Would you seek out and enjoy your branded pieces the same way if they weren't branded?

[Diamond Girl 21]

It's all about the particular piece for me. If I love it and it's a quality piece, then I don't care about the brand.

 

[yssie]

Slightly off topic, but there is a VCA Alhambra piece I covet so strongly, but I struggle with the idea of buying a ubiquitous design. Like I feel like a piece from a less recognizable line would feel more special? It is a lot of money for me, so I don't want to have any regrets either way.

I mean… If it speaks to you then it speaks to you. IMO the fact that it might speak to lots of other people as well doesn’t mean you should shutter out whatever it’s saying to you!! The more people it speaks to the more staying power the design will have - and, if you ever want to resell it one day, they more you’ll get for it, right?

Big fan of letting heart and gut guide my bling

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I have a Radley bag! I love the dog..which is why I purchased it!

Same!

 

[Kim N]

I mean… If it speaks to you then it speaks to you. IMO the fact that it might speak to lots of other people as well doesn’t mean you should shutter out whatever it’s saying to you!! The more people it speaks to the more staying power the design will have - and, if you ever want to resell it one day, they more you’ll get for it, right?

Big fan of letting heart and gut guide my bling

All good points--I know it's better to let only my own preferences guide me and not be influenced by what others have or think. It's harder in practice, though. Thanks for weighing in, yssie.

 

[yssie]

All good points--I know it's better to let only my own preferences guide me and not be influenced by what others have or think. It's harder in practice, though. Thanks for weighing in, yssie.

I hear this on all counts. Huge part of why I’ve done SO much custom work. So here I am trying to not slide off my own soapbox and take my own advice LOL.

 

[Rons Wolfe]

The brand has to give me something besides it's name and a fancy logo. For example the center stone of my engagement ring is an Eightstar. By it having that brand I knew I'd love the cut, and only had to see if color, clarity and size were all within the parameters that both my then-fiance and I had set. The setting is a Simon G, but we chose that only because we both really liked it. The brand doesn't matter at all and we wouldn't have paid a premium for that.

 

[dk168]

IMHO, I would only buy a branded piece because I like it, and not because of its potential resale value in the future.

Therefore, once I have bought a branded piece, I would wear it as much as I could.

DK

 

[Tonks]

Slightly off topic, but there is a VCA Alhambra piece I covet so strongly, but I struggle with the idea of buying a ubiquitous design. Like I feel like a piece from a less recognizable line would feel more special? It is a lot of money for me, so I don't want to have any regrets either way.

One thing to consider is that ubiquitous online and ubiquitous in real life are different. While I see Alhambra all over social media, I have only ever seen two real life Alhambra sightings in my hometown. It’s so easy to browse Instagram and feel like a design you love will be on everyone’s arm…and that may not be reality, depending on where you live.

If you can’t get it out of your head, my experience is that not much else will scratch the itch.

 

[Kim N]

One thing to consider is that ubiquitous online and ubiquitous in real life are different. While I see Alhambra all over social media, I have only ever seen two real life Alhambra sightings in my hometown. It’s so easy to browse Instagram and feel like a design you love will be on everyone’s arm…and that may not be reality, depending on where you live.

If you can’t get it out of your head, my experience is that not much else will scratch the itch.

That's so true--thanks for your perspective, Tonks. I also have only twice seen Alhambra pieces around town.

 

[Tonks]

That's so true--thanks for your perspective, Tonks. I also have only twice seen Alhambra pieces around town.

You’re so welcome. It was something that kind of hit me over the head one day. Someone told me not to get a Cartier JUC because “they’re everywhere.” I felt really down about it…and then realized I have literally NEVER seen one in real life. Like, EVER. And it was a piece I had wanted to get to celebrate an achievement, and I had really wanted it for years. So I did. And I LOVE IT. And you know what? I have still never seen one in real life other than in a Cartier boutique.

I tell my kids all the time that social media is not real life, but apparently as an adult I need help remembering it, too!