decision decision please help!!!

[flexicitus]

I have narrowed my alternatives to the Tiffany ring to this:

0.50 H&A Diamond F VVS2, which scores perfect in the 3 categories on the GemEx live report + a supercert setting. The total + my estimation of oversea shipping and insurance + 2% VISA fees = $4300. For that I need to wait for shipping and etc. It takes probably 2-4 weeks before I actually get to see the ring.

The Tiffany premium is around $1300 - 1500.

The actual price difference is $2070 in USD.


Any advice?

Fl

 

[flexicitus]

An interesting turn of event: I have been talking with a salesperson about their replica and the mounting since last week. I also have made a few inquiries about their diamonds. Today we chatted again about the setting and their physical address for a possible future shipment of a diamond (valued at $2700 USD) from another jeweler. Then I was told that my inquiries have costed them money, now that I am planning to get the diamond from someone else. To be honest I am surprised by what I heard and feel quite bad about their losses. Had I known that ''my inquiries'' would cost them money I would not have asked them anything about their diamonds at all. The conversation with him ended abruptly and on a rather awkward note. He also told me that I would have to assume responsibility for the Canadian taxes (14-6%!) or the UK VAT for the matter (17%!!). This will bring the price difference between the Tiffany ring (.50 ct F VS2) and this alternative option to $1370. Now I really feel hesitant about this alternative option for the ring for more reasons than just money and risks. I want a happy experience in purchasing this ring afterall.

Tiffany offers to ship this ring to me and I could return it within 30 days. (Thus saves me an otherwise 16 hours of bus trip which would cost me around $100 USD). So far I think the Tiffany salesperson has given me suggestions of more than 15-20 diamonds of various specifications over the course of 2-3 weeks. That is service, and I really feel valued as a customer. So the difference is now $2000 USD for a lifetime of memory. I don''t know and I confess that I am a bit confused at this turn of event. $2000 is a lot of money but it''s $500 a year for the next 40 years - $500 is close to what I earn on interest with ING. That said, it wouldn''t probably be as much after the purchase of this ring. ...

Any thoughts?

Fl

 

[JulieN]

50x40

 

[flexicitus]

Da ist richtig!! 50x40 = 2000. Pardon! hehehe

Fl

 

[JulieN]

still significant, though. i don't read Tiffany threads that much. Since you're thinking long term, Canadian average diamond sizes will go up. I'd probably go for something about 3/4 ct.

 

[flexicitus]

After some very good discussions with my woman (soon ma femme!) the issue about Tiffany and carat size is pretty much settled. Without my leading, she chose what I thought she would. I am surprised and not surprised! Isn't that sweet?

So it's Tiffany then, on the premise that she thought (with my help) that they might cost the same. What is not the same is the value of originality in the creation of the beautiful, which we both value greatly. Orignality, however, isn't the same as fame. It's the beauty and craftmanship that we appreciate.

The winner of the carat size belongs to the range of high .040s to 0.50s, based on diameter. She eliminated 1 ct or 1+ ct from the start, because of her personal style. Then we talked about 3/4 as Juile suggested. That range also didn't survive either. I asked her more than thrice and her answer was the same without hesitation. So there you go, we now have a winner!

Now I am working around 0.47-0.53 because of their simliarity in diameter and am writing to the Tiffany salesperson as we speak.

It's gonna be around £3000-3500, but if that's the right ring it's worth it. A VS2 F 0.50 is £3350, and a 0.47 VS1 F is £3150. Any thought on if they would be cheaper at Tiffany Canada?

Fl

 

[flexicitus]

Could someone give me a head up about the Tiffany US prices for a platinum Tiffany setting size 6 with a diamond of the following specifications:

F, VS1 or VS2, 0.49 or 0.50ish? Could somebody please phone them to find out for me? I like to know the difference between my UK offer and the US pricing. This would be an enormous help.

Many thanks!!

