Tiffany's I

it is always harder to find a "mind clean" stone than a eye clean stone.

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

Garry Holloway FGAA DipDT

HCA and Ideal-scope developer

http://www.ideal-scope.com and
http://www.HollowayDiamonds.com.au

i hear what you're saying rosy, but once i figured out that i could get a much bigger, better cut stone for a lot less money than at tiff's, i was sold.  what's going to impress people more (if that's the concern)--having a bigger, sparklier rock on your hand, or having a smaller, less impressive stone from a brand name store? 

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Cap'n Zales says, "Friends don't let friends buy the $199 holiday special! Hardy-har!"

I'm already going straight to Halifax, so i am just going to say it--there is a solution to your problem:  LIE.

If people ask you where your stone came from, you don't have to say Tiffany's but just say a local jeweler or whatever. Who cares? It would be a shame to dismiss some of the great stones found online just for that reason. if the reason is more that you would rather buy in person, then that's another story and totally understandable...I understand since I am the same way...but I also have a great local guy so i was lucky, but I'd buy from one of the reputable vendors here in a minute.  If you don't have a local option, use the local vendor program to find one as Garry suggests...and if you aren't happy then try online. And scr*w what anyone else thinks!

_____________________________________________ Don't breed or buy when homeless pets continue to die.

Oops... I just thought "Halifax" was an old-fashioned term for well, you know....

_____________________________________________ Don't breed or buy when homeless pets continue to die.

I've seen a Tiffany I, and yes they are pretty white.

Same thing happened with my wedding dress. My mom was so against me ordering it online, but when it came in perfect condition at half the price the bridal store wanted she couldn't stop telling people about how smart her daughter was.

Okay I like the suggestion to LIE but would probably not feel good about doing that.  Believe me, women will always ask "Where did you get it from?"  Men probably not as much although I do have one super nosy male co-worker who would probably want to know the color & clarity as well.  Plus, if they're looking for a ring they might ask to go to the same place you went.  A lot of the B & M's offer the same drop shipped diamonds that Pricescope vendors carry.  One B & M came very close to the Pricescope prices but after you add in tax it's not so close anymore.  In all honestly I would much rather buy from Nice ice or Whiteflash ACA, whose diamonds are in house & inspected.  I don't really like the idea of drop shipped diamonds from any B & M or online retailer.  Perhaps I could tell a little white lie...........I got it from a store in New York that one of my friends visited on her trip there.  They told her they could only ship diamonds to an appraiser & so they sent the ring to my appraiser to set.........How does this one sound??  Not bad huh?    

I saw an I color stone in Tiffany's. My husband said I should buy there. He was horrified when I said I was going to buy from an Internet vendor.

I bought an I color stone from Whiteflash and I am very happy with it. I got a 4.10 SI2.  Whiteflash does not drop ship and Brian the cutter looks at every stone and will discuss it at length. Then you can have it sent to an appraiser where you can see it. My stone appraised very well. It is eyeclean from all angles. The appraiser said that because the stone was so well proportioned and lively, it faced up more like a G or H. It was less than half the price of the Tiffany 4.01 and I do not have to keep it in the vault or pay an enormous insurance premium in order to have the Tiffany name. Diamonds of this quality are a poor investment so I was just looking for a stone that looks great to me.

Solange, your ring was so gorgeous!  It was one of the reasons why I bought an I color diamond. 

As far as lying about where you purchased your ring I just don't think it's worth. Why would lie?  It's noboby's business where you got your ring from besides they are not paying for it!  I'd also be shocked if someone had something negative to say about a beautiful diamond ring.  The only person who asked about my ring was the appraiser and he was quite impressed. 

LM

I don't consider it a lie. If I think the person is really interested in buying a ring, I will certainly tell them. However buying on the internet takes time. You have to really know what you want and it is a waste of time explaining this to someone who has a closed mind and really does not want to know.

Tiffany sells VS2 clarity or better and I color or better.  You can go to their website and get that information.

LM

Date: 11/6/2004 2:282 PM
Author: rosy
...Thanks for the reassurance about the Tiffany I diamond being white.  I feel much better about getting that color now. 

Sorry but I'm confused about the question: is a Tiffany's I white??  I mean, an "I" is an "I" whether you pay 2x the price for the Tiffany's name, or you get it online.  Most people will say that a good cut will face up a bit whiter, and true, Tiffany's (like many online vendors) has good cuts.  But still, an I is an I  !! And a Tiffany's I will be yellower than a H from any online vendor.

aren't tiff's stones graded by a lab such as GIA? if so, they're going to be graded how they're going to be graded, regardless if the stone is going to tiff's or somewhere else.

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Cap'n Zales says, "Friends don't let friends buy the $199 holiday special! Hardy-har!"

I think Tiff's rings come with a GIA report.  However, on the website it says that their diamonds are also inspected by the Tiffany Grading Lab, which "reserves the right to overule the existing certificates" such as a GIA.  However, they do claim to assign the lower grade to a diamond that is borderline.  So if the 'I' is a high 'I' it would be graded as an I and not a low "H"

Hope this helps.

I inquired about a ring at Tiffany's. They gave me a Tiffany Gemological Laboratory Report that stated the stone was I color,VS1, Symmetry: Good, Polish: Very Good and Precision of cut:Excellent. The depth was 61.9% and the table was 59% and measurements 10.09x10.26 for a 4.01 stone. The price was $65,000 plus tax.

I did not feel that the salespeople there were particularly well informed about diamonds. They did not know what I was talking about when I mentioned a Sarin or angle measurements. Thiis was not an outstanding stone but I guess those who are intent on having the Tiffany name just assume their stones are special. I think Cartier, Van Cleef and Harry Winston have higher standards if you are willing to pay the price.

I bought an I color stone from Whiteflash. I went back to Tiffany's and my stone looked as good in color as theirs, in my opinion. My stone has excellent proportions and is very firey and bright. A well cut I color stone will look better than a poorly proportioned stone of better collor. My stone looks very white in some environments and not as white in others. But there is a post where people with G color and up seem to have this problem.

I am happy with the I color but if you are very sensitive to color you might want to go to an F or G. But the way the stone is cut makes a big difference in appearance and I do not think the I stones I saw at Tiffany's were any whiter in color than well cut I stones I saw elsewhere. 

Solange:

Yes.  I agree with you about the salespeople at Tiffany's.  They don't know ANYTHING about diamonds and their properties.  They are skilled salespeople that is all. 

I bet your diamond looked fabulous in those Tiffany spotlights!! LOL!

Rosy, I purchased my stone from Whiteflash...online.  Actually, because so many people complement my stone each day, they always ask, where did you buy that diamond.  I am honest, respond with, "I did my research for months online, and purchased from a very reputable diamond vendor through the internet."  I have sooooo many friends and co-workers who now want to upgrade and purchase new diamond jewelry pieces and they want me to help them.....and they will all be going through Whiteflash, too.

If you're concerned with the stigma associated with purchasing online, you can always say something like, "I went with a very reputable diamond vendor, based out of Houston, after doing significant research."  I doubt anyone will think twice about that....they will just be starstruck by the amazing rock.

Good Luck