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A big surprise at Tiffany''s

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Thanks for the replies. I have searched, but I cannot find any side by side pictures of a Tiffany vs other. I found mention in a thread of such a post. Does anyone have any?

To me, I do not hold much value in the Tiffany brand (it''s just another brand to me that sells mineralised carbon!) or what aftersales services they offer, I am just interested in the aesthetic qualities of the rock. The stats side of things doesnt really interest me either. I recently bought a couple of diamonds and found I got too caught up in the stats. Price is not in the equation either.
 
Do a search for "tiffany", you''ll find plenty to keep you occupied for a good whilst.

A "Tiffany" round diamond is not a branded diamond. It is just like any other non-branded diamond - mined from the same (generic) places, cut by the same (generic) cutters. The only thing branded about a Tiffany RB is the little T&Co. stamped inside the shank. If the Tiffany name is important to you, then by all means buy Tiffany products and know that even without researching you are getting a better-than-average stone. If the name is not important, as you claim, and you want a top performer but you have no desire to research, just buy an ACA.

A rough diamond is quite literally a rock, and quite frankly rather an ugly one at that. It is in the meticulous care given to the cutting that it becomes a work of art with those pleasing "aesthetic" qualities you desire. The way to evaluate that aesthetic, then, unless perhaps you have years of practice picking out gorgeous stones with your eyes, is to examine those very same "stats" that it was cut to, and that you so cavalierly dismiss.
 
BTW, I do not own any diamonds of a significant size from Tiffany or from a PS vendor. In fact, my diamond purchases have been minimal at best. I believe I own about 64 melee that are under .75ctw. And two tapered baguettes that weigh less than .4ctw.

Making those claims here though when there are people who make their livings off of selling these "inferior to Tiffany" diamonds, and people who have created tools to measure light return and all kinds of other ways to measure the performance of diamonds...saying that Tiffany diamonds outperforms diamonds that can be purchased elsewhere...

Lets just say you''re asking to ruffle some feathers and get a lot of technical information thrown at you.
 
As I have said, I have searched and read extensively about Tiffany on this forum. *Just interested in some direct comparisons to satisfy my curiosity about whether the superiority of the PS vendors can be detected to the unaided eye noticeably*.

In my opinion I think anything from WF with a H&A cut or Blue Nile (for example) with their signature cut would be safe bets in terms of cut. And anything decent from Tiffany''s would be more than reasonable also.

I once purchased an exotic car a few years back. After sitting in a different model for sizing purposes, the dealer asked if I wanted a test drive arranged (he could get the right model in a week). I declined the offer as the badge on the car told me what I am buying would be an excellent performer. I was not dissapointed.
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Date: 11/10/2009 2:38:59 AM
Author: alexandros
As I have said, I have searched and read extensively about Tiffany on this forum. *Just interested in some direct comparisons to satisfy my curiosity about whether the superiority of the PS vendors can be detected to the unaided eye noticeably*.

In my opinion I think anything from WF with a H&A cut or Blue Nile (for example) with their signature cut would be safe bets in terms of cut. And anything decent from Tiffany's would be more than reasonable also.

I once purchased an exotic car a few years back. After sitting in a different model for sizing purposes, the dealer asked if I wanted a test drive arranged (he could get the right model in a week). I declined the offer as the badge on the car told me what I am buying would be an excellent performer. I was not dissapointed.
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Then you're absolutely the only person I've ever heard of who would do such a thing on such an expensive purchase, esp. when given the alternative opportunity alternative to verify.

Best of luck with your diamond purchasing choices, whatever they may be.
 
Date: 11/8/2009 2:21:59 PM
Author: Stone-cold11
Date: 11/8/2009 1:19:01 PM

Author: Hest88

It used to be that Tiffany stones could get outside certification if they were over 1ct. Is that no longer the case? They use their own grading no matter how large the stone?


I think that is after the Certifigate incident of GIA that Tiffany decides to distances itself with GIA. Might be wrong.

That was very strongly my feeling too SC
 
Date: 11/10/2009 2:38:59 AM
Author: alexandros
As I have said, I have searched and read extensively about Tiffany on this forum. *Just interested in some direct comparisons to satisfy my curiosity about whether the superiority of the PS vendors can be detected to the unaided eye noticeably*.


In my opinion I think anything from WF with a H&A cut or Blue Nile (for example) with their signature cut would be safe bets in terms of cut. And anything decent from Tiffany''s would be more than reasonable also.


I once purchased an exotic car a few years back. After sitting in a different model for sizing purposes, the dealer asked if I wanted a test drive arranged (he could get the right model in a week). I declined the offer as the badge on the car told me what I am buying would be an excellent performer. I was not dissapointed.
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Me suspects that you may just be a Tiffany schill
http://www.pricescope.com/idealbb/profile/myprofile.asp?mode=recentposts&userID=40804
 
Date: 11/8/2009 2:33:48 PM
Author: rockabee
At any rate, my only point is that if I bought from Tiffany, I would just do the extra legwork to make sure that what I'm buying is quality and not just assume it.


