What to keep, what to return?

[po720]

Dear all,

This story begins with an anniversary gift from VCA - vintage mop earrings and pendant necklace. Gorgeous. Love. And then I saw the perlee signature bracelet and it went on my lust list. And the perlee rings. And then I revisited my old lust: the Lagos caviar gold/ss Apple Watch strap. So I got it. Lagos had a caviar ring very similar to the perlee one, but much less! So I ordered that too... and Tiffany had a hardball ring very similar to another perlee ring...so I ordered that just to SEEEE... and while I was perusing Tiffany I saw these gorgeous .64 ct marquis victoria earrings for $6500 so it was out of the question but as I passed the jewelry counter as Costco last night, they had a dupe with .9 ct invisible smaller stones for $800 and I bought it. Oh and I also got a quote from IDJ for 3 prong yg tennis bracelet with 12, 15, 18 and 20 pt to compare price to the vca perlee (not that far off!) soooooo now I’m like what do I keep, what do I return and what do I actually save up/wait for? Pics attached for reference! I have 3 small kids age 2, 3, and 6 so it’s very very very recent for me to attempt to wear anything nice without a baby pulling them off of me.

 

[diamondsR4eVR]

I’m loving everything so I’m no help! I also love your band on your Apple Watch. I just started wearing one for work but miss wearing nice watches. If I may ask, where is your band from?

ETA: Your wedding set is beautiful. And I love the earrings. I also have a gold bead band that I use to wear everyday. If I find a pic I’ll post it.

 

[daisygrl]

I love the earrings (last pic) - I might need them, too. The Apple watch strap - while pretty, it does not seem comfortable but only you can judge that. The strap would go under "more useful" things rather than "bling". What do you need more? I like the ring in the first pic, I am not keen on the rings in the second pic. I hope we can see the rest of your haul soon.

 

[lillibear]

The earrings are keepers

 

[diamondsR4eVR]

Duh, sorry OP I just read your strap is from Lagos.

 

[Goldenmom]

I love the earrings!

 

[po720]

I’m loving everything so I’m no help! I also love your band on your Apple Watch. I just started wearing one for work but miss wearing nice watches. If I may ask, where is your band from?

ETA: Your wedding set is beautiful. And I love the earrings. I also have a gold bead band that I use to wear everyday. If I find a pic I’ll post it.

thank you so so so much @diamondsR4eVR!! The e ring is an upgrade per tons of help and research on here. I got the stone upgraded through blue Nile and yekutiel at IDJ did an exquisite job putting eagle claw prongs on the larger stone (we almost doubled the original 1.4).

I got the Lagos strap from bloomingdales for $1900 with 20% off and got $375 in lotallist points so it wasn’t a hard one to justify haha. As @daisygrl said, it’s more useful than bling lol but the gold makes me feel like it’s a little more blingy than the Hermes leather strap.

Thank you so much @lillibear and @Goldenmom!! My bff told me to return them and go for plain studs or hearts but I feel like these are more interesting than studs and have greater longevity than hearts (I’m 35, maybe at 25?) I thought they were classy and interesting and so so so sparkly under those lights at Costco!

Re: the yellow gold Lagos and Tiffany rings - should I return them and hold out for the vca signature perlee or tennis bracelet? I got the Lagos multirow ring for $500+tax with 20% off and $100 in loyallist points and the Tiffany hardware ring for $700+tax, so that’s a solid 1k to chip away at the $6,300 for vca lol.

Also, has anyone posted about yellow gold tennis bracelets? I’ve searched the threads and saw @LLJsmom moms thread and all the beauties in there but there was only one yellow gold with yellow diamonds, albeit 20pt. Which one is more of a daily going out and about as well as dinner parties (not washing dishes and toddler poop) item? Would yg not pop as much as wg even with 3 prongs so they’re spaced out nicely?

fwiw I’m a researcher in an econ related field so even jewelry purchases that are supposed to be so fun end up being pored over and analyzed in cost/benefit terms thank you all so so much for your thoughtful responses!!!

