butterfly earrings with two butterflies is $25.4K The yellow sapphire and diamond BTF ring, with two butterflies, just like the earrings, is also $25.4K.
Hope that math helped to your to estimate the SO price. It's a ballpark of course.

If you really love love love the Frivole Large pave earring, yes, get them. However, I would not buy them just because they are bigger because to me, that's a lot of SO uplift for an earring that is not profoundly larger (the Very Large is profoundly larger, but not the Large, not to me).

I would also ask yourself what "category" jewelry is your first love. I think this is important as it helps to build a jewelry collection. For me, rings are my first love, followed by long necklaces, then bracelets, and last are earrings.

As rings are my first love, I do not hesitate spending money on a ring I love. However, I only buy earrings to match a ring or long necklace. Hence, I would not SO the Large earrings just to get something slightly bigger. Yes, the Frivole Large earrings are bigger, but they are not significantly larger in size. The small pave earrings already have tons of bling for sure. It's $37K vs. $17K, for earrings only slightly bigger.

For you, earrings may be your first love, and if yes, go for the Frivole Large pave earrings.
But... ask yourself what category is your first love... is it earrings? Do you love the Large size and have to have them? If the answer is yes to both, then go for it! Get that SO order in!

Assuming you do not want to get the Frivole Large earrings (or you do not get approved)... what would I suggest?

My thoughts on what to get...
Given your list, it seems you want to get a Frivole pave set, earrings and the BTF ring. I would prioritize those as your next pieces.
I would sell the YG Frivole earrings you have and get the Frivole small pave earrings and the matching BTF ring. I think once you get the pave earrings, you will not wear the YG ones much. For me, sparkly bling always wins over shiny metal.

Quick side note...
There was mention of earring height placement, so I want to mention depending on when you purchased your Frivole earrings, the post height may be adjustable. If you want to drop the earrings a bit, put the post in the top hole. It's all preference what you like, so just FYI here.

I vote for the Frivole small pave earrings and the matching Frivole pave BTF ring. Gorgeous set, and Frivole pave just rocks! Super sparkly, super gorgeous, and super versatile. You can wear it with a business outfit or shorts.

Just my two cents. Hope this helps in your decision, and good luck!

@BigAkoya as always thank you for your insight! My earring posts are on the top holes of the earrings. They were originally on the bottom when my lobes were stretched but I've since had those repaired and re-pierced. Even then I still have meaty lobes (but at least they aren't drooping like they were). I did consider the redundancy factor and that IFF I got the small Pave I'd consider selling the regular non-pave ones, but for work I can see having a bit less bling, so that's an option but not necessary.

Hard to say what my first love is. Earrings are great but you don't see them unless you are looking in the mirror. I adore rings but do have a lot. And the Perlee bracelet is probably the one I'd get the most bang-for-the-buck out of because I would wear that a TON (more than the earrings or ring even though I love them equally).

Sounds like an answer is slowwwwwwly coalescing in my brain.....

 

[BigAkoya]

@BigAkoya as always thank you for your insight! My earring posts are on the top holes of the earrings. They were originally on the bottom when my lobes were stretched but I've since had those repaired and re-pierced. Even then I still have meaty lobes (but at least they aren't drooping like they were). I did consider the redundancy factor and that IFF I got the small Pave I'd consider selling the regular non-pave ones, but for work I can see having a bit less bling, so that's an option but not necessary.

Hard to say what my first love is. Earrings are great but you don't see them unless you are looking in the mirror. I adore rings but do have a lot. And the Perlee bracelet is probably the one I'd get the most bang-for-the-buck out of because I would wear that a TON (more than the earrings or ring even though I love them equally).

Sounds like an answer is slowwwwwwly coalescing in my brain.....

I agree with you on earrings... once you put earrings on, you never see them! Plus, most of the time, my hair covers my ears.
I like to see my bling; hence it's rings for me.

Sounds like the Perlee single row is the top choice! What about the Clover bangle? You may already own the Clover though or not like it which is why it's not on your list.

As a thought... depending on the type of bangle you like, the single row can come across thin, especially when worn solo. The Clover bangle can definitely stand on its own, and it has a lot of presence. The single row is more a stacking bangle to me, but the thin, clean look may be what you're looking for.

I think you're going to have a lot of fun trying on pieces at VCA!

