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DILEMMA! Need advice quick!

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Porridge

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 27, 2008
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OK guys and gals, it seems we''ve hit crunch time. The ring I LOVE is the tiffany solitaire in a channel set band. I was thinking with the budget of around $7k - $7.5 that I could get around a 1 - 1.2 carat stone G/H S1, if I got a replica made. FI has been sourcing some diamonds but has not chosen one yet.
Today, an item came on sale from a seemingly reputable seller on e-bay*. The ring I want, original Tiffany''s, with a .74ct, D colour, VS2 centre stone, GIA certified in August 2007, excellent cut, polish and symmetry, 5.8*5.83*3.58. For $6,400.

Is this a great deal?? The ring I tried on in Tiffany''s had a 1.2 carat centre stone, and it seemed a good size, I wouldn''t want bigger. I wear a size 6, but have tiny, short fingers that just doesn''t carry the big rock look. I am not a size girl, I don''t own any other diamonds, my friends are all a few years away from engagement, we are all still poor grad students, so I have nobody to compare to at the moment. I am a final year physical therapy student, working in a hospital, cant wear ring to work. With all this in mind, how huge will the difference be between .74 and 1.2? HUGE huge?? I don''t think I''d upgrade, but that''s what they all say right? I am all too aware of the potential perils of diamond shrinkage. So far I''m just not that into expensive jewelry, but I''m still young (24).

One other additional point is that the channel set band will also be a little thinner with .74, an idea I like because I tried the thicker 1.2 on in the shop with the matching wedding band (they have to be the same width, I''m picky!) and found the whole thing just a teensy bit too thick. It''s possible I''ll love the daintier look of the .74.

What do I do what do I do??? I''m all over the place!

*I am all too aware of the dangers of buying on e-bay. I checked and I am fully protected by PayPal for this item. The GIA cert is shown in the listing, and is included with the item. It says Tiffany''s authentic guaranteed, and shows pictures of the engravings. I had some e-mail contact with the seller, he doesn''t do returns unless the item is not exactly as described. He has loads of great feedback which I checked, and even looked up the items sold and the buyers who bought (see? picky!!)

ADVICE PLEASE!! What would you do?
 
Hi,

I wouldn't do it personally. For me it's not worth the name, but to you it might be. I would rather go down in color and clarity to go up in size (I have a 0.83 ct solitaire).

I checked out a 0.74 D VS2 ACA diamond from Whiteflash and it's going for $4134 with the PS discount. Link Pair that with the channel set tiffany replica from Superbcert/Excel diamonds for $2420 in Platinum and your at $6554 for a brand new ring. Tiffany replica setting

I guess your not getting a bad deal, but I would rather have a new ring than a used, even if it turns out to be authentic Tiffany.

ETA: I would get this 1.21 ct diamond with this setting in Platinum for just under $6850

ETA2: Ditto Neatfreak, big difference visually.
 
I won''t warn you about ebay again, but I will say that there is a significant visual difference IMO between a .75 ish stone and a 1.2...
 
Thanks Shimmer. The name doesn''t mean anything if I''m honest.
 
If the name doesn''t mean anything to you, I say go bigger and go with a replica.

However, if you do decide that you want a Tiffany - this is a good one you found. I checked out the auction and it does seem legit. Laser inscribed so you can validate it too. The seller is also a power seller with positive feedback. I read the negatives and it appears that they will do the right thing.

It doesn''t hurt for you to email the seller and see if they are willing to work something out with you. I have managed to agree to lower prices on eBay and the sellers will end the auction early and set up a second one for me.

Good luck. I am a little worried about someone snatching up the auction since it is pretty easy to find.
 
Thanks neatfreak. I guess I need to honestly consider how much size matters to me. I really don''t think it matters much, but those are famous last words aren''t they. I''d like to think I did my homework on e-bay but you just never know do you. I don''t know if I''m willing to take the risk. However as CharmyPoo pointed out in another thread, a few PSers have gotten great deals on e-bay. I suppose none of you can really tell me what to do here, I guess I really should just asking is it a good deal? Even that depends on how much weight I give to colour/name etc! My mind is all worked up now, please keep your opinions coming and I promise I won''t do anything rash in the near future! Thanks all.
 
A 1.2 ct stone is about 6.85 x 6.85. I think that is significantly larger than 5.8 x 5.83 and would be noticeable.

