Show me your Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry!

[Tonks]

All opinions are appreciated! Thank you for sharing your thoughts here.

I've come to terms that I haven't been wearing colored stones much lately, because I am so bad at coordinating what I wear. So I'm pretty much gonna stick to neutral colored pieces for a while until the top of my wishlist is fulfilled. Right now, I also want a solitaire pendant and/or a tennis bracelet...

That being said...I also really really like that VCA closed wing ladybug. But $2000+ for something that I might not get much wear out of seems silly at this time.

Wish I could have them all!

I also have a solitaire pendant on my long term wish list, but I am SO enamored with VCA pave after experiencing it (just bought the onyx/pave bracelet, though I am trying not to wear it as it is supposed to be an anniversary gift next month). I have periodically held up the pave motifs and thought about whether a pave Alhambra pendant might not be a great alternative to a solitaire pendant….

And @LLJsmom has me seriously considering pave sweet ear studs.

SOMEONE HELP.

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

"Ban Island"

 

[Tonks]

"Ban Island"

Are you laughing at the term or the idea of me not buying anything?

I would totally understand either.

 

[RunningwithScissors]

Are you laughing at the term or the idea of me not buying anything?

I would totally understand either.

I can't speak for Rubies-R-Me, but I like the term.

And I'm right there with you on Ban Island. I just hope they are serving mojitos.

 

[Tonks]

I can't speak for Rubies-R-Me, but I like the term.

And I'm right there with you on Ban Island. I just hope they are serving mojitos.

And margaritas. I envision Ban Island as a lovely tropical locale….perhaps with a nice beach and little business district. You know, cobblestone streets, some quaint open air cafes with fresh local seafood and great drinks, and shops with beautiful wares, perhaps some antiques and some old cuts and OH CRAP I‘M SHOPPING.

 

[yssie]

I also have a solitaire pendant on my long term wish list, but I am SO enamored with VCA pave after experiencing it (just bought the onyx/pave bracelet, though I am trying not to wear it as it is supposed to be an anniversary gift next month). I have periodically held up the pave motifs and thought about whether a pave Alhambra pendant might not be a great alternative to a solitaire pendant….

And @LLJsmom has me seriously considering pave sweet ear studs.

SOMEONE HELP.

So… I would get the solitaire over an Alhambra pendant.

To me Alhambra is a very “non-generic” design. It’s simple and it’s so bold, it tends to take jewellery center stage, especially in pave or bright colours in the Vintage and Magic sizes! If you know what I mean? An Alhambra pendant would always be front and center - complementary with a limited number of other shapes and eclipsed only by other Alhambra!! But a solitaire pendant would be easy wear with everything in your collection, VCA and non-VCA

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Oh my goodness!
Laughing at the term..
Ban Island is hilarious.
I plan to work that into my vocabulary as much as I can.

 

[Tonks]

Oh my goodness!
Laughing at the term..
Ban Island is hilarious.
I plan to work that into my vocabulary as much as I can.

I wish I could claim to have coined it but I did not. Read it here. Not sure where it originated, but it makes me think of coconuts and yummy drinks.

And tropical shopping.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

Y'all ready for this?

Up first, the GMOP pendant --

Here it is compared to a brownish GMOP (mine's on the right):


Then I compared mine (now on the left) with another grayish MOP. The difference in iridescence and color play was quite noticeable:

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

Then there's the 5-motif WMOP I have a deposit on at the moment --

I chose the one on top. The bottom one was pretty. It leaned more towards white/rainbow. But the pink in the first one really spoke to me. (The GMOP I chose is also in this pic; it's the upper one):



And here it is stacked with my guilloche and my hammered WG:

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

They are all so beautiful!!

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

And then here's some just for funsies --

I'm so glad I got to try on the ladybugs. I was surprised to find out that I actually much prefer the closed wing version to the opened wing. I looooved the red of the closed wing ladybug on the left here. But unfortunately, it's part of the 5-motif bracelet. And the open winged was too brown for me.



And here's just a quick pic I snapped of the dangling RG motif from the Lucky Spring bracelet. I should have worn my hammered YG here instead. But unfortunately, my DH was still with me at the boutique at the time and I couldn't bring it out then (he has yet to realize I have the hammered and the guilloche. Shhhh).

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Ooo! I have never seen the 5 motif ladybug RG bracelet in person. I'm wowed that you were in a boutique that actually had it!

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

And lastly, FAMILY SHOTS!




Oh, and here's a random pic of me wearing the GMOP out of the store.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

Um, yes, VCA is addictive. Your collection is just gorgeous!!!!

With that in mind…I’m supposed to be on Ban Island at least temporarily….but….how, hypothetically, would one go about getting a hammered white gold 5 motif bracelet? Is it a special order? It is gorgeous! I have read that WG guilloche will be a thing in November, but the WG hammered is stunning and would be so easy to wear.

I was lucky with the hammered WG. I found an SA who happened to have 1 in their store (I'm assuming it was a cancelled order). But I heard that VCA is now requiring a certain spending history for MTOs as well, I'm not sure how feasible it will be to order a hammered WG at least for the near future. Sorry . Maybe somebody else will have better news?

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

Ooo! I have never seen the 5 motif ladybug RG bracelet in person. I'm wowed that you were in a boutique that actually had it!

Me too! I didn't realize how hard to find the 5-motif ladybug had become. For a second I regretted not getting it. But once I calmed myself down, I realized there was a reason I didn't go for it in the first place. I shouldn't spend that kind of money because of FOMO (fear of missing out).

