Why I DON'T Buy CARTIER or VAN CLEEF ARPELS 

Sophie, it must be said again and again to you: You are a wise, sophisticated and high achieving woman. You taught yourself to knit beautifully. You are definitely a woman to be admired.

My sister began her career as a jeweler for Tiffany and behind the scenes it is not elegant... they often hire jewelers fresh out of college so not necessarily the best and they are so 'mass marketed' it's like an assembly line in a dirty factory, the big name ones all do this! She now has her own jewelry business and on the side makes items for another small fine jeweler's shop that hires only experienced jewelers, and they are treated much better. Yes, the designers for the big box names may be 'famous' but they just come up with the concepts, the actual jewelry is created and assembled by lower level jewelers than most small and mid jewelry shops. So not only do the small shops have better prices and same to better quality, they also have better jewelers and better conditions for their jewelers (and they can obviously recreate the 'famous' designs if that's what you really want).

What’s more painful for me is watching people buying costume Jewellry from fashion houses such as Chanel..Dior.. etc.. that I can’t deal with.. I’d prefer to not do that and pay an amount to buy VCA.

Thank you to Emre Can Ayaydin for requesting this video! Edit: In terms of diamonds, I only have my engagement ring and a pair earrings - I sound in this video like I’m dripping in them, I’m not! hahaha!xx

My difficulty with these incredibly popular pieces is they just don't feel unique. I see Jewellery as something deeply personal and special. All my jewellery contains stones I've chosen. I know their provenance, most of the settings have been designed by me or my husband. That said, if you love them, and they are special to you awesome!!

Sophie you’re smart. This is exactly how I feel about high end jewellery. A Cartier love bracelet retails for approx £5k, but from a jeweller you can buy the same weight and carat of gold, just NOT designed for 2K! Whenever we go to dubai or saudi we buy lots of 18ct and 21ct gold there

As a former jeweller in Italy I know all too well the feeling of "oh, but it's not Pomellato".. There are some AMAZING artists out there...who could make the same Jewellery piece with better quality stones...but people (at least over here) only want the brand.

I appreciate how much thought you put into your purchases. It feels like you really recognize that luxury is a luxury and I really respect how you go about things. Thank you for your input on all this!

This is a refreshing video. Personally I would much rather have a jewelry piece that is at least somewhat unique to me rather than the “status” bracelet desired and worn by so many. I also treasure jewellery pieces handed down through the family regardless of actual value.

Right on, Soph. I used to have a friend who worked at Cartier. The funny thing is Cartier and these brands have a proper high jewellery section with genuine unique pieces that go for as much as seven figures. So the Love bracelet or the Alhambra to them are just play money. Meanwhile the mass affluent crowd (us) oogle over them like they're genuinely valuable. They aren't that valuable. The brands know that, we should know that too.

When you talked about seeing luxury everywhere online making it not feel exclusive and special anymore to want to own, it also has the opposite effect of making people feel like everyone has it so it should be attainable for everyone. When a Chanel bag or Hermès is not attainable for the majority of people, ever, even with saving. I try to look around at the people in my life and note how truly, no one really has a Chanel/luxury bag and most don’t care and are happy to simply carry practical bags that fit their style and life.

social media has ruined the chanel flap bags for me. I'm used to seeing it everywhere, on every woman, lots of fakes....its every single bloggers trend bag and I'm so so so very sick of it. The one thing I knew when I started my collection is that I do not gravitate towards chanel at all....Although I do see the beauty in it, but I don't think I'll ever own one.

I don't like to buy "designer" jewelry pieces because they feel so impersonal. I'm not a collector, so I only buy jewelry for sentimental reasons. It's not that the design is something that everyone has, it's that the design is so tied into a brand, not a personal aesthetic.

Sophie, you are SO refreshing! I feel like RU-vid is FULL of Hermes, VCA, and JUC rings (which to each their own) but I love that you have your own perspective and preferences 💜

So fascinating to hear your perspective on all of this! About 6 months ago I got my dream job with a major luxury jewelry house (in part thanks to you and all of your career videos!). It’s so fascinating to get a look behind the curtain to see how these brands work! I love these types of videos, please keep them coming!

