Advice Needed

[ckg92]

Alright,

So the time is quickly approaching, and honestly at this point the sooner I can get this ring the better. From the start I've been looking for a Tiffany replica style ring for a 1/2 carat stone. I've talked with Brian Gavin, Excel, and Whiteflash. This is where I'm at now:

All three of these vendors have great reps, though when it comes to the Tiffany setting, I'm leaning toward Gavin or Excel, simply because their photos look much more tailored and dainty to the stone. Since I'm going with a smaller stone, this is something that's very important. So far, for an ideal cut stone and the setting I like, it's going to come out to around $3K. I also configured out the Whiteflash Tiffany setting with a nice H&A cut stone for right at 3k as well.

HOWEVER..I just looked on Tiffany's site, and their solitaire setting for a half carat says it starts at 3k...so contrary to what I've read and seen, there isn't that much of a different in price (in my case), unless the Tiffany's diamonds aren't that great compared to the other ones I've looked at it.

With such a small price difference, wouldn't it be worth it to go with the actual Tiffany's ring, and get both the quality and the "name"? I don't really feel like I'm saving money by not..and the idea of driving to a Tiff store and getting one ASAP..is extremely appealing

 

[Gypsy]

Call your Tiffany store, instead of driving. Ask them what they have in the 3K range for a 1/2 carat in the store, and what they can get in for you and when. Then decide.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/25/2009 1:16:01 AM
Author:ckg92
Alright,

So the time is quickly approaching, and honestly at this point the sooner I can get this ring the better. From the start I've been looking for a Tiffany replica style ring for a 1/2 carat stone. I've talked with Brian Gavin, Excel, and Whiteflash. This is where I'm at now:

All three of these vendors have great reps, though when it comes to the Tiffany setting, I'm leaning toward Gavin or Excel, simply because their photos look much more tailored and dainty to the stone. Since I'm going with a smaller stone, this is something that's very important. So far, for an ideal cut stone and the setting I like, it's going to come out to around $3K. I also configured out the Whiteflash Tiffany setting with a nice H&A cut stone for right at 3k as well.

HOWEVER..I just looked on Tiffany's site, and their solitaire setting for a half carat says it starts at 3k...so contrary to what I've read and seen, there isn't that much of a different in price (in my case), unless the Tiffany's diamonds aren't that great compared to the other ones I've looked at it.

With such a small price difference, wouldn't it be worth it to go with the actual Tiffany's ring, and get both the quality and the 'name'? I don't really feel like I'm saving money by not..and the idea of driving to a Tiff store and getting one ASAP..is extremely appealing

Many aren't. We've had posters on here with the specs of their Tiff stones and they ranged from not badly cut to not good at all. Someone even took an IS to one, and it wasn't real pretty, but I can't find the thread. If you want to be really involved, to do the homework on the stones to make sure they're well cut you could, but it may take some time. And even then, I would doubt they are cut to the level of WF and BGD stones (I'm not well versed on Excel's stones and their cut level). I'm not saying that's bad, just not sure how tightly cut you want, and if you want H&A's.

 

[Judah Gutwein]

"I'm not well versed on Excel's stones and their cut level"

Just to clarify here;

Cut level on our Ideals can be easily ascertained via the included Cert scans listed for every stone, as well as by requesting the additional data and information which we gladly supply upon request (photos, IS, HCA, ASET, DiamCalc Cut Quality Analysis etc.).

Best,

 

[Ellen]

Date: 6/25/2009 11:46:51 AM
Author: Judah Gutwein
''I''m not well versed on Excel''s stones and their cut level''

Just to clarify here;

Cut level on our Ideals can be easily ascertained via the included Cert scans listed for every stone, as well as by requesting the additional data and information which we gladly supply upon request (photos, IS, HCA, ASET, DiamCalc Cut Quality Analysis etc.).

Best,

Judah, I hope you did not take this as any kind of criticism or inference, it was just basically because I don''t see your stones posted as much as the others. And I guess I was too lazy to go looking? I just didn''t want to speak affirmatively about that which I was not as familar with.

I will have a gander though, for future reference.

 

[Judah Gutwein]

Ellen,

Not at all.
Thanks!