a twist on an old topic

[Just fork out the cash]

Hi,

Like many on these boards, I''m in the market for an engagement ring and am new to these boards. Conventional wisdom says to stay clear of mall stores and the Shane Co. due to their excessive markups and possible inferior quality. What about Tiffany, there''s definitely a markup, but is quality an issue too? How much extra will I be paying for the blue box, brand, etc.? I don''t mind $500-$800 for the name, but not $1000s. I''ve seen a short list of recommended Internet stores, are there any to avoid? Anyone deal with RP Diamond Gold and Import?

 

[coarchitect]

hello and welcome!

if you do a search here on pricescope for tiffany, you will find more then enough material to answer this and many other tiffany debates!
good luck!

 

[Brian Knox]

Hi,

I like your tag line.

I have always used a similar expression, I can't remember the original author, but I will never forget the message.

"Good things come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those that hustle"

 

[fire&ice]

How large a stone/purchase you are looking to make will determine how much more money you will pay for the blue box. If you are looking at the 1 carat range, you will be paying 1000's more.

Work yourself around this site. Figure out a budget & see what specs are the most important to you. And, remember that cut quality seriously effects the diamond's beauty.

Good luck.

 

[dimonbob]

You said mall store and Tiffany in one breath. From one end of the scale to the other. To answer your question..Tiffany does have quality diamonds but the quality of a Tiffany diamond is not above the super ideal cut hearts and arrows diamonds found here on Pricescope. Also if you compare a Tiffany fine diamond to one of equal weight, color and clarity with a top quality cut, you will find there is a HUGE price difference.

You can also get rings with equal quality. They will not have "Tiffany & Co." stamped in them but they will be the same quality.

So for the same money you can get a larger, higher color and clarity diamond from a vendor here on PS.

Your choice.

 

[niceice]

----------------
On 5/10/2004 3:34:41 PM NOCZ4GJ wrote:

How much extra will I be paying for the blue box, brand, etc.? I don't mind $500-$800 for the name, but not $1000s.----------------

From what we've seen and heard, the difference in mark-up between high end jewelry stores "like Tiffany" and the internet dealers for "comparable" merchandise (minus the brand name stamp and baby blue box) is about 50%.

 

[layman]

I suppose this is a question of what are you looking for.

People who buys Tiffany often buys it for a few reasons - a) the brand/status, b) the workmanship of the setting etc. They are willing to pay whatever price to get what they want. So no point trying to convince them otherwise. Besides, although the Tiffany classic solitaire setting does not look complicated but copying it well is not that simple.

Then there are others here who are a lot more concerned about diamond cut quality, beauty and price. These people will never ever consider buying diamond rings from Tiffany. Tiffany may sell some well cut diamond but if one really goes technical, their diamonds are often deemed too expensive for their qualities.

So often the replies to a post like yours errupts into a series of heated debates by people from the two camps. Such debtes often end in the agreement to disagree.

If can't decide whether you are type I(b) or II, i.e, you like the setting but you may not want to pay the price, then maybe the following vendors who makes nice T&C replica settings can help:

Superbcert

I am not sure if the following vendor would do settings without buying their CZ stone, but their setting looks decent and cheaper than superbcert:

Better Than Diamond

 

[Iceman]

Unless you want to use the tiffany's box as a pocket enhancer to show to people that this is where you bought the ring from , nobody knows or really cares.

We must remember we live in the real world, not that place on the "E" channel , but everyday living. You can not carry a widget or a gidget in your pocket to show people your diamond has a tiffany logo under 10x power or how well it is cut. How many people buy a ring some were else and say its from Tiffany's more? More then you think

Buy it because you like it.

Its also your money, make good choices.