Also love the hand knit sweaters (jumpers) ! Beautifully done!

Great video! Actually, social media has shown me many pieces that I thought I wanted but realized that I didn’t. So it’s been helpful to weed out impulse buys and jumping on trends that I would’ve regretted. This is for handbags and jewelry. I’m with you on not overpaying for a name when I can get excellent quality jewelry somewhere else. Plus there’s so many dupes of Cartier that look great without the name. If I wanted the look I’d buy that version (not fake replica but a quality piece that is similar and reflects the real value of the item). I love watching luxury RU-vid videos because they’re helpful 🤩

Hi Sophie, you are a breath of fresh air. I love how you keep it real/100!

I do get attracted to these brands because of social media, however I still prefer jewellery from independent local jewellers because as you said the quality and price is significantly better

Congratulations on finishing the sweaters/jumpers! They look great! I'm tempted by preloved luxury jewelry just because it's so easy to resell if I get tired of it in the future. But I agree with you that having a wedding and engagement ring set custom made would make them very personal and create lifelong memories.

I own both the love bracelet and the just un clou and also the just un clou ring. I also own a vintage Tank watch. I absolutely adore all these pieces and wear them everyday. The trick to buying and appreciating these things is to connect them to a sentimental moment like a birthday, push present or job promotion. I would buy all of them again! Also they become more precious the longer you wear them as they have been through more memories with you.

Bvlgari is a great luxury jewelry brand that is underrated, but their pieces are stunning. I've also seen all of the luxury pieces for great buys from resellers.

Vogue Paris is why I wanted a Cartier Love bracelet - it's always featured in their editorials and looks amazing IMO. Also, there's a Vogue Paris cover with Princess Caroline of Monaco (March 1979) wearing the Love bracelet - I go back to this cover often for inspiration - it's one of my all time favorites!

I think a point that's missed is that just like classic handbags, luxury jewelry pieces also retain and grow in resale. So they too can be bought as investment pieces and naturally have better longevity and need less care than handbags. Plus at the end of the day they are still precious metals, so even if all else fails, they will always have value. I would pick luxury jewellery over a luxury handbag any day.

I love your sweaters. They are so incredibly cute. The care, practise and dedication rly shows. Great design and colour choice.

I love this video. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us! I, myself, have wanted a Cartier Love bracelet for years but it’s just something that I haven’t saved for yet. But I did purchase the Love ring for myself and I absolutely love it. I was disappointed about the way that it scratched SO easily, though. I even have some pretty deep scratches in mine and I took it back to the boutique to inquire about polishing. My SA then sat me down and shared a story with me about the collection. He said it is designed to wear and scratch that way. I know it sounds crazy but it truly is made to symbolize love. You find it and it’s shiny and new and beautiful. As your journey with love continues, you may be exposed to things that may cause nicks and bumps and scratches but the love endures. Even though it carries these marks now, it’s still YOUR love story. It’s a journey. Filled with memories and reminders of how much you’ve gone through. And I just thought that was beautiful and it made me appreciate my ring and the collection so much more. I’m a sucker for a good love story 😂 but that will always stick with me. 💚

It’s interesting what brands people enjoy, isn’t it? I don’t see a lot of Chanel as worth it. But I do love Cartier. Yes, a few of the styles, like the Love, are instantly recognizable.But a lot aren’t. I even love the patina (the scratches) that develop over time as a piece becomes part of your everyday. A handbag I carry for a few hours, my Cartier I never take off. ❤️

Sophie I have to say how incredibly impressed I am that you’ve taught yourself to knit! That is unbelievably cool! Those jumpers are very pretty amazing job! 💗

Beautifully knitted sweaters! You did a fabulous job! I agree with you about the Dior bags. I just got my Dior small book tote back out. I had not used it in awhile and I had forgotten how much I enjoy it! I know the Bobby bag from Dior has been out quite awhile now, but I keep thinking about it…I do love the black large one with the blue and black strap! Not a fan of the new Dior bowling bag! Take care and have a good week! 💕

