Van Cleef Graduation Present

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For that price you could get her a decent-sized timeless and more versatile white gold diamond pendant.

Easy to fake or could just buy cheap moissanite. Real gold VCA fakes are even expensive. I'd go with the VCA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's popular with the senior citizen age group.

I was going to say the opposite. It is really popular among the late teenagers - graduating high school. I have 3 teenage daughters and they all wear these necklaces (as do their friends). Seems a little “young” for a college grad.

[Anonymous]

It's an old design and overdone. It's a cliche now. I agree with a pp, get an nice sized diamond pendant. Extra points if you get a lab grown diamond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's popular with the senior citizen age group.

Yes! My MIL and her “creaky crew” (her words) all have variations of the Alhambra. MIL has soixante motifs, her friends others. Pedestrian to those in her Boca community, not something for the young IMO.

The young like the East-West sustainable diamond necklaces, many by emerging designers. Also, those minuscule diamond studs to accommodate multiple piercings.

[Anonymous]

Why would you get her something so ordinary (based on you saying that you see them on many of her peers)? Luxury isn't luxury if everyone has it. Find something unique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, OP, your attitude about your child's college and your interesting take on accessories she could wear because others in a social circle you approve are wearing them too... is a little cringey.

If your daughter would be happy with such a necklace, go ahead, by all means. If it's to make a social point, then please... don't go down that road. Also, remember that all such brands have a HUGE mark-up. The actual piece itself is not worth a fraction of what you're paying for it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you ask your DD what she would like to have? I know luggage is always a popular graduation gift, so maybe something from Rimowa? I second the diamond stud earrings. That’s something that will never go out of style. I hesitate to buy branded jewelry anymore given how quickly things move from being coveted to saturated.

FWIW, when I see Alhambra necklaces on young women, I tend to see them wearing the Sweet Alhambra version. It’s dainty and more youthful looking than the Vintage or Magic versions.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t exactly call VCA Alhambra “basic”. It’s a $3000 necklace after all. I doubt many teens and young professionals can afford it.

I’m in my 30s and still wear my Alhambra pendant I got from my parents at 20 so I would say it’s a classic and timeless piece of jewelry. Look up photos of Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton in VCA.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you wait for the annual LE VCA necklace to come out? Good way to commemorate her graduation IMO.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing inherently prestigious about attending an R1 school. University of North Texas is an R1. Just bizarre.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't pay this much for a single alhambra- who know if she will like it a few years down the line or not.
Maybe something more timeless like a mikimoto necklace/Italian gold chain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t exactly call VCA Alhambra “basic”. It’s a $3000 necklace after all. I doubt many teens and young professionals can afford it.

I’m in my 30s and still wear my Alhambra pendant I got from my parents at 20 so I would say it’s a classic and timeless piece of jewelry. Look up photos of Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton in VCA.

Of course, since you wear one, you don’t think it is basic. We are talking about it being basic to those that can afford jewelry. OP said as much in her post - that a lot of DD’s friends have it. I also think Tiffany is basic too, though. I look at people buying things for their name as basic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't pay this much for a single alhambra- who know if she will like it a few years down the line or not.
Maybe something more timeless like a mikimoto necklace/Italian gold chain?

I have a string of pearls I thought were timeless. I used to wear them almost daily. But I haven't worn them in a decade, because they aren't in style. Hopefully they will come back at some point. Not sure anything is truly timeless so might as well go for what her age group likes. I personally like the VCA stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing inherently prestigious about attending an R1 school. University of North Texas is an R1. Just bizarre.

I honestly didn't know what an R1 was until this thread. My DC went to a leading one, I guess I should have been more impressed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't pay this much for a single alhambra- who know if she will like it a few years down the line or not.
Maybe something more timeless like a mikimoto necklace/Italian gold chain?

I have a string of pearls I thought were timeless. I used to wear them almost daily. But I haven't worn them in a decade, because they aren't in style. Hopefully they will come back at some point. Not sure anything is truly timeless so might as well go for what her age group likes. I personally like the VCA stuff.

Timeless is by definition never in or out of style.

OP, you really seem to want to buy your daughter this, and you know her better than we do. So why not just get it for her? If you don't want to get her something you think she'll stop wearing, I'm not sure there's any jewelry you can pick that is safe. Years ago I'd have said a Tank watch, but lots of people don't wear watches at all. I'm assuming she already has the classic earrings, so . . . .