Date: 6/27/2008 4:45:06 PM
Author: mb418
oh my!! this is completely outside of my knowledge zone! gosh ....... diamonds, like women (?!?) are complicated!
I love the novo...
Date: 6/27/2008 11:52:58 AM
Author: mb418
I have a question about browing engagement rings in Tiffany (or in general). Since I don''t know exactly what I wanted, do I just tell them my price range and what I am interested? My fiancee bought the Lucida and proposed, so I haven''t actually had the experience of trying different engagement rings in Tiffany.
I don''t really understand the color, clarity issue, and it will be likely that I wouldn''t visit a lot of Tiffany stores before making the upgrade since the upgrade has to be done in New York, at the flagship store, because the assoaciate told me on the phone that I purchased the ring outside of the United States, and they don''t usually do international upgrades, so according to her manager, it is like a one-off, and they could do an upgrade only if I go to New York.
So I am thinking if I decide to go ahead with the upgrade, I might phone the associate in advance about my choices so perhaps she would be able to transfer some selections to the flagship store. I might combine this with a holiday trip.
So back to my question ... (sorry about the looooong explanation!), what do I need to tell them and what would I need to know? My fiancee doesn''t know much about diamonds either. If I just tell them my budget and my preference for which design (e.g. Novo or legacy), will they give me choices to look at, maybe a bigger carat size but a lower color/clarify, or smaller carat size or higher quality?
Does it all depend on what they have in stock in the actual store when I visit on the day?
Mb, first, you cannot wait much longer if you are going to trade it in. I suggest you book a trip to the flagship store ASAP if you can confirm that your local Tiffany will not allow you the trade. This is why I asked you what Tiffany you normally shop at? If it is true that you have to go to NY, you probably need to call them and find out what is the latest you can go and still exchange, b/c that date might be fast approaching. You are already outside the exchange period as well, so I would get there soon. Also, you need to put the Lucida back in the box and don''t wear it. If it shows too much wear and tear, they might give you a hard time about exchanging it. I don''t believe they will let you borrow an ering to take home. They might sell you another one which they will allow you to exchange, but they probably won''t allow you to put one or two on rotation while you wear them around for a while. No retailer would, right?I would stick with getting the ring you obviously love, NOVO. If you do have to go to NY to get the ring, then they will have a great selection of rings, and you shouldn''t have any trouble. But since you are making the trip specifically for this purpose, I would schedule the appointment with them and have them bring in at least 4 or 5 Novos in your price range for you to see and compare. But do call them and find out how much time you have, b/c I suspect it''s running out.
Date: 6/27/2008 12:34:40 PM
Author: mb418
Thanks so much for the detailed response! Really appreciate it. They said I would need to spend double the amount that we originally spent. So this condition definitely makes me think (twice or 10000000 times) harder before taking the plunge. Need to save too now!Also, only one upgrade is allowed.
One thing I don''t like about Tiffany is that they don''t have a universal policy. I really don''t want to fly all the way to NY in order to do an upgrade (though a vacation there will be so nice). I mean they should back up all of the products that they sold everywhere in the world, no??
They will also need a day or two to appraise the ring. I don''t know if they will give me a low number, so it depends on that as well.
Has anybody done any upgrade in Tiffany? Please share your experience! Thanks!!
Hi Isabelle, unfortunately it will have to be an upgrade.Date: 6/27/2008 6:32:20 PM
Author: Isabelle
Date: 6/27/2008 12:34:40 PM
Author: mb418
Thanks so much for the detailed response! Really appreciate it. They said I would need to spend double the amount that we originally spent. So this condition definitely makes me think (twice or 10000000 times) harder before taking the plunge. Need to save too now!Also, only one upgrade is allowed.
One thing I don''t like about Tiffany is that they don''t have a universal policy. I really don''t want to fly all the way to NY in order to do an upgrade (though a vacation there will be so nice). I mean they should back up all of the products that they sold everywhere in the world, no??
They will also need a day or two to appraise the ring. I don''t know if they will give me a low number, so it depends on that as well.
Has anybody done any upgrade in Tiffany? Please share your experience! Thanks!!
Yours wouldn''t be an upgrade, right? You are simply changing your mind about the ring you want. They are waiving the 30 day return policy,--at least that was my understanding from your post? That they would allow you to exchange the ring if you went to the NY store?
Oh my god Oh my goodness oh my!!!