I am confused, though, because I thought Tiffany&Co certified their own stones and did not use GIA. So how could could a GIA stone come from from Tiffany? Could it be a Tiffany setting that had the Tiffany stone replaced with a GIA stone?

Correct me if I have misunderstood which ring is the real Tiffany.

UPDATE: I read some threads where people bought Tiffany stones that came with both a GIA cert and a Tiffany's cert.
 
swingirl, I'm not sure when exactly tiffany started to certify their own stones but they did and may still have GIA certed stones too.

If the name isn't important, I'd go with a replica and get a larger stone. there is a big difference b/t a .75 and a 1.2. another plus of going with a vendor with an upgrade policy is if sometime down the road you do decide you want a larger stone you have the option to trade the original in. also, if you are the sentimental type and want to keep your original e-ring stone then get the biggest you can now because I promise over time it will somehow magically seem to shrink on you
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Porridge, you asked whether this Tiffany ring is a great deal. In my opinion, no. However, I tend to think that any Tiffany ring is not a great deal because of the brand markup. I know there are many people that may disagree with me, but if brand is truly unimportant to you, then the ring you found is definitely not a good deal.

For your budget, you could get a diamond that is as beautiful--or even more beautiful--than that Tiffany stone. The one shimmer suggested looks lovely. Also, I know that size may be relatively unimportant to you now, but will you feel the same way ten years down the road? The benefit of Whiteflash is the upgrade policy; you get 100% of your purchase price applied to an upgrade, and you can spend as much or as little on the upgrade as you want. Few vendors have such a great upgrade policy! You could even go for a smaller stone now and decide to spring for a larger stone later.

So, in sum, I''d pass on the Tiffany eBay ring.
 
Date: 11/12/2008 9:09:25 PM
Author: swingirl
A 1.2 ct stone is about 6.85 x 6.85. I think that is significantly larger than 5.8 x 5.83 and would be noticeable.


I am confused, though, because I thought Tiffany&Co certified their own stones and did not use GIA. So how could could a GIA stone come from from Tiffany? Could it be a Tiffany setting that had the Tiffany stone replaced with a GIA stone?


Correct me if I have misunderstood which ring is the real Tiffany.


UPDATE: I read some threads where people bought Tiffany stones that came with both a GIA cert and a Tiffany''s cert.

Tiffany only started doing their own a few years ago.
 
Signed Pieces sells a lot of their Tiffany rings on Ebay (signedpiecesinc). I think most people on this board would trust them 100%.
 
Ditto for getting a larger stone with a similar style setting. You''ll notice the difference in 1 ct. and .74.
 
Thanks all for your opinions. I''ve decided to pass on the e-bay offer. I have to say after thinking about it that I do think it is a pretty good offer, for someone who would put colour first and wanted the Tiffany name. But I think you guys are right, I need to take a preemptive strike against DSS and go as close to the original size as possible and look for a returns policy. I guess I was also a little impatient to have it before christmas so I could show it off at home (I live abroad the rest of the year) but that''s a terrible reason to buy such a hugh purchase
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Well and so the hunt begins, thanks everyone
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Date: 11/13/2008 12:42:47 PM
Author: Porridge
Thanks all for your opinions. I''ve decided to pass on the e-bay offer. I have to say after thinking about it that I do think it is a pretty good offer, for someone who would put colour first and wanted the Tiffany name. But I think you guys are right, I need to take a preemptive strike against DSS and go as close to the original size as possible and look for a returns policy. I guess I was also a little impatient to have it before christmas so I could show it off at home (I live abroad the rest of the year) but that''s a terrible reason to buy such a hugh purchase

GOOD DECISION!

LS
 
I think you can still get it before Christmas. I remember another PSer got her diamond and re-set it in two different settings all in under a week!

Now - on the other extreme. It took us 4 months to get our diamond and it has still isn't set after being with the designer for 2 months (we couldn't decide).
 
I''m sure it will be perfect CharmyPoo, I can''t wait to oogle it
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I need to sit FI down and explain to him how much it would mean to me to have it before Christmas. He can be on the slow moving side when it comes to getting this stuff done! But he does do it right
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So I will see where he is with a diamond search, and if he hasn''t found one he likes yet I''ll very kindly offer to "help" (ie take over! Picky!!). I''m leaning towards the Superbcert setting, it seems to be the closest one to the Tiffany setting, and there''s such great reports about them on this site. I will ring them and see what we can''t get done!

Thanks for all your help and best of luck with your own ring
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