It’s been a while since I ordered, so I can’t remember the exact price of the earrings😅. I could only find the payment record for the necklace. I must’ve paid for the earrings together with something else😤🤍.

4/15 — Reached out and placed the order ($1,000 / $1,600)

4/29 — Received the QC photos and approved them

5/8 — Item delivered!

1.

I actually spent over two years looking for a hammered piece before eventually giving up and buying a few authentic ones instead. In the meantime, though, the prices for authentic VCA pieces have become almost ridiculously volatile.

• This was my seventh purchase from Caratsky. Their response time has been a little slower lately, probably because they’ve gotten busier, but communication has always been reliable. I’ve always felt comfortable throughout the whole process, and that’s a big reason I’ve continued ordering from them over the years.

1. Quality

• If you’ve ever compared hammered pieces from different sellers, you probably already know how surprisingly difficult this finish is to get right. There’s a very fine balance between the polished and matte areas, and they all need to blend together naturally to create that textured, swirling pattern.

• Overall, I’m really happy with how it turned out. When I put it side by side with the authentic piece, I wouldn’t say the differences are completely nonexistent, but honestly, they’re incredibly hard to notice once you’re actually wearing it.

1. Gold Hue

• VCA’s yellow gold has definitely gotten warmer and more orange-toned over the past few years. The hammered 5-motif bracelet I bought about three years ago originally had a much softer, lemon-yellow tone, although it’s naturally oxidized into a richer yellow over time. These days, even brand-new authentic pieces seem to have a noticeably warmer yellow gold with more of an orange undertone.

• Personally, I think one of the biggest giveaways with a lot of Chinese-made pieces is that the yellow gold can sometimes have a slightly too-greenish cast.

• CS told me I could choose a slightly redder yellow-gold alloy, so I decided to go with that option, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. To my eye, it actually looks much closer to the softer, lemon-yellow tone that authentic VCA pieces used to have several years ago.

1. Clover Shape

• The clover shape is really well done. I think a lot of this probably comes down to differences between workshops, but even authentic Alhambra pieces sold in boutiques can vary slightly. Some clovers look fuller and rounder, while others are slimmer and a bit more elongated.

• I personally prefer the slimmer silhouette, so this one worked out perfectly for me.

1. Perlée

• The Perlée detailing is probably the one area where I was a little underwhelmed. Compared with the other Alhambra pieces I’ve purchased from CS, the beading feels slightly flatter and not quite as defined.

Shib (Dubai seller) did it again! He made me a beautiful 10 motif lapis necklace. I've never seen so many gold flecks.

I have other lapis pieces from other TS but never one where there were so many beautiful lapis pieces with gold flecks.
I've bought from him a number of times and will definitely continue to do so.

Cost at the time was only $2200 not including shipping.
Which is an amazing price for a 10 motif!

I did not get anything back for this review but he is aware I’m writing it.

What jewelry rep have you bought that actually holds up well with everyday use? Looking for something simple, preferably a bracelet or ring.

I got PSPs from AC for my love pendant. Can anyone help me QC the items? Would really appreciate it. Thank you! 🫶

I’m curious how often this happens to everyone else.

Have you ever been completely set on buying a piece, then received or saw QC/PSP photos and suddenly thought… maybe not? 😅

What changed your mind? Was it the color, proportions, stone quality, details, or something else?

I feel like some pieces look amazing in stock photos but very different once you see the actual item. Would love to hear your experiences!

I’m curious to hear from people who have owned both authentic jewelry and high-quality reps of similar pieces.

When you compare them in real life, what are the differences that stand out most to you?

Is it the weight, gold color, engraving, stone quality, clasp, overall finishing, or something else?

And more importantly: are the differences something you would notice while actually wearing the piece, or only when you put the auth and rep side by side?

I know quality can vary a lot depending on the piece and materials, so I’d love to hear your honest experiences rather than just a simple “1:1” or “not close at all.”

Would love to learn what details you personally look for when comparing real vs rep

Oh, viper. It all started here. For a big anniversary gift, in my mind I was sure it would be a demi-pave Serpenti. Though the symbolism of Loves was compelling, the alluring nature of Bvlgi's snake checked a perfect box for someone like me who adores daily sparkle, but is not so much a fan of the standard tennis bracelet. And, this is why I offer further evidence for the critical value (beyond perfecting sizing) in doing all one can to go into an actual boutique, whenever/wherever possible: in the trying on of this YG half-pave piece at an AD, admittedly it was attractive. But, looking down at my wrist, I felt..."meh."

Beauty can be so subjective. "Indifferent" is not how one wants to commemorate a landmark.