 

[eternallove4bag]

Dear friends I seek your help (and frustrated because I just typed in this whole question and it got deleted...ugh). Paging especially @BigAkoya, @eternallove4bag, @880, @EpiFanatic and whoever wants to chime in to help me out.

I currently have the Frivole Small YG (photo attached so you can see proportion on my lobe). I want: A) Pave VA YG earrings, B) Single row Pave Perlee YG bracelet, C) Frivole Pave earrings (YG), D) Frivole Pave BTF ring, in no particular order. WG is something I will tackle down the road (have blingy WG earrings to suit me for now).

For C, I'm not sure if I should go with the small, since they are available, or hold out for the large Pave, if those are even attainable. I'm tall (5'9) long blond hair so I don't want them to be diminished. Don't have an opportunity to try any on for some time. If the small are basically "good" but the large "ideal" for me then I'll move on to the bracelet or something else (like B, D, or the Cartier Panthere ring I fell in love with in January) and wait.

You know, thinking on this I'm pretty sure if I had both the small and large Pave Frivole in front of me and had the chance to try on both I'd take the large in a heartbeat (ie, go big or go home), but if those are basically unattainable I won't have that choice......

View attachment 5780107

@WingNut first of all what a FABULOUS list! It had me all starry eyed I won’t lie because it has all of my fave pieces on them!

I believe the large pave Frivole earrings are by SO only. I feel the small ones are super blingy in their own. If you didn’t have the small mirror finish Frivole earrings I would have said to go with the large ones in those and stick to small in pave.

As much as I love love love the Frivole pave earrings, since you already have the mirror finish Frivole earrings I am leaning towards getting the single row perlee bracelet first! That or the pave Frivole BTF ring.

 

[missie1]

@WingNut - based on how the small frivole looks on your earlobe I think you are absolutely right. You can totally pull off the large pave frivole and the large size would allow the Frivole to partially hang off the ear, which in my opinion is the prettiest and whole point of the design of the earring. Below is a link to my friend’s pave large SO and it looks perfect on her. This is the size I would go for if I were you.

Post your frivole pieces here

If I stack my single row at all I stack with my signature or a leather Hermes bracelet. I tried to love it with the perlee d’or or the clover. Although so gorgeous, the clover just never felt “me”. I also have a 5 inch wrist and the clover felt overwhelming on my wrist. And I’m a person of...

forum.purseblog.com

She has the most insane earring collection doesn’t she.

 

[880]

A) Pave VA YG earrings, B) Single row Pave Perlee YG bracelet, C) Frivole Pave earrings (YG), D) Frivole Pave BTF ring, in no particular order. WG is something I will tackle down the road (have blingy WG earrings to suit me for now).

is this list in any kind of order of preference, even subconsciously ?

The small might "do" for me but the large are just "wow".

I think the small might do it, since you have the large YG for work? But, is the wow factor enough to cross out other contenders for now?

I did consider the redundancy factor and that IFF I got the small Pave I'd consider selling the regular non-pave ones, but for work I can see having a bit less bling, so that's an option but not necessary.

Depends on whether you want a wow piece or a ‘practical’ work piece?

believe the large pave Frivole earrings are by SO only. I feel the small ones are super blingy in their own. If you didn’t have the small mirror finish Frivole earrings I would have said to go with the large ones in those and stick to small in pave.

If you agree with this, then stick to the small and add something else from your list. . .

But, if it were me, frivole pave btf ring None of us need ‘work’ earrings lol. ..you can always cover your ears with your hair at work lol. Plus I’ve been seduced by @BigAkoya ‘s description of her BtF pave frivole rings.

youve picked beautiful things; there is really no wrong way to go. I’m more of a trust your gut instincts and take a leap
.
ETA: it sounds like the answer is coalescing around the ring or bracelet I cannot wait to hear what you decide

 

[EpiFanatic]

She has the most insane earring collection doesn’t she.

Yes, the MOST insane.

 

[Purrsey]

My aunt lends this to me so I can wear and see how I feel about vintage Alhambra in general.

I can see specks of dust (as so that many “complain” about Guilloche) but I’m sure a little wash can get rid.

And oh boy this guy is heavy on my neck. Maybe for decades I’ve been just wearing small solitaire necklace. Do you ladies feel it is heavy? How do you even wear the multiple motifs?

 

[EpiFanatic]

My aunt lends this to me so I can wear and see how I feel about vintage Alhambra in general.

I can see specks of dust (as so that many “complain” about Guilloche) but I’m sure a little wash can get rid.

