Brick & Mortar vs Online vendors

[nihraguk]

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of putting together an engagement ring for my girlfriend. It looks like it's going to be a solitaire, in either the Cartier 1895 setting or Victor Canera's Trueste setting, and a round stone between 1.1 to 1.3ct.

But I have several questions.

What are the benefits of getting such a ring from an established brick and mortar store like Cartier or Tiffany's instead of from an online vendor?

My concern (and my girlfriend's concern) is that a local brick and mortar store will be better at offering 'support' during the lifetime of the ring, such as resizing if necessary or adjustment to the prongs, etc. It seems like a local store would be a lot more convenient for this, as opposed to having to send the ring to and from an online vendor. In particular, if the online vendor is a one-man operation (as most seem to be), what happens if he/she decides to retire?

I would hate to be in a situation where my girlfriend is no longer able to wear her engagement ring because it needs to be resized but the original vendor has retired and no one else wants to do it for us.

I am aware that many members hold the view that, for the same money, one will be able to get a better stone from an online vendor as opposed to from a 'branded' store like Cartier or Tiffany's, especially since Cartier (for instance) only seems to offer GIA certification.

But I was wondering - would Cartier also have internal QC processes (perhaps their own version of the HCA or something) to weed out the good GIA excellent rings from the bad, and to ensure that their stones are also top notch?

I ask this having only seen diamonds from Cartier and Tiffany's, and not having seen (in person) diamonds from BGD, HPD or GOG. And the diamonds I saw seemed very nice, in my layperson's opinion.

Would be grateful for any input you guys would be able to provide. Thanks in advance!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of putting together an engagement ring for my girlfriend. It looks like it's going to be a solitaire, in either the Cartier 1895 setting or Victor Canera's Trueste setting, and a round stone between 1.1 to 1.3ct.

But I have several questions.

What are the benefits of getting such a ring from an established brick and mortar store like Cartier or Tiffany's instead of from an online vendor?

Basically you are paying for the brand name since you can get equal or better quality elsewhere for less money, or a larger diamond for the same budget.

My concern (and my girlfriend's concern) is that a local brick and mortar store will be better at offering 'support' during the lifetime of the ring, such as resizing if necessary or adjustment to the prongs, etc. It seems like a local store would be a lot more convenient for this, as opposed to having to send the ring to and from an online vendor. In particular, if the online vendor is a one-man operation (as most seem to be), what happens if he/she decides to retire?

You should have that kind of work done at a local jeweler regardless of where you buy the stone/ring. You may not even stay in the same city forever. People move and just find a new jeweler wherever they are. I wouldn't send a plain solitaire back to a vendor in another state for sizing, etc.

I would hate to be in a situation where my girlfriend is no longer able to wear her engagement ring because it needs to be resized but the original vendor has retired and no one else wants to do it for us.

Jewelers do repairs. That is part of their business. It's just like your car. You don't have to take it back to the original dealership to have all work done on it forever. You may find a mechanic you like better and who charges less. You may move and have to choose a new mechanic or dealership. Same with jewelry. The only exception is if you have an intricate pave ring and loose little diamonds, you might want to be sure the original seller will replace the little stones free (and that could be a pain if you had to mail it off each time).

I am aware that many members hold the view that, for the same money, one will be able to get a better stone from an online vendor as opposed to from a 'branded' store like Cartier or Tiffany's, especially since Cartier (for instance) only seems to offer GIA certification.

GIA has plenty of outstanding diamonds and far more availability than AGS. You can easily find an equivalent GIA EX or AGS Ideal Cut diamond elsewhere for far less money than Tiffany or Cartier. For example, if you were looking at 1.0 ct. stones at Tiffany's or Cartier, you probably could buy an equal or better 1.3-1.5 ct. stone from one of these vendors for the same budget.

But I was wondering - would Cartier also have internal QC processes (perhaps their own version of the HCA or something) to weed out the good GIA excellent rings from the bad, and to ensure that their stones are also top notch?