Date: 6/28/2008 4:58:34 AM
Author: mb418
Date: 6/27/2008 6:32:20 PM
Author: Isabelle
Date: 6/27/2008 12:34:40 PM
Author: mb418
Thanks so much for the detailed response! Really appreciate it. They said I would need to spend double the amount that we originally spent. So this condition definitely makes me think (twice or 10000000 times) harder before taking the plunge. Need to save too now!Also, only one upgrade is allowed.
One thing I don''t like about Tiffany is that they don''t have a universal policy. I really don''t want to fly all the way to NY in order to do an upgrade (though a vacation there will be so nice). I mean they should back up all of the products that they sold everywhere in the world, no??
They will also need a day or two to appraise the ring. I don''t know if they will give me a low number, so it depends on that as well.
Has anybody done any upgrade in Tiffany? Please share your experience! Thanks!!
Yours wouldn''t be an upgrade, right? You are simply changing your mind about the ring you want. They are waiving the 30 day return policy,--at least that was my understanding from your post? That they would allow you to exchange the ring if you went to the NY store?
Hi Isabelle, unfortunately it will have to be an upgrade.My fiancee called again to make sure and to see if there''s anything they can do about the spending 2x rule, and they said it is the policy, so .......... seems to me that Tiffany actually doesn''t encourage upgrades, considering the strict rules (2x timing, and 1 time upgrade only). So yeah ..... I am definitely deep in thoughts these days! However, since it is an upgrade, there will be no time limit as to when I have to do the upgrade by.
Funny thing is, my fiancee teased me and said ''why don''t I get you the Atlas 18K ring with diamonds on the bands (see another post) in Singapore (where he is at currently) NOW?!? and not do the upgrade?'' before he was like let''s wait 3 months to order th Atlas ring so you will get it cheaper in the UAE. So I teased back .. ''so I see that''s the tactic to get what I want faster!?!? to ask for something that is outrageously more!!'' --> for all the married gals out there, is that the secret to a successful and happy marriage!?!? heheAnyway, so I told him, no that''s ok ... we will use the $ towards the upgrade instead!
All joking aside, ultimately I want both of us to be happy, so we will discuss it some more. My mind is so wrapped up in the middle of it that I am all for the upgrade (seriously, I think I dreamed about it last night!), but it will definitely be a lot of $$ to be invested in Tiffany. Personally, I won''t consider selling the Lucida because I feel that to get an upgrade in Tiffany has a different sentiment to me than to selling the ring. I know that the result is the same (I would be without the original e-ring regardless if I traded it in or sold it), but I simply can''t bear to sell the ring on ebay or other places.
So any Lucida fans out there!!??Anybody think I should just keep the lovely Lucida and maybe get an upgrade a couple of years later if I still have the desire (for an anniversary, maybe??) I am asking because engagements and e-rings are all completely new areas to me. Before I don''t look at diamonds or notice other people''s engagement rings, so i think all of you are have more experiences in terms of changing/upgrade rings. Maybe I shouldn''t rush into it?
Finally have I mentioned how wonderfully informed and welcoming and fun you gals are!!?!?!?!?
Thank you!!
Anyway, we got what we could afford. In this case, to spend DOUBLE what he did already spend, (I know what 1 carat Lucida''s at Tiffany cost, so we are talking about him spending north of $20K total in order to get the upgrade), I think this is too much to do right at the offset of your marriage. There are so many more important things to spend money on at that time,like a new home, furniture, the honeymoon, etc. Like you said, the one time upgrade policy never expires. You can do one in 10 years time. So, to be smart about it, why don''t you consider flanking the ring with two Novo wedding bands on each side? It will look spectacular. If you were walking around with some doggie diamond ring I would maybe encourage you to sell the ring and start over. But you are walking around with a LUCIDA for crying out loud. And I will tell you that you might grow to love it more as you get older. The Lucida never would have "spoken" to me in my 20''s, but when I first saw it in my 30''s, I thought, " Now, THAT is a ring." And finally, one last thing I would leave you with is this: At the end of the day, people can chime in with different POVs about what you *should* do. But we aren''t in your shoes. We don''t have first hand knowledge of your or his financial situation or your or his philosophy on money. --Everyone''s is different. If you hate the ring you are wearing, then no amount of time will likely change that. But if you love it, and think you can live happily with it for 5 or 10 years, then I would suggest getting two thin bands or one thin band (Novo) and wear it for now. Upgrade later if you still want to. But in the final analysis you have to do what will make you and your fiance happy. Good luck to you!! 
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