Same! Newcomer to VCA, patiently waiting for my 1st order (~7 months wait time )
As they say, ‘Better late than never!’
VCA ~ Van Cleef Arpels Discussion thread!
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As they say, ‘Better late than never!’
Thank you @sweetpea_2009 Once we go down the VCA path it is hard to come back! Honestly, it’s never too late as @weezer rightly pointed out! I didn’t get into luxury brands till my late 30s when I was settled in my career and my family life. I never had time or funds before that TBH to even look at these brands let alone think about getting something from them. By the time I did, prices were already quite insane and kept getting more insane so yes, a part of me sometimes does wish I had started on this journey earlier but I know wouldn’t have appreciated these pieces at that time. My priorities were different as was my lifestyle.
Not to get philosophical but I am a firm believer in when something is meant to be it will happen!
Stunning!! I totally agree that the RG and WG are a good pairing! They all look so beautiful on you ❤️
Thank you so much @N321 I feel we need a separate thread here to post mix of RG and WG or YG and WG! I would love to get some inspiration on how everyone does it
Guys, I’m in love
I’m in Paris right now. I just went to the mothership this morning to try the 20 motif blue agate and I fell in love.
I thought it would be too long but the lowest part reaches only until my solar plexus.
Here’s me trying to show the set I will have once I get the 20 motif. My bracelet’s stones are darker but I don’t mind. I would actually prefer the necklace’s stones to be like the ones I’m wearing.
Here it is in store lighting:
Also, I just want to say that I love VCA’s service. I set up an appointment on the website a week prior my arrival, and I explicitly stated that I wasn’t going to purchase. I just wanted to try the necklace and plan for the future in case I like it. Then the weekend before my appointment I got a WhatsApp message that the necklace was ready for my viewing
When I got there this morning, my SA took a while looking for it. Apparently it was moved from the display case because someone has already reserved it, 3 days after I got the WhatsApp message. Alhambra creations move fast.
But she got the permission for me to try it on. Though I wasn’t going to buy anything, I was still offered champagne, coffee, tea, water. I just asked for water and it came with a tiny box of assorted chocolates.
I was so overcome with appreciation that I said, “oh my god, service here is so much better than Hermès” 🤣
My SA said that she had heard that several times from clients. 😅
I asked her how I will go about it when I am ready to buy. She said I could bank transfer 30% of the amount and I will have it in a few weeks. It will be held for me for a month max. However if I pay full price, when it becomes available, she can hold it for me for up to 3 months. I didn’t want to know what happens after 3 months. 😄
It was a very short appointment. I think I was there for less than 10 minutes. But in that time I realized that wow my tastes really change so fast. I booked this Paris trip in January hoping to win the lottery (ugh) to get a chance (ugh) to maybe buy a Kelly Quadrille at Hermès, and now it’s the farthest thing from my mind. All I can think of right now is not spending that Kelly money and saving up some more to get the necklace 🤣
And I really really love visiting this store. People are so nice.
x
I’m in Paris right now. I just went to the mothership this morning to try the 20 motif blue agate and I fell in love.
I thought it would be too long but the lowest part reaches only until my solar plexus.
Here’s me trying to show the set I will have once I get the 20 motif. My bracelet’s stones are darker but I don’t mind. I would actually prefer the necklace’s stones to be like the ones I’m wearing.
Here it is in store lighting:
Also, I just want to say that I love VCA’s service. I set up an appointment on the website a week prior my arrival, and I explicitly stated that I wasn’t going to purchase. I just wanted to try the necklace and plan for the future in case I like it. Then the weekend before my appointment I got a WhatsApp message that the necklace was ready for my viewing
When I got there this morning, my SA took a while looking for it. Apparently it was moved from the display case because someone has already reserved it, 3 days after I got the WhatsApp message. Alhambra creations move fast.
But she got the permission for me to try it on. Though I wasn’t going to buy anything, I was still offered champagne, coffee, tea, water. I just asked for water and it came with a tiny box of assorted chocolates.
I was so overcome with appreciation that I said, “oh my god, service here is so much better than Hermès” 🤣
My SA said that she had heard that several times from clients. 😅
I asked her how I will go about it when I am ready to buy. She said I could bank transfer 30% of the amount and I will have it in a few weeks. It will be held for me for a month max. However if I pay full price, when it becomes available, she can hold it for me for up to 3 months. I didn’t want to know what happens after 3 months. 😄
It was a very short appointment. I think I was there for less than 10 minutes. But in that time I realized that wow my tastes really change so fast. I booked this Paris trip in January hoping to win the lottery (ugh) to get a chance (ugh) to maybe buy a Kelly Quadrille at Hermès, and now it’s the farthest thing from my mind. All I can think of right now is not spending that Kelly money and saving up some more to get the necklace 🤣
And I really really love visiting this store. People are so nice.
x
The BA 20-motif looks PHENOMENAL on you @allanrvj Bling over bags for me any and every day in a heartbeat! The best value for money in terms of cost per wear not to mention how easy they are to carry with you wherever you travel. So, I vote for the 20-motif over the H bag!
So happy that your experience with VCA customer service was great! That’s what I appreciate and love when I shop there! No pressure to ever buy and they treat you like a valued customer. That’s what started me on this never ending journey with them in the first place. It took me months to decide my first piece and my SA never made me feel like he was doing me a favor by transferring pieces in my size from Paris.
Honestly that’s how luxury buying should be. Happy, giddy moments enhanced by exceptional service. Those of us who fell down the Hermes rabbit hole can appreciate it more than others I think because we are used to being made to feel like our SAs are doing us a huge favor by making us spend our own money and we are so ‘grateful’ to get what our hard earned money bought 😳 Don’t get me wrong, I have a wonderful H SA and I am so grateful to her for making all my H dreams come true over the years but it’s the brand policy which is warped. Made shopping there stressful at times.
I love the customer service at Cartier and Bvlgari too but nothing beats VCA customer service in my experience. And some may say because I have bought a lot from VCA and hence should be entitled to that. But, honestly, we are not entitled to anything. We can expect, sure but entitled? Not really! So when we are treated well, it just adds to the brand experience and makes us appreciate what we buy even more!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience in Paris and I hope you enjoy every second of your time in the magical city!
I love how you validated what I experienced and wrote. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that.
Indeed, shopping at H feels too stressful at times. I think I lost count at how often I have received less than ideal treatment at H stores.
I’m so glad I tried the 20 motif. There aren’t many guys who wear it. I’ve only seen them on celebs, mostly rappers, so I don’t really have an idea on how it would look casually.
I’m excited for the future
You are rocking that 20-motif and aren’t we all divas ahem ‘celebrities’ in our own lives to rock these pieces? @allanrvjI love how you validated what I experienced and wrote. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that.
Indeed, shopping at H feels too stressful at times. I think I lost count at how often I have received less than ideal treatment at H stores.
I’m so glad I tried the 20 motif. There aren’t many guys who wear it. I’ve only seen them on celebs, mostly rappers, so I don’t really have an idea on how it would look casually.
I’m excited for the future
Saving for this special piece will be so worth it!
Is it possible they are more similar in color, but the necklace appears brighter because it’s on top of a white shirt? Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think agate is a bit transparent so whatever it’s against will change how the color appears.
No, they are really different shades. I’ve included pictures where the necklace is on grey tray. And somewhere here I’ve posted my bracelet before against a white windowsill.