They do have standards, of course, but I can tell you right now that they are not carrying all super ideal cuts because we have had people shop there before and post grading reports and the stones definitely were nice but not very top quality. You can do better on your own (with some help here). That said, some people value the brand over having a larger, better cut diamond. So that depends on personal preference. I chose a reproduction Tiffany setting that I like better than the real one and a GIA Ex diamond that is equal to Tiffany quality but larger than I could have gotten there. I personally have bought diamonds from GOG and WF and Brian Gavin did a recut for me.

I ask this having only seen diamonds from Cartier and Tiffany's, and not having seen (in person) diamonds from BGD, HPD or GOG. And the diamonds I saw seemed very nice, in my layperson's opinion.

Would be grateful for any input you guys would be able to provide. Thanks in advance!

 

[distracts]

What are the benefits of getting such a ring from an established brick and mortar store like Cartier or Tiffany's instead of from an online vendor?

At Cartier or Tiffany you would pay far more, have much less control over the process,

My concern (and my girlfriend's concern) is that a local brick and mortar store will be better at offering 'support' during the lifetime of the ring, such as resizing if necessary or adjustment to the prongs, etc. It seems like a local store would be a lot more convenient for this, as opposed to having to send the ring to and from an online vendor. In particular, if the online vendor is a one-man operation (as most seem to be), what happens if he/she decides to retire?

Cartier, Tiffany, and most chain b&m stores do not have benches on the premises, so if you need resizing or anything, you will take it to the store and they will ship it to their facility. This is just another layer of shipping - it's not really all that much more convenient. Plus, because of that, the communication situation about what is going on with your ring is usually pretty dire. If you find a trusted local jeweler with a bench on the premises (and a laser welder), then you will have much more control over the communication, and will often even be able to watch as they make repairs (which some people like to do for peace of mind but I like cause it's cool!).

I would hate to be in a situation where my girlfriend is no longer able to wear her engagement ring because it needs to be resized but the original vendor has retired and no one else wants to do it for us.

This is a silly worry - the rings you are looking at are easy to resize. Jewelers work on pieces they didn't create every single day and basic maintenance and fixes are an important part of their job.

I am aware that many members hold the view that, for the same money, one will be able to get a better stone from an online vendor as opposed to from a 'branded' store like Cartier or Tiffany's, especially since Cartier (for instance) only seems to offer GIA certification.

This has nothing to do with the GIA certification, as most stones people buy on this forum are GIA certified, but that 1) at Cartier or Tiffany, you can only select from a very limited number of diamonds that they have, and 2) the markup is pretty extreme. When you have more options and your money goes farther, it's easy to find something better. I also think all Tiffany stones are graded in-house, though actually reliably unlike other in-house grading setups.

But I was wondering - would Cartier also have internal QC processes (perhaps their own version of the HCA or something) to weed out the good GIA excellent rings from the bad, and to ensure that their stones are also top notch?

Probably - Cartier and Tiffany don't carry dud stones. But we have seen people coming here dissatisfied with theirs, and it's clear they don't use a tool like ASET to evaluate the performance of fancy shapes (their fancy shapes can be missteps imo, though their rounds are consistently pretty good).

If the brand is what is most important, or you don't mind spending more money, then go to Cartier or Tiffany. I personally would choose Victor Canera, because I like his aesthetic better, prefer to pick my own stone, and prefer not to have much of the purchase price going to an advertising juggernaut. But if you and your girlfriend prefer the appeal of the brand, that's okay too, and we have seen many lovely Cartier and Tiffany rings on PS.

 

[0-0-0]

But I was wondering - would Cartier also have internal QC processes (perhaps their own version of the HCA or something) to weed out the good GIA excellent rings from the bad, and to ensure that their stones are also top notch?

By virtue of the huge volume of business major brands are doing, it's really not feasible for them to set standards that are as stringent as the branded cuts from BGD/HPD/GOG. Cartier/Tiffany do carry nice stones, and I have seen a few in person that are comparable to the BGD Blue that I have in terms of cut precision/optical symmetry. But overall, my impression is that the majority of stones offered by Cartier/Tiffany are not as precisely cut as the branded cuts from BGD/HPD/GOG.