That is sound reasoning when buying from ANYWHERE
 
Date: 11/10/2009 2:09:26 AM
Author: yssie



Do a search for ''tiffany'', you''ll find plenty to keep you occupied for a good whilst.

A ''Tiffany'' round diamond is not a branded diamond. It is just like any other non-branded diamond - mined from the same (generic) places, cut by the same (generic) cutters. The only thing branded about a Tiffany RB is the little T&Co. stamped inside the shank. If the Tiffany name is important to you, then by all means buy Tiffany products and know that even without researching you are getting a better-than-average stone. If the name is not important, as you claim, and you want a top performer but you have no desire to research, just buy an ACA.

A rough diamond is quite literally a rock, and quite frankly rather an ugly one at that. It is in the meticulous care given to the cutting that it becomes a work of art with those pleasing ''aesthetic'' qualities you desire. The way to evaluate that aesthetic, then, unless perhaps you have years of practice picking out gorgeous stones with your eyes, is to examine those very same ''stats'' that it was cut to, and that you so cavalierly dismiss.
by the way, i think they have started to laser inscribe the actual stones now with a "T&Co + serial number". Not sure what % of their stones they inscribe nor if there is some size below which they don''t. I also think it is tacky the way they put the exact carat, color, and clarity inside the band. Why don''t they just put the price tag in there as well, that way my gf can know EXACTLY how much I love her!! It''s so romantic...

IMHO, the primary reason they do that is to "reward" people for buying stones where the naked eye can no longer see a difference. I.e, a G VS2 is muchless than an F VVS1, but assuming ideal cuts and all else equal no one will be able to see a difference. But now that its inscribed on the band, my wife/fiance will forever know exactly where she stands relative to everyone else''s ring!
 
I don't know where you got this information, but Tiffany does NOT inscribe the color and clarity inside the band. Only the serial number and carat size are marked inside the band. There is also a laser inscription on each of their solitaire rings.
 
then maybe that was only on the showroom rings that i saw, which were all available for purchase. but i have seen with my own two eyes the color, clarity, and carat inscribed on the inside of rings they sell. i am 100% positive of this. now, it could be that it is only a small percentage of their rings they do this for or that they can remove it upon request, etc. that, i don''t know.
 
Date: 11/10/2009 9:52:33 AM
Author: rockabee
then maybe that was only on the showroom rings that i saw, which were all available for purchase. but i have seen with my own two eyes the color, clarity, and carat inscribed on the inside of rings they sell. i am 100% positive of this. now, it could be that it is only a small percentage of their rings they do this for or that they can remove it upon request, etc. that, i don''t know.


Hmm.. which location were you in, because I am 100% sure that NONE of their rings have the color or clarity inscribed on the inside of the band. Like I said, however, there is a serial number and the carat size.
 
Date: 11/10/2009 10:18:20 AM
Author: freefly

Date: 11/10/2009 9:52:33 AM
Author: rockabee
then maybe that was only on the showroom rings that i saw, which were all available for purchase. but i have seen with my own two eyes the color, clarity, and carat inscribed on the inside of rings they sell. i am 100% positive of this. now, it could be that it is only a small percentage of their rings they do this for or that they can remove it upon request, etc. that, i don''t know.


Hmm.. which location were you in, because I am 100% sure that NONE of their rings have the color or clarity inscribed on the inside of the band. Like I said, however, there is a serial number and the carat size.
ok, so i actually called the new york 5th ave flagship store and they verified that they do now inscribe color, clarity, and carat inside some of the e-rings. they told me that they do this inscription on rings over a certain size, but the person I spoke to was not sure what the cutoff size was. so under that cutoff, they have the serial # and carat and over that size, they have color, clarity, etc. they also said that this is a relatively new policy for them.
 
Date: 11/8/2009 9:36:19 AM
Author:rockabee
So I went to Tiffany''s flagship store in NYC a number of times. There was a person in the elevator to take you to your floor (even though its a normal button elevator rather than a manual one from the early 1900s). you get to the engagement floor, they offer you complementary champagne or bottled water. And the SAs there are nothing if not professional and courWhen teous. When asked about the quality of their stones, they assured me that it is held to a ''higher standard'' than that of either GIA or AGS. It really is a different type of engagement ring shopping experience.

However, that''s where the clock struck 12 and my coach turned into a pumpkin. When I asked for the cert for a few diamonds, I learned that they do not submit their diamonds to an outside independent firm like GIA/AGS but do it in-house. Call me skeptical, but isn''t that a bit of a conflict of interest? The guy who is selling me the stone is also rating them? Ok, but it''s Tiffany so I can trust them to sell only the best quality.

So then I get the certs and to my surprise, none of them have any inclusion plots! So I just have to take their word that it is a VS2 or VVS1 or whatever! Not to say I don''t trust them, but at the same time we all know that there are VS2s (eh...) and then there are VS2s (wow!). Of course, outside of a color lamp and a loop, they don''t provide any other evaluation tools (e.g., ideal scope, magnified image, etc). But not a big deal since many places don''t do this.

