I know I know...kill me...Another Tiffany Thread (Price ??)

[nycguy13]

Hey all,

I''m new here and I can tell already that this forum will be INVALUABLE to me as I navigate these unchartered waters of engagement rings.

My girlfriend has her heart set on the Tiffany Deco Inspired Ring (Round Cut). Now without getting into the Tiffany v. Anti-Tiffany arguments my question is 2 fold.

1. How much can I expect to pay for it? I know that all diamonds at T & C are good quality and I have some $$ saved to spend-but I just wanted to know if anyone knows a ballpark figure.

2. I have a wonderful girlfriend who almost felt guilty about finding the ring of her dreams on T & C and told me to see if I can have someone else replicate it exactly. Now #1 if I can swing the T & C I''ll get it- she deserves it- but if not does anyone know where an EXACT replica can be gotten?

Thanks a lot and I look forward to your responses.

 

[Mara]

what does this ring look like?

for price, expect to pay about 40% more than you would in an average brick and mortar jeweler (like a derco or robbins brothers or similar)...if not more depending on the type and size of stone etc etc.

for replica, doubt anyone has an ''exact replica'' but you could probably have something custom made...however if you are looking for the EXACT thing, then buy the real thing. typically replica''s are slightly different in a few ways and sometimes people expect more from them than they should...it''s hard to make a super exact replica from an existing design and some designers would also refuse to do it.

good luck!

 

[FacetFire]

Is it this one? This is one of my absolute dream rings too, and I haven''t been able to find anything perfectly similar from another company. You could always look into custom. I never did though, so I don''t have any good info for you, I''m afraid.

 

[nycguy13]

That''s the one.....It says on the T & C site that it starts at $14,700-- is that accurate?

 

[FacetFire]

I''ll give you the closest ones I''ve seen so far. Maybe you''re GF might like one of them. This first one is by Martin Flyer, and a round center can be put in.

 

[Mara]

Date: 7/17/2006 12:35:09 PM
Author: nycguy13
That''s the one.....It says on the T & C site that it starts at $14,700-- is that accurate?

possibly they are they only put a certain size of stone in that setting...maybe they feel it doesn''t look good with smaller stones, who knows. i know their solitaires start as small as something like .20c? but maybe in this particular setting they are starting them larger such as .75c or similar.

 

[FacetFire]

I never actually called Tiffany, I knew they were out of my budget. My guess is that is accurate, but you''re starting with a smaller center stone than you might think for the price. Do you have a budget set yet?

 

[nycguy13]

That ring looks beautiful I''m trying to picture it with the round stone. As far as my budget I have about $10k saved up- I can''t go too much higher than that. Thanks for the info guys this is great for a novice like me.

 

[FacetFire]

And here are a couple from Facets, the first has baguettes, the second has asschers.

 

[FacetFire]

Date: 7/17/2006 12:41:17 PM
Author: nycguy13
That ring looks beautiful I'm trying to picture it with the round stone. As far as my budget I have about $10k saved up- I can't go too much higher than that. Thanks for the info guys this is great for a novice like me.

Yeah, the Martin Flyer is the absolute closest I've ever found. Their quality is top notch too. I almost went for that one. Here's their website: www.martinflyer.com

 

[FacetFire]

BTW, I'm not sure exactly how much the Martin Flyer costs, I checked a little while ago, but my guess is around $3,500, which would still leave you plenty to get a round center stone over 1 carat.

 

[FacetFire]

Here''s another pic of just the engagement ring from Martin Flyer...hope this helps!

 

[nycguy13]

That''s definetely very close. The one from T & C is a little more dainty- and my girlfriend has skinny fingers ( Size 4.5) so my only concern is that the Martin Flyer is a little too bulky. I am going to go look at it though as I think from their website it says fortunoff carries them.

