Thank you for your thoughts and this perspective, especially about diamond pieces. I’ve had some days to mull over and think I am leaning towards the 10 motif as well.
VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!
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Thank you for your insight and for breaking down what my thought process should be when mulling over a large and important purchase!Hi! First, happy 10 year anniversary! How special... the big 10!
My input on your dilemma...
First, I need to preface this with my thoughts on tennis bracelets and eternity bands.
I am not a fan of these pieces (tennis bracelet, eternity band) for the same reason as @etoupebirkin. I feel they are ubiquitous, and everyone one has them, real or fake. I've gone through three tennis bracelets, upgrading each time, and after the initial glow of a wearing a new piece, I felt it was nothing special. Why did I keep buying them? Because at the time, I felt everyone had to own a tennis bracelet as a "classic diamond" piece. I did this with my diamond earrings too. I upgrade three times, and I don't even wear them at all now.
Don't get me wrong, I love a sparkly, perfectly cut diamond. I wear a boring, classic, ubiquitous Tiffany diamond solitaire as my engagement ring.
Design-wise, it's my most boring piece, but I really love love love it as the diamond is the star, not the setting.
That said, for you...
I assume you really love love love the tennis bracelet or eternity band design to want one, and it is not because you feel you should own this piece as part of your jewelry collection.
Assuming yes, that you really love love love these designs, I vote to get a giant eternity band with perhaps diamonds in a fancy cut such as emerald or asscher.
First.. the why nots...
Why not the 10 motif?
Because as you said, you will not wear it often. Get it later, not for the big 10. The 10 motif is just another Alhambra piece. Plus, I think the 10 motif is hard to wear. It clashes with a lot of round necklines, and the length sometimes lands at an awkward spot on the person. Just be sure you like wearing short, choker-style necklaces before you get one. I would wait until your lifestyle suits wearing a 10 motif regularly.
Why not the tennis bracelet?
Because, in my humble opinion, this piece doesn't make a statement. It's like wearing a gold chain bracelet, nothing special. I also feel that unless the tennis bracelet is of a significant total carat weight, you are going to feel like you have to stack it with another bracelet. This is because by itself, a tennis bracelet doesn't have presence, which is why people feel the need to stack. Which then, defeats the purpose of getting a "diamond bracelet" if it has no presence, and you have to mix it with other bracelets. The "gorgeous diamond bracelet" look is lost, and it's just now a "bracelet stack" look with the tennis bracelet being a supporting actor. I hope that made sense.
Why a giant eternity ring?
Because it celebrates and honors 10 years together! And because you said you would wear it everyday. It's not often life has these wonderful celebrations, so I would get something memorable that you love. You will have an ear-to-ear grin when you see it on your finger, as will your husband. He will feel so proud seeing you wear it. I also love love love the meaning of an eternity band...marriage for an eternity, full circle, endless, no beginning, no end.
I would suggest getting a large band as you mentioned. A large eternity band will pop! I would also suggest getting diamonds in a different cut other than round (which everyone has). I love emerald cut diamond eternity bands. I also love asscher cut diamonds, but well cut asschers are hard to find (be sure to look for those perfect windmills).
That's my vote! Just my two cents to share my thoughts. Hope it helps in your decision.
Congratulations again on your 10th anniversary!
If I got a tennis bracelet, the intention was to layer it with my 5 motifs, so you are right. Thank you for
As for the eternity band… I do love it, but I am not sure if I love it more than the 10 motif at the moment! I’ll have to go back to the boutique, but last time I tried on a few 20 motifs, they just didn’t wow me (they were MOP and TE). Perhaps it was the stone combo… or my outfit?
I would totally get an eternity band in emerald cut. I need to get to a jeweler and to a boutique to try on what I can!
Thank you for your thoughts, especially about diamonds (your tennis bracelet you posted is a dream!)
Yes, I want this to be my one 10 motif and stick to it. Then start prioritizing other collections like Perlee…
Thank you! I love that hammered gold is so versatile and easy. I am leaning towards it if I can get my hands on it…
Thank you!Hammered gold ten motif. Low maintenance. Classic. Easy to wear
Happy anniversary
Ideally, I’d want something I can wear regardless of occasion, even on a flight to travel somewhere. I am definitely torn between hammered gold and TE, but am leaning towards hammered gold…
Happy Anniversary! With the price increases and waitlists for VCA pieces, I say get the 10 motif first. All your 10 motif choices are lovely-perhaps choose one that can be worn with your other VCA pieces, since this would be your only 10 motif.
I also vote for the 10 motif although I don’t believe they’re taking orders for any TE pieces right now until they fulfill previous orders and source it better. I pre-ordered a TE 10 motif late last fall and was told it would take 3 months but it wound up taking almost 7 months.
They have new cleaning kits FYI
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Waiting for my very first VCA jewelry—Alhambra 5 motifs yellow guilloche
(Paid the full deposit in the San Francisco store yesterday) I was told it will be ~ 7 months wait.
My 1st choice was actually the Hammered Gold but the waitlist is closed.
I am still thrilled to have the opportunity to own a 5 motifs in gold guilloche. I already have a diamond tennis bracelet and Rolex watch on my left wrist.
On my right wrist, I wear a Cartier Love bracelet (regular, yellow gold) so I plan to wear my VCA Alhambra 5 motifs (yellow Guilloche) on the right wrist with my Love bracelet.