Instead of buying an engagement ring at Tiffany’s, I made my now-husband buy an even larger diamond of the same C/C/C quality at a jeweller’s and had him set the ring and design the band in a way I liked (lots of instructions for my poor then-boyfriend😁). He did an amazing job and the ring was still quite a bit cheaper than the Tiffany’s one. The main difference is the box it came in and that there’s no logo engraved inside. Two things I really don’t care about. On top of that, I now feel the ring was much more personal because my husband didn’t just go to a store and bought it, but had gone to the jeweller’s several times to get it exactly right.

I'm so excited for your knitting- it's so Relaxing! 😌

I use to feel less than because I wasn't able to purchase a Chanel, Dior, LV handbag every month. When I saved up enough money to purchase my one and only Chanel handbag the Coco handle in blackout/small. I was so happy and over the moon. Now I realize its not about what I have or can buy it is about happiness. Those handbags, jewelry, designer shoes are material. It's is what's on the inside that matters

Omg you knitted them gorgeous jumpers ! Wow . I am learning knitting from my Nan . I would love to make your one , the colours are gorgeous ❤️

I was looking for jewelry for my mother's birthday and went through the same thought process recently. I love all your videos but this one rly resonated with me. I prefer the custom experience as well and designing something was so fun. Thanks for a great video.

So right about the jewellery Sophie and I love that you are knitting!!

I love this! I wondered if you knitted that when saw it. It’s awesome. I was knitting my Hufflepuff scarf when watching this ❤️ awesome job looks fantastic

your video was recommended at the top of my feed and i’m so happy i decided to click on it! aside from loving inside info on designer items, i’ve recently been into knitting so you’ve put me on to a gem with we are knitters 💗

RE: weight of carats. If I’m completely honest my Cartier juste un clou which has

Hi Sophie, loved your perspective and I completely agree. When I started following luxury channels and accounts on social media, it all felt very glittery and aspiring at first but now I’ve gotten bored of seeing some brands every now and then. It’s like watching excess has made me want it less, just like you said, like I owned it and got bored of it. Some things don’t feel “classic” anymore. Beautiful knit, it goes to show how you talk about learning skills, you practice what you preach and that is very inspiring. P.S. I also loved your art of storytelling in your “storytime” series that you did long ago (not sure if it’s accurate) it was the haunted house story. Enjoyed it a lot 😃

Aw, Sophie, Dankeschön for remembering my question about the sweater. Your taste is impeccable.

The jumpers you made are AMAZING!

Whole heartedly agree with you Sophie!I think there are some cute fine jewelry pieces from fashion houses and some other major jewelry houses, but I feel like the pieces from VCA and Cartier are almost like a uniform. I totally respect if people love them for their own style, but you can always find something that resonates with you and is likely at a lower price point for just as good if not higher quality. One could argue the same for any other items we might love, such as shoes or bags etc. But jewelry is extra special in my opinion as it can be handed down for generations easily and can be worn everyday. It should have a bit of our own spirit or energy with it that we feel represents us. I always enjoy your videos because even though you love luxury items, you often go for unique items and it shows you truly buy what you like. Whereas many times, it feels like the "starter pack" is LV NF, Chanel CF, Hermes B or K, then Cartier + VCA selections. I think we should only buy things that serve us well, that we truly love, and that make us happy.

This is why I love you and your videos, Cuz you do your research and unfiltered opinions

Your hoodie is sooo cute! Great video as usual Sophie

Thanks for that code. I just ordered the ysl purse I been eyeing for months.

Yep, I'm not into the " overexposed everyone has" pieces. I like vintage jewelry or items that are off the radar. I have a camellia flower pendant necklace from Chanel that I purchased in the early 2000's. I adore it and it's still in perfect condition. Other than my wedding rings, the ring I wear everyday and get the most compliments on is a turquoise and diamond ring my dad bought my mum in Greece in the 80's. She gave it to me. They both have passed so it's very special.