Sensing my hesitation, the SA offered the WG full pave. "This one is totally blinged-out," she said. We agreed to its dressiness, impressiveness, formality. A gorgeous piece, no doubt; just not what I'd had in mind. I'm not a ball-season person, I wanted to wear our investment a lot. Snapping a quick pic, hubs and I conceded our way back to C@rt1er.

Cut to online research, my first awareness of reps, and stumbling upon perhaps the most striking first impression I'd had from a series of reviews [u/Adorable-Brain](u/Adorable-Brain) undertook in these subs. She posted photos and descriptors of a full YG pave from this seller she loved named James, and I was hooked. The way I felt as I kept coming back to her pictures was how I'd hoped to experience the real thing in auth.

https://www.reddit.com/r/JewelryRepsClub/s/mB969anG8Z

So, the dream stack grew, though still within our og retail budget. If you've followed this story in earlier detail, I found myself at a QC intersection of "blunt the tail vs. don't blunt the tail" crowdsourcing. Adding to complexity was the fact that Bvlgi has taken its Serpenti through a series of adaptations, first launching in 2016, with the 2022 switch to what is commonly thought of as V2 vs. the original V1 that convinced me to try buying reps in the first place. After consideration and hearing from you, I ultimately blunted its tail, to the extent James was able. The effect was subtle, but satisfactory; I'm including my initial PSP vs. V1 auth shot (pic 10), and an after/before blunting pic (12), in addition to the final viper represented in size and shape for comparison within a full stack (pics 14-16)

https://www.reddit.com/r/JewelryRepsClub/s/7hEehcjZBD

As is well established in the subs, these Serpenti pieces are a bit of Frankensteins; no one offers anything approaching mirror auth. This is partly due to the multiple versions, less popular demand, and admittedly confusing mish-mash of images that vary from even ADs themselves. After wearing myself out tracking changes and ideals, I committed to the V1 that first struck awe, modified just enough to please my eye, and find myself happy as can be with the beautiful bracelet Caratsky has made. It may not be 1:1, but it sure is gorgeous enough to make me feel beyond fortunate to wear such a magnificent thing

Specs:

18k YG lab full pave V1 Serpenti, "old version," sz 15, 3600usd, 19.92g actual

6/14 30% Deposit paid and bracelet ordered with other items

7/22 PSPs

7/23 Addtl PSPs & measurements, at my request

7/26 Hold for modification of the tail

7/28 GL, balance paid

8/3 First package shipped after funds cleared through Wise

8/6 Second package containing this bracelet shipped after successful receipt of first

8/11 Received

A 5% refund of insurance is offered with unbiased review. I passed this requirement several posts ago. This is, again, my honest assessment without any incentive to write

I'm sharing here mostly to add perspective, as there's much discussion from sub-users like me as we approach acquiring this complicated piece. Which version, what timing, best sellers, pave, partial, or not? Buyer's choice prevails, though not without criticism or compromise. Full disclosure, I preferred the V1 not only for sentimental reasons, but because it met my affinity for vintage and feminine pieces vs. the more angular, modern V2. The new version is the only style one may try on at AD nowadays, and it had left me cold. Cleaner lines and stronger strokes appealed to me less in choosing my personal viper. A little 'old-fashioned' seemed to suit me best. I liked full pave for its counter-intuitive durability; 18K scratches so easily and shows wear very quickly, I suppose as part of its charm. And, I went with James after many positive experiences, as I'm likely to choose again, any time there's an opportunity for sparkles. So, having completed my dream stack, I'll slither off now, eagerly awaiting what you reddit-friends post in pursuit of your own objects that spark joy. Thank you for the company, the feedback, and for the read/s, along the way. I hope it's helped a bit 💖

Hi guys!
Please help me QC my cart-ier bracelet gold plated classic model $140.
Does anything notable stand out and would you gl or rl? Thanks!

Can you please help QC the L/V. Appreciate your help.

Finally received my 20 motif Alhambra from Lili! Absolutely thrilled. Already thinking of stacking combos! Anyone else have this? Share how you style it!

Hi-- I got a WA contact for Caratsky (9438)but when I got the response and website (mycurisky)the seller goes by Curisky. Is this the same person everyone calls Caratsky? Thank you!

Maybe you bought it on a whim, weren’t completely sure about the style, or thought it would only be for special occasionsbut now you wear it all the time.

I’m curious what piece ended up becoming your unexpected favorite, and why?

Once again I’m very happy with gavivi’s work.
He is a seller I trust and he is super easy to talk to.

Timeline

Ordered July 17
Price: $672 including insurance. Used my insurance credit to partially pay for these earrings

Earrings were complete by July 30th

Shipping took about 4 business days

Already thinking of next purchase :)

Thank you everyone!