First time ring/diamond buyer, please help!!

[First_Time_Buyer]

My girlfriend has decided her heart is set on a 1/2 carat Novo Ring from Tiffany and Co. (I have never bought a ring before!!)

The sticker price when I spoke with the sales associate when is a little over $8,000. (I am assume there is a huge mark up on Tiffany''s diamonds)

Are you able to talk the Tiffany sales associates down on the price or is it usually set in stone with no room to haggle?

I have a friend in Orlando that says he can have the same ring made for half the price that would be very nice, but he says it would obviously not have the "reputable" name of Tiffany''s.

I would love to buy the ring ASAP.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much!

 

[neatfreak]

If she has her heart set on Tiffany's, I would just buy her what she wants. The Novo diamond is a patented cut and you won't be able find it anywhere else. That being said, if she just likes the look, you can easily get a 1ct. center for that price elsewhere with a cushion/square hearts and arrows stone and a nice pave band.

As far as I know Tiffany's doesn't haggle except potentially on very high priced items and then I'm still not sure if they offer any discount or not.