I love the knitted sweaters! 😍 I just knitted a balaclava and it turned out great, I'll definately keep knitting more stuff 🤩

I totally agree with you on the feeling of ‘seeing so much of some items and getting board of it before owning it’. Sometimes it’s helpful to know the cons of certain luxury items I’m interested buying. However, social media also showing us so much more products that we wouldn’t see or know otherwise. I need to drive to the city for over an hour to shop in the designer boutiques. But now, I can see everything on my phone without going anywhere. That’s nice and also means wanting and buying more than I should.

I am a jewelry addict - I own a ton of David Yurman pieces but have bought all but two of them secondhand. No regrets! I never really even considered buying Cartier or VCA, but I just did buy myself a Cartier tank francaise with a pink mother of pearl face for my recent birthday - and my husband surprised me with the same pink diamond Tag Heuer you've got, the only difference is mine is the chronograph rather than the number face. I love it, actually I love it more than the Cartier watch due to the blinginess!

I have a trinity ring from Cartier and I love it since it’s classic, understated and has not been very popular with influencers. I would not consider the Love or Juste un clou collections for the same reasons as you. xoxo

This is why I follow you, quality content and knowledge mixed with luxury 😍

Thanks for your videos. I am locked down in Toronto in Winter and they really cheer me up. My husband is English and I LOVE LONDON

Sophie - That jumper (or sweater as we call it in the states) is gorgeous. You are very talented and have amazing taste. I always enjoy your videos.

Those sweaters are Devine!! Well done! 💖

I love those knitted sweaters Sophie! well done! I wish we could buy them :)

Hi Sophie, great video! 💕 I have some diamond earrings (for my triple forward piercing) and that was a special order so it made sense to go to local jeweller for them. But I think one of the big reasons why people go to big brands is that they want others to know how much they paid. We all know Cartier pieces and their prices so it’s instantly recognizable. It’s just human nature, nothing wrong with that, I find it amusing 😆 I agree with you on Dior, they are lost for now, hopefully they will find their way back to us soon. We have that in common, my fav brands are Dior and Audi, too! 🤗

I bought the large juste un clou in rose gold with the diamonds in Zurich and I absolutely love it, no regrets. I was aware I was paying a premium for the prestige and brand not for the weight of gold and carats. The love bracelet is nice to have but not as beloved as my juste un clou. I got the love bracelet in white gold and diamonds Just elevates the look. I’ve purchased fine jewelry cheaper from reputable jewelers with higher carat weight than Cartier, but I’m okay with that. I did quite a bit of research before hand. If you’re concerned with scratches, buy it in white gold, it doesn’t show up as much. Not sure if I’ll ever buy VCA Alhambra. I’d rather get the Blvgari serpenti next.

Those sweaters! You're so talented, Sophie!! Blessings!!💜

Love this video first time seeing this topic on RU-vid. I'm a high end jewellery designer, I've worked in the fine jewellery industry for years specifically in manufacturing and guess what... The majority of high end brands and high street retailers use the same manufacturers, the quality is usually the same 🤫

you're totally right about jewellery. i feel the same. love your honesty

Love your clever advice Sophie! 🙏🏻🎉

I love that you have done this. I remember Jackie Aina doing an insta laughing at the purchase of those famous jewellery piece. At the time I actually wanted a cartier wedding band (yeah I know). After her insta. I thought what was I thinking. And it's known that cartier pieces are not even made well. Fast forward 2 years later I was lucky enough to have been left an extensive amount of vintage jewellery pieces by my mother in law. The quality of those compared to when I have seen cartier or vc in selfridges. I can't even describe it. I see it as day light robbery to be honest by these brands. Same way I prefer vintage chanel.

Bravo Sophie. Thank you for doing this video. I was walking in a nearby mall and one of the pop-up jewelry stands had the knockoff from the Alhambra VCA…in all the colors. They looked pretty good. I’m sure there is a difference even though I wouldn’t be able to tell. There are dupes for everything I guess which to me de-values the piece. I really enjoy your video’s, I like you’re honesty 💕🇨🇦

Gosh I just love your content and your approach to things

You're so talented, those sweaters are so sweet and adorable. I immediately wanted to buy that pink birthday cake sweater!