 

[FacetFire]

Give them a call ahead of time and see if they carry the ring or can have one brought in for you. It''s a new line for Martin Flyer, so not every store has them. BTW, I have a 5.5 finger, which I realize is a little bigger, but when I saw it in person, it looked very dainty to me. These larger than life photos make everything look bulkier.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You should call Barry at Excel Diamonds. They make some of the very best Tiffany reproduction rings. They have one with the round channel set stones, so you certainly could call and ask if they make could it with the princess cut stones. The princess will be more sparkly than the asschers.

http://www.exceldiamonds.com/-Engagement-Rings-5/Solitaire-With-Diamond-Accent-Engagement-Rings-12/Tiffany-Ring-Channel-Diamond-Engagement-Ring-In-6-Prong-Platinum-963.html

I recently helped another guy find a similar setting at good Old Gold because I think he was buying his stone there, and Ingwer has some settings very similar to that, too. There's really no need to buy at Tiffany's when there are plenty of that style around.

ETA: I see looking at the Tiffany site that it is asschers, so by all means ask Barry about asschers instead of princess.

 

[Kay]

Date: 7/17/2006 12:55:34 PM
Author: nycguy13
That''s definetely very close. The one from T & C is a little more dainty- and my girlfriend has skinny fingers ( Size 4.5) so my only concern is that the Martin Flyer is a little too bulky. I am going to go look at it though as I think from their website it says fortunoff carries them.

That is my size, too. If you decide to go with channel set Asschers (either the Tiffany or a replica), Signed Pieces has an original Tiffany''s size 4.5 channel set Asscher eternity band that would be a perfect wedding band. The price is about half of what it would cost at Tiffany''s. http://www.signedpieces.com/item.cfm?item_id=1129

 

[Kay]

Here''s the side view of the eternity band.

 

[Oleander]

I agree with Mara that replicas aren''t all created equal, and many times don''t have the qualities that draw people to the original Tiffany design in the first place. The Superbcert solitaire replica is close, but I have not seen a close enough (for me) replica of the ring with the channel-set stones. Just make sure you see it in person to make sure the scale is what you want and the design itself.

Also, seven years ago, 1 carat H internally flawless was $10,000 with NO channel-set stones at Tiffany. Haven''t shopped there since, so I have no updated information.

Happy shopping to you!

 

[firebirdgold]

I think one of the big differences between the tiffany ring and most of the other channel set rings is that the shoulders of the ring swoop up to meet the setting of the diamond. It looks like the martin flyer does that as well.
Also as women look at rings, what they want tends to change.

 

[nycguy13]

Thanks guys- Great GREAT information. I''m leary of ordering anything over the net without seeing it in person first. I''m also leary of trying to have someone "copy" the ring, because I''ve seen that done before and it never looks right. My best bet might be to take a ride to tiffanys and check out what they have to say and take a look at the deco inspired ring there in person. That way I can at least compare/contrast all of the other alternatives if I can''t afford the T & C one.

 

[RedRaider]

I think those small square cut diamonds are called Carre'' cut stones. They aren''t really asschers. The cut seems to be more simple than an asscher.

If you can find a jeweler who can get some of these stones and have them channel set, you''ll have yourself a mighty close replica.

Here''s a close-up of a simple band of them from Tiffany''s.

 

[RedRaider]

I know that Diamond Brokers of Florida carries them. Here''s a band of the Carre'' cut stones they made.

 

[bling*diva*]

~~Here is the side view of the deco ring from Tiffany so that you can have a better idea...

 

[bling*diva*]

~~It looks as if the stones are graduated, and the very last one (at the top) looks like a baguette...

 

[bee*]

wow-its a beautiful ring. If you do call into Tiffanys I would love to know how much it is

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

They are usually referred to as square baguettes...and those are graduated baguettes. It is going to be a pain in the rear to find anyone who has them graduated like that....and that is what makes the Tiffany ring so special, IMO.

Good luck!

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 7/17/2006 2:35:45 PM
Author: nycguy13
Thanks guys- Great GREAT information. I''m leary of ordering anything over the net without seeing it in person first. I''m also leary of trying to have someone ''copy'' the ring, because I''ve seen that done before and it never looks right. My best bet might be to take a ride to tiffanys and check out what they have to say and take a look at the deco inspired ring there in person. That way I can at least compare/contrast all of the other alternatives if I can''t afford the T & C one.

Note that many jewelers will not copy a designer ring for ethical reasons, and you may be setting yourself up for a polite lecture if you ask.