HELP - Question for Tiffany Novo Owners/Enthusiasts!!!

[Ice Noob]

Hello all,

Just a quick question for those of you who have bought a T&Co. Novo diamond: you get both a GIA certificate and a Tiffany certificate correct?

I have tried looking far and wide online for a GIA certificate for a Tiffany Novo diamond. I found the below image posted by CharmyPoo but I just wanted to be explicitly clear on the following: (1) does the GIA cut diagram for the Novo show the first image below or (2) is it that the Novo actually has the 1st image below''s shape but the GIA plot shows the more generic 8 pavilion main cushion plot?

Hope somebody can help!

Thanks,
Ice Noob

 

[mrssalvo]

Ice Noob, I hope an expert and/or a Novo owner chimes in but it is my understanding that Tiffany no longer uses GIA and does all of the own grading themselves. So, the there would not be a GIA cert. with the novo. But you can always call Tiffany to verify that info.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/19/2009 5:57:28 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Ice Noob, I hope an expert and/or a Novo owner chimes in but it is my understanding that Tiffany no longer uses GIA and does all of the own grading themselves. So, the there would not be a GIA cert. with the novo. But you can always call Tiffany to verify that info.

This is true. No GIA plot, but Tiffany will have a plot on their own cert. And I believe it looks like the first one, not the generic GIA cushion plot.

 

[CharmyPoo]

The first plot is from the T&Co certificate for a Novo. The second plot is the one I picked out from GIA certs that most resembles the T&Co certificate. My understanding also is that T&Co no longer uses GIA to certify their stones.

 

[Ice Noob]

Thank you Mrs. S, NeatFreak, and Charmy - much appreciated!

I guess I was reading some older posts in which it stated that T&Co. used to give BOTH certificates.

I asked because I was shown a stone that was allegedly a Tiffany Novo cut stone that was rejected for mild flourescence. The seller was referred to me by a friend and is in the NYC Diamond district but ''upstairs'' with no retail presence. He said T&Co diamonds aren''t allowed to have ANY flour - is this true? Anyway, he said that since this stone was already cut and then rejected, a cutter for Tiffany based in Israel gave him the stone, which he is selling to me (I know... sounds fishy). Anyway, he had the GIA certificate and it showed the typical 8 main cushion diagram (the 2nd image in my orig posting). I was wondering if GIA would show it how Tiffany would or if they would keep their typical 8 main cushion plot?

Any expert input? As far as I can tell after a few weeks of PS, the stone itself is gorgeous and a fair price. I just seem to not trust this Tiffany story- if he just told me he had a great cushion, I''d have bought it by now.

 

[mrssalvo]

I don''t think the Tiffany story is true unless have changed their policy very recently. I''ve seen Tiffany rings for sale on Signedpieces website that have fluorescence. also, kaleigh (a poster here) has a Tiffany e-ring and her stone had med. blue fluorescence.

I would probably consider the seller risky and wouldn''t want to do business with them.

 

[neatfreak]

Listen to your gut. Seller sounds a bit shady...

 

[bee*]

That''s true about them no longer using GIA certs-I didn''t get one for my ring either. That jeweller sounds shady-I was looking at a ring with Flourescence when I was looking at my lucida.

 

[Ice Noob]

Thanks much guys - appreciate the guidance!

By the way, here are the specs on the stone from the GIA cert:

Shape: Cushion Brilliant (8 pavilion mains)
Measurements: 6.87 x 6.77 x 4.44 mm
Carat Weight: 1.42
Color Grade: G
Clarity Grade: VS2
Polish: Excellent
Symmetry: Very Good
Flourescence: Faint
Table: 58%
Depth: 65.6%
Girdle: thin - thick (faceted)

Price: $8,650

Tiffany or not, I almost feel like the price is pretty good and it''s rare to find an off-size diamond with such great specs (small table, good depth) and I''ve seen it in person... very pretty! I just wish the guy hadn''t lied to me.

 

[bee*]

It is a pity that he lied. That would bother me too. Maybe take it for an independent appraisal and see what they say. If you really love it though and have seen it with your own eyes and it performs how you want, then I''d go for it.

 

[Ice Noob]

Thanks bee.

Hmmn.... is it possible to take it for an independent appraisal before buying it?

Also, I had a typo, the symmetry is only Good, not Very Good.