I have been saying for a while… 2018/19 was a great year for a lot of brands. I love most of the Prada from that year, dior, Fendi, Chanel!!! Like you, I haven’t been that excited since then! I’m still buying 2019 styles at the moment! ❤️❤️ So impressed you made those jumpers! You could sell them!

You are sooo talented Sophie!!!!!!!!!

Sophie, I totally agree with your perspective when It comes to seeing the same designer items plastered all over social media. In my own opinion it becomes oversaturated and becomes unappealing. I'm always on the Hunt to find New Designers with just as high quality (or even better quality) as these typical luxury brands that we see everywhere.

would love to see a bag collection video with your absolute favourites vs least favs! hope you're doing well x

Absolutely love your jumpers! I love knitting so have added this to my knit list ! Thanks Sophie! Also totally agree with jewellery from these high end designers. Has to be value for money for me or I need to love the design and be unable to find it elsewhere because some of these prices are extortionate and you can get more for your coins at a jewellery store. Also, your Dior saddle bag is stunning ! Xx

Love love your videos and I totally agree with you! exclusive original designs over name brands jewelry.

Omg thank you so much for this advice saved me soo much money, lovv ur high quality content

I’M ALREADY GOING TO CALL IT: This is the best video of the 2022! *** 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 *** I can thank the pandemic for showing me a new way. I think as a decade(s) long luxury lover and buyer even though I may have the means, I’ve just really tired of the overexposure, and yes there is a social media echo chamber, but it’s harder and harder to look beyond it. I’m not anti big luxury brands, but I have sought out different non-popular quality brands more and more. I still love all the pieces I have but I don’t aspire for more. And I think the realization of not having anywhere to use these items made a lot of us reconsider the collections we already have. Love your videos Sophie, thanks for bringing up the topic!! ✌🏼

hi Shopie ...love all your knits ..and your vlogs ..allwaays good to share the truth in ones items ,,for future purchasind ,,,so thankyou for all the positive info..stay well ..happy new year....😃

Sophie. I’m so glad I found you. I can’t get enough of your videos. You’re amazing, beautiful.. classy! And I’m binge watching all of your videos

OMG friend the knitted jumpers are amazing so cute i could never lol

I was recently tempted by VCA and I'm so glad you made this video! I've always thought good jewellery costs more but i guess that not the case. Could you possibly do a video on what sort of jewellery you like, what you look out for in quality andsome reccomended brands?

Totally agree with the designer jewelry thing. I love jewelry and have always used local jewelers. The value is so much better. I also had a custom made flower ring inspired by the Chanel camellia ring and saved $2000. I also don’t love the classic Cartier & VCA designs so that helps me to not want it. And there are so many beautiful original pieces at local jewelers that I would want more.

Wow you knitted the jumpers ‼️ I must say I do love my Cartier jewellery even when the JUC gets caught up in everything 😂❤️ I’ve had my love bangle for years and it still makes me smile when I look at it, I have many gold bangles which are much more beautiful then the love but the love is still my favourite xx

Those are really lovely jumpers, Sophie. You’re making me want to create one 😭😭😭

Thank you for your explanation! I don’t have any jewellery from these companies, maybe I did not check them well enough but most of their stuff is really expensive!

Wow, that's amazing that you knitted those 2 sweaters. I was wondering wear you bought the cropped one when you wore it in a recent video, but it turns out you made it. You're really good at knitting!

I think with luxury, I know it seems that everyone has the same stuff, but in real life most people haven't even heard of these brands. I would only buy what I love despite the social media exposure, which for me is Cartier, I just love the non fussy/frilly designs. In real life I have seen the Love bracelet once on the tube.