Fl

 

[:)]

Flexicitus, I am unfamiliar with buying in another country, but I have read on posts in the past about paying taxes, etc when buying in another country (you also referenced something about this earlier in this string when dealing with another company). Before you make a purchase, please make sure you check out any taxes you would have to pay by importing from any other countries - it may vary from country to country, and I don''t want you to get an extra ''surprise'' charge after you purchase your ring!

 

[flexicitus]

Yea thanks for the very important reminder. I don''t think there would be any problem for me to come back from the UK to Canada. The question I need answer for is whether the CDN pricing with tax is still cheaper than the UK prices on offer. Getting it from the US is a bit too complicated and risky for me at the moment. I could ask my friends in the US to do it for me but as for purchase I would still have to be present for the certifcation. I do want my name on their purchase letter.

So there you go. Should I bring this issue up with the UK Tiffany salesperson? It is unlikely that he would give me a discount because I am not British, isn''t it? =P

Fl

 

[upgrading mama]

"he doesn''t want to go over third of a carat because he is in canada"


Lol I am sorry this just makes me chuckle. Unless you live in a 3rd world country where food is scarce, I don''t think you need to adjust your diamond size bc the others around you choose smaller.

I live in Canada too, in a rural, tiny town, and I have a 1.5 ct ring. But I am American and hubby is Canadian, maybe that is why it doesn''t bother me

 

[flexicitus]

My apologises if my previous clarifications about Canadian sizeS aren''t good enough for some of you. Time and again many here have supported my view that there is no normative carat size in Canada. There is no one size that says it all for everybody, as everybody''s story is different. THAT is my point and the more posts from Canada or from Canadians the more self-evident is my point, isn''t it? I have nothing against any particular diamond size, nor is any apologetic needed. If freedom or liberty cannot be understood in terms of diversity or choice, and if it can only come or can be communicated by means of a norm, to me it''s only a lie at best. Freedom as a norm can only mean normlessness.


Fl

 

[flexicitus]

My friend smartly pointed me to the prices for a certain ring listed across on the Tiffany wesites in US, Canada and the UK. The founding is alarming: the UK price has a remarkably unreasonable mark-up from the US/Canada prices on the SAME item. The Canadian price is still at least $300 cheaper than the UK listed price even AFTER including a 14% PST/GST for a $4000 item!!! Je ne compris pas!


Fl

 

[ladykemma]

go to the tiffany''s in your country for ease of maintenance, service and repairs.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

Flex,

Can someone bring you the ring or mail it from Canada to avoid all those hassles? I''m Italian, a lot of times things get to Canada or Italy the old fashioned way, someone brings it.

Perhaps the U.K has a luxury import tax which makes the ring more expensive than its other counterparts. I know Canada had a luxury tax, but I think its been removed. Not sure, I do a lot of shopping in the U.S.

It seems almost best to book a flight home, visit a few days with family/friends, drive to the closest U.S border, pick up the ring & bring it to the U.K yourself. Flights out of Toronto ( you mentioned 14% tax so I''m guessing you would come to Ontario) are about $500 Can. LOL The vendor would have to be outside of NY State for you to save a bit on the taxes. Anyway, an option. LOL I dont know where Tiffany distributes from but there is one in Toronto so that would be easy too.

Judy

 

[flexicitus]

I have at hand reports of two Tiffany solitarie rings:

0.47ct F VS1: 5.04 - 5.08 x 3.05 (D60.3%, T59%, 33.8 & 43.5%, medium gridle, no culet, Ex cut, VG sym, VG pol): 5951 USD

0.50ct F VS2: 5.15 - 5.18 x 3.13 (D60.6%, T58%, 34 & 43.4%, thin-medium faceted, no culet, Ex cut, VG, VG): 6369.73USD

no tax.

I appreciate any thoughts or comments on the cuts. Many thanks.

Fl

 

[ladykemma]

#2 smaller table