I know the VCA bracelet especially in yellow guilloche will show scratches (since it will be worn daily with my Love bracelet) but I think it will be a testament to a life well lived and loved just like its elderly owner
(Paid the full deposit in the San Francisco store yesterday) I was told it will be ~ 7 months wait.
My 1st choice was actually the Hammered Gold but the waitlist is closed.
I am still thrilled to have the opportunity to own a 5 motifs in gold guilloche. I already have a diamond tennis bracelet and Rolex watch on my left wrist.
On my right wrist, I wear a Cartier Love bracelet (regular, yellow gold) so I plan to wear my VCA Alhambra 5 motifs (yellow Guilloche) on the right wrist with my Love bracelet.
I know the VCA bracelet especially in yellow guilloche will show scratches (since it will be worn daily with my Love bracelet) but I think it will be a testament to a life well lived and loved just like its elderly owner
I am glad to hear you love the butterfly ring more than expected. Between you and Eternal’s many many pics of hers I am leaning towards adding this ring (likely Erernal’s as the mop rg goes with a lot of my pieces). I enjoy my rings the most!Hi! Yes, I did! I wear a 52 in Frivole BTF and a 53 in the butterfly BTF. This is because the Frivole BTF has a more open gap, while the butterfly BTF more like a full circle ring. Hence, the butterfly BTF is less forgiving. I wear a 53 in the Lotus ring which is a full circle.
I did a post to explain the sizing difference and posted photos of the gap opening to explain (re-reading it... it's kind of a long drawn out explanation, sorry
As FYI, I really like the butterfly BTF ring, much more than I thought I would. It's dainty and whimsical, so I wear it with fun clothing. I also wear a bolder bracelet(s) on my wrist to give it a bit more pizazz.
Hope this help, and congratulations on your soon to be butterfly ring!
Happy anniversary!
Late to the party here… but I would get the 10 motif hammered in your case. I have the yg and wg and I always pick one with matching pieces to wear on holidays with my kids. They are hardy pieces and can be worn with anything. I actually prefer them casually and wear them much more while I am not working. It is not a dressy piece to me but an everyday piece. So if every day is your objective then get then get a solid gold 10 motif.
As for diamonds, I am now the same as a few others here that will only get lab for standard non branded pieces. I just got my first pair of labs for diamond studs and eyeing a tennis bracelet next. I would stick to a branded piece for anniversary if me and then go lab for other pieces and with lower price tag can buy whenever.
Good luck deciding!
I agree with you on rings! Rings always come first for me!
I hope you also try the yellow sapphire to see if you might like it. It's very easy to wear, and the yellow sapphire and diamonds make a nice colorful sparkle together.
Oh, by the way, I think way back, we talked about what VCA earrings to wear with the buttetrfly.
I didn't get the matching butterfly earrings as the look is too cutesy for me.
I used to wear my WG Frivole pave earrings, but I now wear my Lotus earrings. I feel the pointed (e.g. marquise) petals on the Lotus flower match better with the pointed butterflies and the marquise diamonds.
Looking forward to see which ring you get!
I was considering the yellow but i really love the mop one and know I will wear it a ton. I would probably wear it with my rg serpenti ring on same hand for an extra look.
For earrings I have a few that work like my lucky butterfly and diamond clusters or studs. I may get rg serpenti earrings at some point too.
The lotus are perfect for yours. I will also unlikely get the butterfly diamond earrings. More due to price. I just find them so expensive for earrings. I am ok with paying for rings but not earrings for some reason. And I don’t love the rg mop ones. Though I have never tried them. Will give them a try now that I am typing this…
If you are sure you will get the RG MOP butterfly ring to wear it with your Serpenti ring, I think the Serpenti earrings will be perfect. The earrings will make a perfect matched look with the Serpenti ring, and the butterfly ring will be special accent piece.
The RG MOP butterfly earrings will work, but they are not as nice as the diamond butterfly ones in my opinion. To me, the MOP stone changes the whimsical butterfly look to more of a cutesy butterfly playset look, a bit childish, as there are so many MOP butterflies now, and MOP can look like plastic-y in a cutesy setting such as butterflies. I hope that made sense. I am sure once you try on the MOP earrings and ring together, you will immediately know if you love it or not. Jewelry is all personal preference.
Speaking of earrings...
I recently lost one of my WG Frivole pave earrings. I just bought a new pair, but that was the easy part. I now have to annoy myself and go through the "adjust my earring" drama again.
Not looking forward to it.Back to your earrings...
Since you have the Serpenti ring, I would go for the matching earrings. I assume you have the full pave ring, and the "scales" kind of make the ring look like it's bezel set diamonds, even though it's not. The bezel edge though will look great against the similar bezel edge of the butterfly, especially the MOP.
But... full circle back to your ring...
The RG MOP butterfly ring is nice, and I am sure you know this, but with a MOP ring (or any pearl ring) you can't exactly wear the ring when you're roughing it out. I find pearl bracelets and necklaces easy to wear, and I wear them even when I'm roughing it out. However, hands get banged a lot, so pearl/MOP rings aren't quite everyday rings vs. the sapphire ring as sapphires are pretty durable.
If you are trying to find a RG ring to match your RG Serpenti, maybe try the RG pink sapphire butterfly ring. Of the two RG choices, for me, I would choose the RG pink sapphire.
Anyway, just my two cents in case for some thoughts in case it might help you decide. Good luck and congratulations on your soon to be new butterfly ring!
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