Love the Dior sweater!! I’ve wanted it for ages but it keeps being sold out online 🙂. Love bracelet looks nice but TBH it does put me off that it’s become this “must have”. I really like the lesser known line of Cartier which is the Panthere collection. It’s currently a bit out of my price range 😀. It’s a cool design though. I draw the line at Tiffany basic diamond studs. You can get a much nicer diamond for same price and it’s not like people can tell it’s Tiffany, it’s just a stone on a stick lol.

I loved the Cartier Clou from the first time I saw it in the store. And I went back and forth, and even today, I was looking at it again, and once again, I said I'm going to wait on this. I don't know what it is...maybe it's what you say Sophie...oversaturated in social media. I've had the Love bracelet for years and years, and I still love it. But it's a little more understated and not as identifiable right off the bat. I've also been going back and forth on the Alhambra from Van Cleef...same story

I have my love bracelet for almost 10 years now. It was around £1600 at the time and I wear it daily until today. It’s scratched up for sure, but imo that’s the whole point. It’s how jewellery pieces get their character and become more personal. U pay for the brand and a lifetime of post-sales service. The fact that it was a gift, makes it extra special and sentimental. That said, my diamond pieces are mostly from local jewellers cos I can’t justify a crazy premium just for a little sprinkle of ice on designer pieces.

Would love to see the model highland cow! Or a bit of your desk. Always curious about how people organize (or don’t) their desks

Totally agree with you on this. Most of my jewelry I recently got is from Macy's and it's pretty good if not really good.

I'm having a hard time listening to your reasoning for not buying Cartier , while we know that on the other hand you spend (and talked about this in your videos) hundreds of Pounds on some Chanel costume jewelry that is made of crap with fake pearls that keep falling out. I'm sorry, but that 18k Love bracelet is a better deal. I don't have one but I do own an 18k Cartier Tank watch that was my mothers and even after 40+ yrs it's barely scratched and still runs fine.

I have actually been considering purchasing a Cartier ring as of a few days ago and then you make this video! You read my mind 😂😂

Very good advice Sophie ....I bought a emerald pendant for my sister at a regular jeweler.....the price was so good....saving a few hundred dollars....xoxo

Hello Lady, Wow, soo true, you have really open my eyes, with the pure influence of social media the hype is unbelievable but people like you who brings true awareness. This is why i didn’t buy the Chanel Cuff bracelet after finding out it’s brass & gold plated and scratches easily, why buy it when I already have real gold jewelry. I’ve learn about different Diamonds quality also. An influencer just said how she bathe in the Van Clef necklace and the stone color is faded and ruin. It made me re think because I already have good quality gold/emerald & diamonds Jewelry. Why should I pay thousands of dollars for lower quality, thank you Sophie, food for thought….. Blessings!!,!,🥰

Hi Sophie! I love jewelry but only have a few real diamond pieces. I'm pretty happy with my CZ jewelry especially for travel. I also love that Dior hoodie! Well done on your jumper! I have only ever made a scarf but would like to learn to make a dog sweater. Sending big hugs from the US. 😘😘

Agreed specially with Cartier those two bracelets and rings are seeing everywhere! On the other hand i feel VCA is so timeless everything holds their value and then some! I have been buying VCA for about 17 years and i tell you a few of my pieces have gone up in price sooo much ! it's totally worth it in my opinion .... plus VCA is so pretty. Totally can do without Cartier

I so agree on your thoughts on the Cartier bracelet & other high end brands

The Cartier love bracelet is everywhere and it’s so expensive especially when you add in diamonds… even second hand they are priced high. Same with VCA . Great video Sophie

i LOVED the common sense knowledge of this video. Thanks for your perspective. Much Appreciated. Greetings from Finland

Sophie, I really like this video. Personally I love and own several pieces from these brands but the points that you mentioned time and again my Mom and Sister tell me. It’s actually interesting to see someone from the lux community raise the same points. Along the same lines - luxury can mean different to different people… what I mean by that is - I like branded handbags and jewelry and shoes BUT and it’s a big BUT … I don’t like to buy clothes from Chanel or Dior. Just something 😉

Love your videos Sophie! x

I would love a longer video with you and David going shopping again, we miss him!