Well Deserved Self-Gift

I'm not an accessories kind of guy. After all, I don't consider myself a fashionisto. I like to think of myself as a simple dresser with hints of preppy-ness. No piercings. No any sort of adornments hanging on my neck (with the exception of a necktie). No belts (except when clad in corporate attire). No eye-catching shoes (I live in my Onitsuka Tigers). Bottomline: nothing ostentatious. However, I like to wear a nice wristwatch and a simple band ring in a precious metal (no silver please).

I don't deny the fact that I like nice things. Operative word: nice. Nice by definition, something of good quality. And honestly, it's where some of my hard earned money goes. Because nice things sometimes equate to being valuable, I do not possess a whole lot. Just a few that can probably be passed on to the next generation.

The past two or so months, I've been doing good at work. I got decent ratings on my recent evaluations. So I decided that I need to gift myself with something nice without feeling remorseful. Sometimes, it's nice to reward yourself.

I have been fantasizing about owning the "Love" ring by Cartier (in white gold) for the longest. But everyone seems to be wearing it. So I thought of getting something much more uncommon. Enter Chaumet. I discovered their "Bee My Love" collection. And I totally fell in love. I was ready to make a purchase. Really. But the bad service I got from their Paris-based staff named Sophie was disgusting. All I wanted was to have the jewelry wrapped. And she responded, "I don't have time to do that." No patience in answering my questions too. So it turned me off. What a luxury service. Not worth it at all despite my infatuation with it.

Looked for an alternative. And I really considered Cartier's "Love" ring. But I restrained myself. One morning, I entered Van Cleef & Arpels. ahh. Van Cleef & Arpels! Such a whimsical Parisian haute joaillerie. I have always wanted to own something from their Alhambra collection, which is said to bring good fortune to the wearer. But I just find it too valuable. But I realized, why not?

So, I got myself one. Not from the Alhambra collection though:P