Now for the big surprise. I took the diamond specs and ran two of them through HCA. Their scores came back 4.2 and 4.5!! Here are the specs for a RB that I kept the cert for:
Depth: 62.6%
Table: 57
Crown Ang: 35.3%
Pav Ang: 41.2%

I am not making this up. I was shocked. If I''m going to pay a 70-100% premium for a Tiffany ring, I understand that I''m paying for the brand. But at least I thought I would be getting an amazing stone! To me, these things were lemons. I am not trying to malign Tiffany and to be fair, I only ran the HCA on two of the stones. But still, huge price premium, stones are rated by the seller using standards seller claims to be strict, no inclusion plots, and poor performing stones. Am I missing something?
responding to the highlighted portion. This has NEVER happened to me and I live 5 blocks from the flagship store in NYC. Maybe its because I''m not a guy? I went a few times in search of an eternity band to wear with my engagement ring. Each time I had to flag down an SA. The last time I was there, two weeks ago with my DH the SA, when we were able to find one, was rude. I asked if they had a novo and a jaz band in a size 5. She said she would only go look for my size if I seriously intended on buying it. What??? How am I supposed to know what it looks like with my ER if you give me a size 6? ah, yeah, I''m serious, my husband doesn''t leisurley like going jewelry shopping.
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Oh and as to being offered even a bottle of water, that has not once ever happened.

I know that isn''t the intention of this post but I''m amazed that your experience has been so different than mine.
 
Rockabee,

My rather brusque post late last night was not directed at you, I should have made that clear in the post itself. I find your questions reasonable and rational, and I'm interested to hear that they now inscribe colour and clarity in the band too.

I must say, though, I never got that sort of treatment when I went by myself, but when I took FI in - oh, what a difference!
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Date:
11/10/2009 1:36:14 PM
Author: rockabee

ok, so i actually called the new york 5th ave flagship store and they verified that they do now inscribe color, clarity, and carat inside some of the e-rings. they told me that they do this inscription on rings over a certain size, but the person I spoke to was not sure what the cutoff size was. so under that cutoff, they have the serial # and carat and over that size, they have color, clarity, etc. they also said that this is a relatively new policy for them.
OK, so this may not be the LAMEST (sp?!) thing I''ve ever heard of, but it''s right up there! T&Co is enscribing the color, clarity and carat weight of SOME of their diamonds inside the shank of (some of) their rings?!

Has it never occured to anyone that settings and diamonds do in fact sometimes get um, SEPARATED from each other?! Either intentionally or non-intentionally... things can (and do) happen. That inscription inside the shank is virtually meaningless, and especially once that ring is out the door, IMHO.
 
emeraldlover1- I always go to the Wall st store (it''s about 7 block from me) and the service there is outstanding. Never had a problem with any of the SA''s and they''ve always gone out of their way to be helpful. The only problem is they don''t carry as much as the 5th ave one does. But next time you want to try tiff''s, seriously try that one.
 
Date: 11/10/2009 1:36:14 PM
Author: rockabee
Date: 11/10/2009 10:18:20 AM

Author: freefly


Date: 11/10/2009 9:52:33 AM

Author: rockabee

then maybe that was only on the showroom rings that i saw, which were all available for purchase. but i have seen with my own two eyes the color, clarity, and carat inscribed on the inside of rings they sell. i am 100% positive of this. now, it could be that it is only a small percentage of their rings they do this for or that they can remove it upon request, etc. that, i don''t know.



Hmm.. which location were you in, because I am 100% sure that NONE of their rings have the color or clarity inscribed on the inside of the band. Like I said, however, there is a serial number and the carat size.

ok, so i actually called the new york 5th ave flagship store and they verified that they do now inscribe color, clarity, and carat inside some of the e-rings. they told me that they do this inscription on rings over a certain size, but the person I spoke to was not sure what the cutoff size was. so under that cutoff, they have the serial # and carat and over that size, they have color, clarity, etc. they also said that this is a relatively new policy for them.

Hi Rockabee, I hope your engagement ring search is going well. I saw your post and didn''t want to respond until I had more information to give you. I have been a long time Tiffany shopper though I don''t post anything here due to the fact that most PSers don''t seem to be much of a fan, but it makes me sad to see misinformation posted. I don''t mean any disrespect to you nor do I mean to be confrontational, but this is what I was told. I contacted my regular SP who had no idea about color or clarity being inscribed inside the band of their engagement rings, so she said she''d contact NY and find out. She said she contacted an SP on the engagement ring floor in NY who didn''t know anything about that either and suggested she contact the senior analyst of the engagement ring department. They hadn''t heart of the color or clarity being inscribed on the inside of the bands either, so they contacted product development of engagement rings who responded that absolutely none of their engagement rings have the color or clarity inscribed on the inside of the shank. So for whatever it''s worth, and for whoever is interested, that''s the information I was given.
 
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