 

[ean]

Can you take more pics of the earrings please? I have a .60ct one that I wear everyday to work. I have super small lobes and one of them is stretched out so just plain studs don’t look good on them. I love how those straps look but not the price. Oops. I feel like I can just add a little more and have a tennis bracelet made.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I think out of everything that you’ve bought, it might be helpful to see what your motivations for buying are (did you just like the item, is it a dupe for something else, or did you buy it to scratch an itch but the item is not similar to what you truly wanted)? Because it’s the latter then I feel like you should return it because you will probably want the item you originally wanted anyway, so it’s a waste of money.

So if we go through all the stuff you bought: the Costco earrings are a pretty good dupe for the Tiffany Victoria, and they look very nice on your ears with great coverage. It’s a different look from studs altogether so in the future if you do decide to do studs these will still be a great alternate earring. These I would keep.

Your Apple Watch strap is both bling and functional, so this I would keep as well. It serves a purpose in your collection.

The Lagos and the Tiffany rings that you’ve bought I would return. You bought them to emulate a specific style - the VCA Perlee - which is actually available at a similar price point (the VCA Perlee pearls of gold small model is 740+tax and medium model is 1210+tax). If you really want a Perlee pearls of gold ring, I would get the Perlee pearls of gold ring. If your priority is a bracelet, I would put that 1200 towards a bracelet and get a ring further in the future.

Now, on to bracelets. The Perlee signature is a completely different ballgame to a tennis bracelet. You will need to figure out which one of the two you want more and you will wear more. I would be more inclined to go for the Perlee before the tennis bracelet because you’ll get better wrist coverage but you have to see what you want, and whether getting both is feasible. Though if you do get both, I would explore getting the Perlee in YG, and the tennis bracelet in WG (gives the unbroken wall of bling look, plus both will stack together well).

 

[Polabowla]

Love the earrings on you! The rings seem to get lost so i would return.

 

[RunningwithScissors]

I like the earrings! To me the bands don't the wow factor.

 

[po720]

Can you take more pics of the earrings please? I have a .60ct one that I wear everyday to work. I have super small lobes and one of them is stretched out so just plain studs don’t look good on them. I love how those straps look but not the price. Oops. I feel like I can just add a little more and have a tennis bracelet made.

Thank you @Polabowla! With you and @RunningwithScissors i have 2 more votes to return the rings. I’m almost certain on the Lagos ring bc honestly they’re lighter than I would have liked but the Tiffany one feels substantial...

But alas, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain is absolutely right. And wow for that incredibly insightful feedback!!!! The watch and the earrings are keepers, I think my gf is wrong about the earrings. They stuck out in the store for a reason and they fill a void that the VCA vintage Alhambra’s do not, in that they’re not as delicate (ie can be worn in shower) but way above CZ’s. I wouldn’t feel dressed up picking up my son in school with them on. Were they necessary rn? No. But for the price, it’s worth the joy they bring me on the daily. Same for the watch band. I like the idea of going out and not constantly wearing that orange band bc I’m too lazy to switch out for the leather. The leather doesn’t give enough oomph to care but this one does.

Now onto the bracelets! I’m 100% with you on the signature perlee. At $6300, it falls smack dab in the middle of the range I got from IDJ for tennis bracelets (4250 for 12 pt all the way up to $8700 for 20 pt at 6.75 inches for my 6 inch wrist). I’d love the 20 pt obviously, I have a history of DSS as evidenced by my e-ring lol. The “wall of bling” is super intriguing! I have to look for pics!!! So realistically, I’d get the perlee bracelet and 20 tennis bracelet - so 15k. That’s as we’re starting a full gut Reno lol. I could get rid of the island? JK I NEED that island I guess IDJ is not going anywhere but VCA is bumping prices every so often, so that should be the priority as far as the perlee rings, I’m ok with returning the Lagos like I mentioned above but the medium VCA perlee ring is supposedly a dead ringer for the Tiffany hardwear one at almost twice the price. I’m not that much of a brand Loyallist to pay double for the same beaded ring. I just like the beaded look, it’s consistent with the watch and easy to play with across other items. Does that make any sense? Sorry I’m still kind of foggy post Covid.