 

[bee*]

Maybe ask them and see. You might have to give a credit card number as a back up. Otherwise keep an eye on signedpieces.com as they sell second hand tiffany jewellery as well.

 

[mrssalvo]

the price really isn''t that great. I''d call Mark T at engagmentringsdirect.com and tell him what you are after and see what he can come up with. his office is in the diamond district but he is very well respected here on PS and known for his eye for cushions.

 

[Ice Noob]

Actually, Mrs. S you are right.

After checking through the listings on PS, I can get a true 1.5 for around that price... and I thought that I was almost done! Cushions (well, great ones) are amazingly difficult to buy! I will check Mark out.

 

[mrssalvo]

yes, cushions can be tough! If I were buying a loose cushion, mark would be the one I''d start with. Goodoldgold also offers a square hearts and arrows stone that is close to the novo so you might check with them as well, but they do have a premium attached.

 

[Blinginator]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:02:13 PM
Author: Ice Noob
Thanks much guys - appreciate the guidance!


By the way, here are the specs on the stone from the GIA cert:


Shape: Cushion Brilliant (8 pavilion mains)

Measurements: 6.87 x 6.77 x 4.44 mm

Carat Weight: 1.42

Color Grade: G

Clarity Grade: VS2

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Flourescence: Faint

Table: 58%

Depth: 65.6%

Girdle: thin - thick (faceted)


Price: $8,650


Tiffany or not, I almost feel like the price is pretty good and it's rare to find an off-size diamond with such great specs (small table, good depth) and I've seen it in person... very pretty! I just wish the guy hadn't lied to me.

I was just in a Tiffany store last week and a sales agent told me they only go down to VVS2 in clarity (maybe someone else can confirm this too), so even if it didn't have the fluoro the clarity spec also wouldn't allow it to pass Tiffany's muster.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/20/2009 7:58:53 PM
Author: Blinginator

Date: 1/20/2009 4:02:13 PM

Author: Ice Noob

Thanks much guys - appreciate the guidance!



By the way, here are the specs on the stone from the GIA cert:



Shape: Cushion Brilliant (8 pavilion mains)


Measurements: 6.87 x 6.77 x 4.44 mm


Carat Weight: 1.42


Color Grade: G


Clarity Grade: VS2


Polish: Excellent


Symmetry: Very Good


Flourescence: Faint


Table: 58%


Depth: 65.6%


Girdle: thin - thick (faceted)



Price: $8,650



Tiffany or not, I almost feel like the price is pretty good and it''s rare to find an off-size diamond with such great specs (small table, good depth) and I''ve seen it in person... very pretty! I just wish the guy hadn''t lied to me.

I was just in a Tiffany store last week and a sales agent told me they only go down to VVS2 in clarity (maybe someone else can confirm this too), so even if it didn''t have the fluoro the clarity spec also wouldn''t allow it to pass Tiffany''s muster.

This is incorrect. They go down to VS2 for ering stones and SI1 for some other small things.

 

[Ice Noob]

There are just so many parameters with a cushion and even then you have to SEE it... I guess that's why that stone & price seemed so attractive

It met my requirements:
1. Budget up to around $8,500 (for stone)
2. GIA Cert
3. Size of 1.42 give a 1.5ct ring for a cheaper price
4. Square Cushion Brilliant (NOT modified)
5. G color and VS2 clarity (eye clean - I know VS2's usually tend to be, but not all)
6. No or slight Flouro and no culet
7. No extremes with the girdle
8. Good - Ex finish grades
9. Small-ish table (high 50's) and depth (mid 60's)
10. Performs very well live

For what it delivers, I must admit the price sounds fair.. although I'm now in touch with Mark and will see how things progress

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 1/20/2009 4:02:13 PM
Author: Ice Noob
Thanks much guys - appreciate the guidance!


By the way, here are the specs on the stone from the GIA cert:


Shape: Cushion Brilliant (8 pavilion mains)

Measurements: 6.87 x 6.77 x 4.44 mm

Carat Weight: 1.42

Color Grade: G

Clarity Grade: VS2

Polish: Excellent

Symmetry: Very Good

Flourescence: Faint

Table: 58%

Depth: 65.6%

Girdle: thin - thick (faceted)


Price: $8,650


Tiffany or not, I almost feel like the price is pretty good and it''s rare to find an off-size diamond with such great specs (small table, good depth) and I''ve seen it in person... very pretty! I just wish the guy hadn''t lied to me.

Well he did. I''d pass.