And oh boy this guy is heavy on my neck. Maybe for decades I’ve been just wearing small solitaire necklace. Do you ladies feel it is heavy? How do you even wear the multiple motifs?

View attachment 5780606

I’m among the minority but I think it’s heavy too. I also used to just wear a solitaire pendant. (Now most of the time I wear nothing on my neck.) I have a 10 motif and I never wear it. I know I should. Anyway I know most people get accustomed to it.

 

[waterlily112]

My aunt lends this to me so I can wear and see how I feel about vintage Alhambra in general.

I can see specks of dust (as so that many “complain” about Guilloche) but I’m sure a little wash can get rid.

And oh boy this guy is heavy on my neck. Maybe for decades I’ve been just wearing small solitaire necklace. Do you ladies feel it is heavy? How do you even wear the multiple motifs?

View attachment 5780606

I think it's heavy too! I own the WG guilloche holiday pendant so it probably weigh even more with the extra rhodium plating. The stone version feels lighter and more wearable imo, but most of the time I only wear my sweet carnelian pendant or nothing at all The 'dust' you see on the guilloche can also be tiny scratches. The pendant tend to be less prone to scratches than the bracelet but dust and dirt is unavoidable. You'll notice the more scratches it sustained, it'll look more dusty and dull, I didn't realize it until comparing my pendant to my friends' 5 motif guilloche.

 

[WingNut]

is this list in any kind of order of preference, even subconsciously ?

I think the small might do it, since you have the large YG for work? But, is the wow factor enough to cross out other contenders for now?

Depends on whether you want a wow piece or a ‘practical’ work piece?

If you agree with this, then stick to the small and add something else from your list. . .

But, if it were me, frivole pave btf ring None of us need ‘work’ earrings lol. ..you can always cover your ears with your hair at work lol. Plus I’ve been seduced by @BigAkoya ‘s description of her BtF pave frivole rings.

youve picked beautiful things; there is really no wrong way to go. I’m more of a trust your gut instincts and take a leap
.
ETA: it sounds like the answer is coalescing around the ring or bracelet I cannot wait to hear what you decide

@880 ...I so appreciate your input!!! The order is relatively random, perhaps fueled by anticipation of availability. It's also only a subset as I also want the MOP 6-motif necklace, 10-motif malachite, 2-motif MOP etc etc. The issue is that I happened to stumble upon the SM Pave Frivoles as available, and IF that was the way to go I'd jump on them. As I am still on the fence, I guess it's NOT the way to go. I do think bang for the buck the bracelet will be #1.

To clarify, I have the SM YG non-pave for work. The Pave are intended for WOW.

 

[Purrsey]

Thank you @EpiFanatic and @waterlily112

I just gave it a clean up and it looks much brighter now and now i do see some micro scratches. I can only imagine how the bracelet will get beat up even more.

I’m slowly getting used a little bit to its weight after few hrs of wear.

 

[glamourbag]

My aunt lends this to me so I can wear and see how I feel about vintage Alhambra in general.

I can see specks of dust (as so that many “complain” about Guilloche) but I’m sure a little wash can get rid.

And oh boy this guy is heavy on my neck. Maybe for decades I’ve been just wearing small solitaire necklace. Do you ladies feel it is heavy? How do you even wear the multiple motifs?

View attachment 5780606

I have this single as well as the 10 motif version. I wear the 10 motif more (often it is worn to work) and am fine with it. I think it really is all what your used to.

 

[tarheelap]

My aunt lends this to me so I can wear and see how I feel about vintage Alhambra in general.

I can see specks of dust (as so that many “complain” about Guilloche) but I’m sure a little wash can get rid.

And oh boy this guy is heavy on my neck. Maybe for decades I’ve been just wearing small solitaire necklace. Do you ladies feel it is heavy? How do you even wear the multiple motifs?

View attachment 5780606

I find the earrings to be a bit heavy.

 

[ProShopper1]

Van Cleef & Arpels Special Order 18K Rose Gold Pink MOP 5-Motif Vintage Alhambra Bracelet - Ann's Fabulous Finds

This Special Order Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Rose Gold Vintage Alhambra Bracelet is a wowzer with five pink mother of pearl motifs! The 14-millimeter clovers have rose-gold beaded edges and are joined by a fine chain with a lobster clasp. New and never worn, it comes with a special box and...

www.annsfabulousfinds.com

Pink on pink!!