 

[ChrisES]

If you want to shop B&M, I would use a PS vendor like Good Old Gold or find a local independent outfit and be very discriminating, as in make them bring in multiple stones, make sure they know that you know what quality cuts look like, etc. I wouldn't suggest chain retail (even high-end like T or C) because you're just paying for the name.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,

Before deciding on the quality of diamonds from Tiffany & Cartier, you can buy yourself an idealscope to get a look at the stones through that to see if they have excellent light return. Tiffany has magical lighting that makes every stone look beyond normal...Starbucks has similar lighting (a great place to hang out in when you wanna stare at your diamonds !

Buying through a B&M, means you're paying a mark-up even if it's not a high-end store, IF you want a well-cut diamond. Mine was purchased at a B&M but many years before I found PS and it's very well cut, but I paid A LOT for it. I could have gotten nearly double the size if I bought online.

Many of the vendors are not one-man operations...Whiteflash is a corporation...I don't think the entire organization will retire

 

[Rockdiamond]

Regarding repairs, and local jewlers:
This is very little like getting your car repaired.
The manufacturer of your car makes replacement parts- as well as shop manuals to assist mechanics in working on the car. I've not heard of fine jewelers making parts, or expertise available to other shops for purpose of repairing a ring they made.
Many places that repair jewelry are very glad to take in the work- regardless of whether or not they are capable of fixing it.
Just like the differences in quality of rings, repairs may be of vastly different level of workmanship compared to your ring.

Many sellers have a policy that work done by shops other than theirs voids their manufacturers warrantee.

Bottom line is that I'd very much consider the service you may need when selecting where to purchase. This is especially true with very fine pieces.

Regardless of where you buy ( B&M or Internet seller) I'd ask about repairs. Who pays for them, how are they done, how long does it take, etc.....

 

[Frenchcut]

Most important thing is: what does your girlfriend whant ?!

If her heart is set on a Cartier 1895 or Tiffany setting, nothing else will feel the same...if you can afford it and that's what she wants you should go for it and ensure your (and your gf) piece of mind

So please, ask her what she really wants...

As a proud owner of a 1895 solitaire who hesitated a lot I'm now pretty certain I would have had second thoughts had I bought online. Not that I think online diamonds are not worth it (I'm planning to buy earstuds online asap ) but this ring somehow means more to me and my fiance because of where it was bought. Sounds silly, I know...but to me and my fiance it was worth it!

Good luck with your search,
Frenchcut

PS: also you can be pretty certain that a Cartier/Tiff/HW ring will look gorgeous, I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[nihraguk]

Thanks for the helpful responses. I certainly intend to prioritise what my girlfriend wants, and will enquire about repair and after-sales service as well.

I'm based in Singapore, and there do not appear to be many "local jewelers" here - even the local brands are chains as well that do not look like they would be particularly competent at making repairs.

I'll also consider picking up an Idealscope.

Please keep the helpful responses coming!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

We are talking about a plain, basic solitaire here, David! I already made an exception for more intricate settings like pave. If he lives in Singapore and has a better selection of diamonds and rings here, I think he should feel confident about that decision. Phoenix certainly buys diamond jewelry here!

I had a plain solitaire for 30 years and managed to not have to go back to the original jeweler or manufacturer. When the prongs needed to be retipped and the ring sized, my local jeweler did it just fine!

nihraguk, we have members here from Singapore. Perhaps they can tell you a jeweler who would have the skills for routine repair and maintenance.

 

[0-0-0]

Google for JannPaul. You'll find a really long thread with vendor options local to Singapore.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Good point DS- a solitaire is bound to need less professional attention as compared t a micro pave piece- however I'd still give the same advice.
We just had a client take a yellow gold solitaire into a local jeweler who told her he could change it to white metal by dipping it. Questionable long term advice - but the client took that advice. The end of this story is we need to build an entirely new ring for her.

I agree also that it's very good to have someone local you trust- but on a fine piece- even a solitaire- my advice is exercise extreme caution when selecting someone to work on it.

 

[Amys Bling]

Brick & Mortar vs Online vendors

Yes- you really need to find a good jeweler/bench you trust.