But let’s be real, for a sec. It’s expensive. Like, *really* expensive. I saw a bracelet the other day that cost more than my car. MY CAR! Which, okay, my car isn’t exactly a Bentley, but still.
So, what if you could get… the *idea* of Van Cleef, without, y’know, selling a kidney?
That’s kinda what I’m thinking about here. Like, what if we just stripped away the brand name, the fancy boutiques, the celebrity endorsements… and just focused on the *style*? Could you do a “brandless” Van Cleef?
I mean, think about it. The Alhambra design is pretty distinctive. You see those clover shapes, and you *know* what it’s inspired by, even if there’s no VCA logo stamped on it. It’s all about the shape and the materials, right? Maybe some mother-of-pearl, a little onyx, some gold-colored metal…
And, I gotta say, I’ve seen some pretty decent… uh, *inspired* pieces out there. Let’s just say that. Not knockoffs, exactly (because those are illegal, obviously!), but pieces that capture the Van Cleef vibe without actually *being* Van Cleef.
The thing is, I think people are increasingly savvy about this stuff. They want the look, but they don’t necessarily want to pay the crazy markup. They see how resale sites like The RealReal are doing gangbusters, with Van Cleef sales up like crazy. That shows demand! But it also shows people are looking for deals, even on luxury.
And honestly, who can blame them? A lot of these luxury brands, they’re charging for the name, the image, the *feeling* of exclusivity. But is a feeling worth thousands of dollars? Sometimes, maybe. But other times… maybe not.
I’m not saying everyone should go out and buy “brandless” Van Cleef. If you can afford the real deal, and you want the real deal, go for it! But I just think it’s an interesting question: can you capture the essence of a luxury brand without the brand itself? Is it possible to democratize luxury, even just a little bit?