Nothing says elegance and power like a shimmering piece of art delicately wrapped around your neck. Vivienne Westwood has been gracing us with stylish necklaces since the 80s, and they returned to glam when Gen-Z went wild about their designs.
But nowadays, there are a lot of fakes hiding in the market under cover of low prices and high quality. To avoid the dire mistake of purchasing a replica piece, we’ll tell you what you should look for. So read on for the unveiling of the long-awaited comparison between the real vs. fake Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace.
Real vs. Fake Vivienne Westwood Pearl Necklace
Vivienne Westwood’s most iconic piece is the pearl necklace with a plated pendant adorned with the brand’s signature. Although the jewelry brand has been famous for years, this statement piece gave it more popularity among Gen-Z, and it became a viral phenomenon.
However, this fame and the prevalence of online shopping pushed people to replicate the original necklace and sell it. The issue remains that people don’t know how to spot forged pieces, but we’ll help you.
Here are the points you should check before buying a Vivienne Westwood piece of art to make sure it’s original.
Quality
Any fake necklace will pale in comparison against an original in terms of quality. For example, the crystals might be uneven or disordered, while they’re always symmetrical in an original. The colors may also be a bit distorted or foggy.
In an original, the ball clasp that joins the pearls and the orb has to be perfectly spherical without a flat edge. So before purchasing a pearl necklace, you should look closely at the quality of manufacturing and materials. This is especially important if you’re buying it online.
Shopping Address
It’d be best if you never bought Vivienne Westwood’s jewelry from an untrusted source. Some people sell fake pieces on sites like Etsy, for example. Instead, you should ensure that the shopping address you’re buying from is an authorized jewelry shop. Many retailers stock genuine Vivienne Westwood jewelry. So you have to look for the brand’s name in the web address or on the website.
Sale
Vivienne Westwood is a renowned jewelry designer that many celebrities wear, so a sale on her collections might be a bit of a stretch. If you spot a massive sale on the pearl necklace, then think twice before purchasing it.
Some retailers might put authentic jewelry on sale on their own responsibility, which is often limited to older collections. That said, you should still make sure there’s a returning policy before making your purchase.
And always remember that there would never be a sale on a new Vivienne Westwood collection.
Picture Quality
When retailers put Vivienne Westwood pieces of art for sale, they often make sure the photos they show are top-notch. To do that, they take pictures on a white background for a flattering display. They also make sure to take into account the necklace’s color, size, light, and position. The result is often a high-quality photo that shows the necklace’s worth.
As a result, if you see a poorly photographed picture that looks like it’s been heavily edited, then it might not be authentic.
Returning Policy
Most sellers who put fake jewelry pieces on their websites don’t offer a returning policy. This is in case the customer finds out and wants a refund. That’s why you should make sure that the website has a trusted returning policy before purchasing the ever-sophisticated Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace.
You might find the policy on the FAQ page. If you fail to find it, you should contact the seller and ask about it.
Pearls Weight
Vivienne Westwood’s pearls are heavy because they’re genuine. So if you pick the necklace you bought up, you’ll feel the weight on your hands. However, if it’s too lightweight, you might have landed a replica necklace.
String and Stitching
Original Vivienne Westwood pearl necklaces have unique hand-knotted strings that show high manufacturing quality. This is, of course, an expensive method that you’ll never see in a low-cost piece. You’ll also notice that the stitching is consistent, and the pearls are meticulously ordered.
If you purchase a necklace and notice gaps between the pearls and unknotted string, it isn’t original.
Brief History of Vivienne Westwood Jewelry
The first step to worldwide fame started in the 1980s when Vivienne Westwood traveled to Italy for inspiration. Her main goal was to introduce tradition into futuristic designs. She had practiced jewelry making before but didn’t spend more than a year learning it.
She’s largely responsible for combining high fashion with traditional royal looks in today’s fashion world. She also worked on bringing modern punk into her designs. During this time, she designed her iconic signature emblem.
The emblem has two main designs adorning it: the British crown with the orb and a satellite ring resembling Saturn. The crown and the orb represent taking tradition into the future, which is represented by the satellite ring.
Vivienne incorporated the emblem in many of her fashionable designs, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bangles, rings, watches, and brooches. She also printed it on everything, even chandeliers, and railings inside her office.
Nowadays, Vivienne continues to impress us with her one-of-a-kind designs that show her rebellious spirit. Those designs gained her a proud stance among elite British style representatives, and her jewelry still appears on red carpets and fashion shows.
Although her designs disappeared for a while, they made a huge comeback when Gen-Z declared them a trend. Of course, we all know how viral those trends go, and Vivienne took her fair share of popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This is also because many celebrities like Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Elle Fanning, and Bella Hadid wore her iconic jewelry pieces publicly.
The Affordability of Vivienne Westwood Jewelry
People mainly sell replica necklaces nowadays because of the cost of original Vivienne Westwood necklaces. However, not all pieces are deliriously expensive, so you don’t have to spend a fortune to wear an authentic Westwood. There are some jewelry pieces that the average person can afford and wear.
If you want to own a Vivienne pearl necklace, you can look for miniature pearl choker necklaces. They’re available in rose gold and silver, and their price isn’t as horrifying as you might think. Some simple Westwood pieces will even cost you less than $80. Although that’s not necessarily inexpensive, remember you’re buying from an iconic brand that many celebrities adore.
How to Take Care of Vivienne Westwood Jewelry
After telling you how to differentiate between real and fake pearl necklaces, we’ll let you know how to care for your authentic piece once you purchase it. Like all jewelry, Vivienne Westwood pieces are prone to tarnish, especially since most of them contain sterling silver. But with proper care, your favorite necklace will stay with you for a long time.
Cleaning
If you wear your necklace often, you’ll need to clean it efficiently once every few months. But it depends on your personal preference; if you notice that the crystals are foggy or the silver is tarnishing, you can clean it sooner.
You can use a delicate cloth or a gentle toothbrush to wipe the dust off your jewelry. Don’t use any metal cleaners or stiff brushes because they may blemish the fragile crystals on your necklace.
As for the cleaning materials, you’ll do well with dishwashing liquid and a bowl of tepid water.
Make sure to avoid using alcohol or chlorine chemicals as they may damage your jewelry over time.
Preventing Oxidation
To prevent your sterling silver necklace from oxidizing, you shouldn’t wear it right after spraying perfume or a fragrant. Oxidation mainly occurs because of contact between silver and perfumes or care products. So to be safe, make sure to remove the necklace before showering or using any products.
Proper Storage
Many airborne chemicals cause oxidation and tarnishing, which ruin the necklace’s aesthetic. It’d help if you stored your necklace in an airtight plastic bag to prevent this issue. Don’t use a garbage bag because it contains damaging sulfur compounds.
Finally, don’t store your necklace inside the bathroom because the humidity might worsen the oxidation problem.
To Wrap Up
Vivienne Westwood built a jewelry empire with her creative vision and rebellious soul. Her pieces are now in the hands of famous worldwide celebrities and on red carpets. However, some pieces sold online aren’t authentic, and you should know the difference before purchasing.
Fake pieces are often lightweight with unordered crystals and low-quality finishes. To be safe, we recommend that you stay away from sites that put her jewelry on sale and those with no returning policy.