 

[lillibear]

Everything you bought is gorgeous! I already voted to keep the earrings but I would return the two gold rings and the watch band and put that money towards the bracelet if that’s your priority.

 

[winnietucker]

Those earrings!!

I like the gold band on the left too. Those two would be my keeps.

 

[diamondsR4eVR]

Thank you @Polabowla! With you and @RunningwithScissors i have 2 more votes to return the rings. I’m almost certain on the Lagos ring bc honestly they’re lighter than I would have liked but the Tiffany one feels substantial...

But alas, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain is absolutely right. And wow for that incredibly insightful feedback!!!! The watch and the earrings are keepers, I think my gf is wrong about the earrings. They stuck out in the store for a reason and they fill a void that the VCA vintage Alhambra’s do not, in that they’re not as delicate (ie can be worn in shower) but way above CZ’s. I wouldn’t feel dressed up picking up my son in school with them on. Were they necessary rn? No. But for the price, it’s worth the joy they bring me on the daily. Same for the watch band. I like the idea of going out and not constantly wearing that orange band bc I’m too lazy to switch out for the leather. The leather doesn’t give enough oomph to care but this one does.

Now onto the bracelets! I’m 100% with you on the signature perlee. At $6300, it falls smack dab in the middle of the range I got from IDJ for tennis bracelets (4250 for 12 pt all the way up to $8700 for 20 pt at 6.75 inches for my 6 inch wrist). I’d love the 20 pt obviously, I have a history of DSS as evidenced by my e-ring lol. The “wall of bling” is super intriguing! I have to look for pics!!! So realistically, I’d get the perlee bracelet and 20 tennis bracelet - so 15k. That’s as we’re starting a full gut Reno lol. I could get rid of the island? JK I NEED that island I guess IDJ is not going anywhere but VCA is bumping prices every so often, so that should be the priority as far as the perlee rings, I’m ok with returning the Lagos like I mentioned above but the medium VCA perlee ring is supposedly a dead ringer for the Tiffany hardwear one at almost twice the price. I’m not that much of a brand Loyallist to pay double for the same beaded ring. I just like the beaded look, it’s consistent with the watch and easy to play with across other items. Does that make any sense? Sorry I’m still kind of foggy post Covid.

I say keep the beaded ring too. I have one exactly like it (non branded) and it makes for the perfect stack.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Thank you @Polabowla! With you and @RunningwithScissors i have 2 more votes to return the rings. I’m almost certain on the Lagos ring bc honestly they’re lighter than I would have liked but the Tiffany one feels substantial...

But alas, @AllAboardTheBlingTrain is absolutely right. And wow for that incredibly insightful feedback!!!! The watch and the earrings are keepers, I think my gf is wrong about the earrings. They stuck out in the store for a reason and they fill a void that the VCA vintage Alhambra’s do not, in that they’re not as delicate (ie can be worn in shower) but way above CZ’s. I wouldn’t feel dressed up picking up my son in school with them on. Were they necessary rn? No. But for the price, it’s worth the joy they bring me on the daily. Same for the watch band. I like the idea of going out and not constantly wearing that orange band bc I’m too lazy to switch out for the leather. The leather doesn’t give enough oomph to care but this one does.

Now onto the bracelets! I’m 100% with you on the signature perlee. At $6300, it falls smack dab in the middle of the range I got from IDJ for tennis bracelets (4250 for 12 pt all the way up to $8700 for 20 pt at 6.75 inches for my 6 inch wrist). I’d love the 20 pt obviously, I have a history of DSS as evidenced by my e-ring lol. The “wall of bling” is super intriguing! I have to look for pics!!! So realistically, I’d get the perlee bracelet and 20 tennis bracelet - so 15k. That’s as we’re starting a full gut Reno lol. I could get rid of the island? JK I NEED that island I guess IDJ is not going anywhere but VCA is bumping prices every so often, so that should be the priority as far as the perlee rings, I’m ok with returning the Lagos like I mentioned above but the medium VCA perlee ring is supposedly a dead ringer for the Tiffany hardwear one at almost twice the price. I’m not that much of a brand Loyallist to pay double for the same beaded ring. I just like the beaded look, it’s consistent with the watch and easy to play with across other items. Does that make any sense? Sorry I’m still kind of foggy post Covid.

