Fashion
Did AZ Martinez Just Receive a Fake Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace as a Gift?
Netizens are questioning the authenticity of the item given by her ex-boyfriend and fellow Sparkle actor, Larkin Castor.
Published on May 2, 2025
On the April 28 episode of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition, housemates received surprise gifts from their loved ones, delivered personally by that week’s celebrity house guest, Donny Pangilinan.
In the segment, Donny called each housemate individually to hand them their packages. However, to everyone’s astonishment, AZ Martinez received a gift from Sparkle actor Larkin Castor—her ex-boyfriend.
“To AZ from Larkin,” Donny read aloud, prompting gasps and wide-eyed reactions across the room. She then accepted a small, pale pink handbag, which contained a white jewelry box inside. “Umm, [it’s a] necklace,” she said pensively, her voice tinged with confusion as she held the box in her hand.
Later in the confession room, AZ offered context behind the unexpected gesture. Before entering the PBB house, she had asked Larkin to give her a necklace— something that she could wear every day. “[Para] kung manonood man siya, makikita niya na suot ko. [Ang] meaning nun, mahal ko pa rin siya, at i-trust niya lang ako, at [ibig sabihin nun] kami pa rin,” she explained.
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The following day, AZ sat down with fellow housemates to process the moment. Speaking to Josh and Will, she admitted her feelings were tangled. Although she and Larkin had broken up before she joined the show, their messages leading up to her departure seemed to hint at some mixed signals. “Yung last messages namin, parang kami pa rin,” she said, reflecting on the mixed signals.
Did AZ Martinez Receive a Fake Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace as a Gift?
When asked about the necklace’s appearance, AZ mentioned that it resembled one from Van Cleef & Arpels. “Totoo ba?” a housemate asked, to which she responded by vigorously shaking her head.
In that same moment, cameras briefly caught a close-up of the necklace in question. Visibly, it resembled the Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace featuring a black Onyx clover, seemingly strung on a white gold chain.
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X/PrettyTard.
Netizens Think AZ Martinez Received a Fake Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace
So, was the gifted necklace from Larkin actually a genuine one? With some tell-tale signs claiming otherwise, netizens can't help but question its authenticity.
Keen-eyed followers of the show swiftly flagged one prominent clue: the chain’s color. In a now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter), a user noted that the necklace AZ received featured a white gold chain paired with an onyx pendant. They pointed out that this detail alone suggested it was a replica, citing that Van Cleef & Arpels does not produce its onyx pendant necklace with a white gold chain setting.
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While some could argue that Larkin could have had it custom-made, fans also emphasized how the packaging of AZ's only offered further cause for doubt. In a side-by-side comparison, the same netizen juxtaposed AZ’s necklace box with one from an official Van Cleef & Arpels purchase.
AZ’s version arrived in a white rectangular case with a black lining, whereas the necklace bought from the boutique was housed in a light green, square box lined with navy blue velvet inside.
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About Van Cleef & Arpels Necklace
Van Cleef & Arpels offers several variations of the Vintage Alhambra pendant necklace, each distinguished by the material used in the signature quatrefoil motif— ranging from the luminous mother-of-pearl and solid 18k yellow gold to fully diamond-encrusted white gold. While some styles do come with white gold chains, the French luxury jewelry brand does not seem to produce the black Onyx version with a white gold chain, as evidenced by their existing online catalog.
Moreover, the gift’s packaging further raises questions about the necklace’s authenticity. AZ’s necklace came in a white rectangular box with a black velvet interior. However, pendant necklaces bought directly from a Van Cleef & Arpels boutique are packed inside a square box, not rectangular. The brand’s signature white case serves only as an exterior shell, which should house a light green velvet box containing the necklace nestled in a navy blue, velvet cushion lining.
For visual reference, see this unboxing video by luxury fashion content creator @megantinxie, who also purchased the pendant with the Onyx stone:
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Van Cleef & Arpels' Vintage Alhambra Pendant Necklace with an Onyx Gemstone
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Van Cleef & Arpels.
Vintage Alhambra pendant - 18K yellow gold and Onyx, reselles for $2,475 (approximately P138,295.58), VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, vancleefarples.com; thediamondoak.com*
Pau is Preview’s go-to fashion girl. On most days, you’ll find her with headphones on, coffee in hand, and likely dressed in an oversized blazer and floor-grazing jeans.