The Vaja ivolution Silver for iPhone Case Review

Those of you who have been following me for years know that I am a sucker for shiny things. After all, I once had my own little PDA stylus company which created custom styli made of sterling silver or gold, with options such as inlaid precious stones. Yeah, I can be a little bit over the top like that.

The product I am writing about today is in the same vein, and it is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for the light of wallet. I’m going to put that statement right out there, right up front. The Vaja ivolution Silver for iPhone is an item of near decadent luxury that will make some swear and some swoon. You see, it’s not just the “typical” ivolution case made of the finest Argentinean leather, it’s also jewelry for your device because all of the metal trim on it is made of pure sterling silver.

I was recently offered the chance to create my own ivolution Silver, which was exciting to say the least. The first thing I did was throw Vaja a curve ball by asking for a color they don’t offer – deep purple; Fabian was sweet enough to indulge me.

Options available included a belt clip (which I did not want) and personalization in the form of either text or graphic (which I did want). The Vaja web site says that there is a wait of about 40 days, which was roughly how long I had to wait before receiving my hand-crafted case. Opening the now familiar white Vaja gift box was, as always, a lovely olfactory experience. Inside I found a deep purple leather bag…

…which held my deep purple ivolution Silver. I’ll be honest and say that I have had the case for a bit over a month, and I didn’t think to take pictures in the beginning. So what you are seeing is my very loved, and very banged up ivolution Silver iPhone case.

Just as a leather bomber jacket will take on character by lightening in spots which experience more wear, my case has done the same, and the silver has taken on a lovely patina. My case now has a predominantly deep purple color with undertones of fuschia showing through, which combined with the warmth of the matte silver is quite lovely. On the back of my case, there is an embossed Gear Diary logo in all its glory. 

The ivolution Silver measures exactly 4.76″ tall x 2.76″ wide x 0.85, so there is no getting around the fact that it adds a bit of bulk to the ordinarily svelte iPhone, which usually measures 4.5″ tall x 2.4″ wide x 0.46″ thick. In return for the added girth you get a wrap which adds the warmth of leather, protects the iPhone, and is a pleasure to look at. All functionality is retained when the iPhone is in the case, as there are cutouts for all ports and buttons, with the exception of one…

…the Home button, which is now covered by a smooth silver disk. The jury is still out as to whether or not I like the disk covering my button, as it does seem to take a firmer touch to activate than when the button is naked. The silver disk looks good though, so this is a case of form over function; no pun intended.

Here is a picture of what a case looks like with the optional belt clip.

I’ll admit that I messed up from the beginning, because I should have been using the included bag to protect my iPhone and ivolution Silver from rattling around and being beaten by other items inside my bag. Instead, I stuck my Canon G9 inside the bag, and was proud of myself for keeping the camera protected! Ah well…

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Vaja ivolution Silver for iPhone, because every time I use it I get a little thrill; I admit it. The case is gorgeous, and it adds an unexpected touch of luxury where one wasn’t expected. It is pricey, decadent, and obviously not for everyone. But then, neither are Ferraris, Lamborghinis, estates in the Hamptons, or other extremely pricey luxuries. If you are a member of the jetset, the Vaja ivolution Silver for iPhone is a no brainer; if you aren’t a member, this case will make you feel like one.

The Vaja ivolution Silver for iPhone is available directly from the manufacturer.
MSRP: $280
What I Like: It’s gorgeous, it’s impressive, it’s decadent, and it’s unique
What Needs Improvement: It’s also very pricey

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Tags: Apple iPhone, Mobile Phone Gear, Mobile Phones