Oh, and I should have noted, I'm really appreciative of the SA. For someone who's working with a new client, who's international as well, she was quite helpful and willing to show me pieces I was interested in. I'm not the type to try things on for funsies if there's not a snowball's chance in heck that I'd actually buy it (mostly because I'm afraid I'd fall in love and get all sadz because I can't afford it). If she was in the US, I'd be happy to have her as my go-to SA.

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

I always thought of that bracelet as the "White Whale." available in theory but never actually seen in person.
I would love to get my paws on one!

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

I always thought of that bracelet as the "White Whale." available in theory but never actually seen in person.
I would love to get my paws on one!

You can try seeing if the store still has it! It's the VCA in Vancouver, BC.

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[canuk-gal]

Thanks for the tip!!

Advantageous currency exchange! CALL THEM!!!

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Advantageous currency exchange! CALL THEM!!!

I wish we were going to be in the area since if I have it shipped I will be charged duty/taxes.
We actually are going to be "out west" in the next few weeks but staying in the USA and not crossing over the border.

 

[canuk-gal]

I wish we were going to be in the area since if I have it shipped I will be charged duty/taxes.
We actually are going to be "out west" in the next few weeks but staying in the USA and not crossing over the border.

Phooey. I could have flown to Vancouver and met you for lunch at Hawksworth.

Next time. (but not in the Winter....LOL)

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

Phooey. I could have flown to Vancouver and met you for lunch at Hawksworth.

Next time. (but not in the Winter....LOL)

Double Phooey!!
Lunch with you would be even better than the bracelet!!
I booked a trip to Utah and Wyoming.. was seriously considering Seattle/Portland. Could have definitely made a bracelet run up to Vancouver from there.

 

[canuk-gal]

Double Phooey!!
Lunch with you would be even better than the bracelet!!
I booked a trip to Utah and Wyoming.. was seriously considering Seattle/Portland. Could have definitely made a bracelet run up to Vancouver from there.

How sweet! East-West coast trips are tiring. But for for VCA...not so bad. Cartier was my impetus last time for a hop to Vangroovie..... Oh what we do!

 

[Rubies-R-Me]

How sweet! East-West coast trips are tiring. But for for VCA...not so bad. Cartier was my impetus last time for a hop to Vangroovie..... Oh what we do!

Yes.. a jewelry hunt is the best motivation for doing any kind of trip.
"Vangroovie" Never heard that before.. love it!!

 

[LLJsmom]

I also have a solitaire pendant on my long term wish list, but I am SO enamored with VCA pave after experiencing it (just bought the onyx/pave bracelet, though I am trying not to wear it as it is supposed to be an anniversary gift next month). I have periodically held up the pave motifs and thought about whether a pave Alhambra pendant might not be a great alternative to a solitaire pendant….

And @LLJsmom has me seriously considering pave sweet ear studs.

SOMEONE HELP.

Since you have time, if a WG pave pendant pops up on FASHIONPHILE buy it to try it. That is the best way to figure it out. I have a feeling you will love it. A solitaire pendant is a great idea too. But that can almost wait. KWIM? Get what you love at the time you love it.

 

[Missie1]

Holy figs VCA is addictive. I've already managed to amass the following collection:



Question for the group though: I feel like I went a little overboard. I'm thinking of returning the hammered YG while I'm still within the return period. Should I??

It seems a bit redundant since I have the YG guilloche and the hammered WG. I may or may not have a deposit on a 5-motif YG WMOP as well... Furthermore, I have other shinies (both VCA and non-VCA) on my wishlist.

OTOH, it goes so well with the GMOP pendant and the 5-motif WMOP. Plus, it's really pretty and so low maintenance. And NGL, it being a harder to find piece adds to its appeal. I'm worried that if I get rid of it now, I may have a hard time getting ahold of one again in the future if I want it again.

WWPD?

Lovely collection. The hammered wg is stunning. I think personally it depends on if you plan to stack. I think for variation I would only keep one all metal bracelet.

 

[Missie1]

I wish I could claim to have coined it but I did not. Read it here. Not sure where it originated, but it makes me think of coconuts and yummy drinks.

And tropical shopping.

I periodically go to ban island but eventually I escape via speedboat as the island has Wi-Fi.

 

[yssie]

Y'all ready for this?

Up first, the GMOP pendant --

Here it is compared to a brownish GMOP (mine's on the right):


Then I compared mine (now on the left) with another grayish MOP. The difference in iridescence and color play was quite noticeable:

Wow. What a difference!! Yours is infinitely nicer than the other. I think this is a more extreme differential than anything by I saw - GMOP needs to be chosen by eye, that’s for sure!!

 

[yssie]

And then here's some just for funsies --

I'm so glad I got to try on the ladybugs. I was surprised to find out that I actually much prefer the closed wing version to the opened wing. I looooved the red of the closed wing ladybug on the left here. But unfortunately, it's part of the 5-motif bracelet. And the open winged was too brown for me.

I wish they made the ladybugs in the sweet size, that would have been darling!! I just don’t love them in the vintage size, though.

The colour difference between those two is pretty startling! I prefer the colour of the closed one on you, too, but I actually really like the two together! Different colours of open and closed ladybugs. If I was getting the ladybugs I think I’d do that deliberately

And here's just a quick pic I snapped of the dangling RG motif from the Lucky Spring bracelet. I should have worn my hammered YG here instead. But unfortunately, my DH was still with me at the boutique at the time and I couldn't bring it out then (he has yet to realize I have the hammered and the guilloche. Shhhh).