If the Tiffany is a dead-ringer for the Perlee and you really want that look - keep the Tiffany! I haven’t actually seen the Tiffany hardwear in person so I didn’t know.

As for your 15k bling goals - there’s nothing wrong with having goals! I’ll never encourage someone to not get lots of bling haha. I would start saving separately for bling (make a bling fund or savings goal in your banking app) and start squirrelling away - every time you decide to have homemade coffee instead of Starbucks put the 5$ in your bling fund, for example. It adds up pretty quickly once you clamp down on your discretionary expenses (especially impulse purchases)!

 

[po720]

For reference these are the equivalent Tiffany Victoria (.92 ct) - they’re $9500!

 

[LLJsmom]

I would pull out what you LOVE the most. What really makes your stomach flutter. Ignore cost and how good of a deal it is. Then choose the one that you get the most wear out of. In my experience, those are the jewelry pieces I love and wear the most.

 

[po720]

Gahhhhhh @LLJsmom this is like getting a rockstar to reply to your tweet lol, your pieces are #blinggoals for me. Your vca signature perlee and tennis bracelet are exactly what I imagined stacking but in the yellow gold (I think I saw a pic in another thread last night). I guess my concern is that im having such tunnel vision for the perlee that I’d overlook knockouts like the flower earrings that honestly stole my heart when I saw them the other night. I keep coming back to these too:

I have thin lobes so I think I’m drawn to delicate pieces. I just keep deliberating between longevity of certain shapes, like hearts, even though I may like them. Thank you so much for your thoughtful insight!!

 

[nala]

Sometimes when I’ve returned purchases I have realized that I could live without them. Have you tried that approach?

 

[po720]

These are a cz pair I got years ago from Saks bc I loved how delicate they are. The Tiffany bars remind me of them and I think would be more beautiful?

 

[po720]

Sometimes when I’ve returned purchases I have realized that I could live without them. Have you tried that approach?

Absolutely!!! That’s why I’m kind of marinating now and trying to see if I’m running to put any of them on or kind of meh. It’s tough bc I don’t want to actually wear any of them out before I fully commit but I’m heading out now to meet with a contractor and I debated putting on the flower earrings that everyone is saying to keep. That’s a good sign. I put these cz bars on instead bc they’re my go to but I just want a real go to.

 

[LLJsmom]

Gahhhhhh @LLJsmom this is like getting a rockstar to reply to your tweet lol, your pieces are #blinggoals for me. Your vca signature perlee and tennis bracelet are exactly what I imagined stacking but in the yellow gold (I think I saw a pic in another thread last night). I guess my concern is that im having such tunnel vision for the perlee that I’d overlook knockouts like the flower earrings that honestly stole my heart when I saw them the other night. I keep coming back to these too:

I have thin lobes so I think I’m drawn to delicate pieces. I just keep deliberating between longevity of certain shapes, like hearts, even though I may like them. Thank you so much for your thoughtful insight!!

LOL!! Hardly. I've definitely made my share of bling missteps, and I keep making them. Often times, I find myself buying something I really, really like because I can afford it at the time, rather than saving up for what I LOVE. And usually, I regret it. But it's so hard to be disciplined and save... So I still think if you can afford what you love most, do that first, and see if getting that changes how you feel about stuff that you just like a lot.

With regard to your specific pieces, I find the bar earrings super cute, but not classic and not worth the Tiffany price tag. But that's me. If it is worth the price tag for you, you will know it. Do what is right for you. For me, more often than not, I have regretted the smaller purchases. It may take me some time to realize it, but I do.