Is a Tiffany all it is "cracked up to be"?

[Beacon]

Tiffany sells some lovely jewelry and generally I have found the sales associates to be very nice. They are paid on commission so they should be nice! In my long experience I have never had a rude one. I have had some customer service issues on repairs and so on, but never a bad sales associate.

That much said, knowing what I know, I probably would not buy an ering from Tiffany unless your g/f absolutely must have Tiffany and wants that brand more than anything else. I like Tiffany and have lots of product from them but they are mostly the things that one can only buy at Tiffany. A basic three stone or solitaire diamond is something you can buy anywhere and I do not see the reason to overpay for it just for a brand name.

If you like your ring and you have a good appraiser telling you it is what it is supposed to be then do NOT worry about the absence of the Tiffany name.

 

[UCLABelle]

Now that I have a Tiffany ring (did not before), I must admit I am partial to the blue box. I cannot help it (and know that I should use better "PS" judgment)....

I like the quality, I like what the name stands for (or what it stands for to me....please, don''t hate me), I LOVE the customer service, etc....

However, as others have said, it depends on the person, and you do pay a high premium for a ring whose quality can be matched or better elsewhere...ala LM, Whiteflash, etc.

 

[Diamond Confused]

Personally I prefer a ring from Tiffany for various reasons. I can tell the difference from a Tiffany ring and others; not because of the diamonds themselves, but the settings are exqusite and no replicas can match a real Tiffany ring. They are so delicate and intricately detailed. I''m sure there are places where a better diamond at a much better price can be purchased but I think it''s the over all look that matters. That''s just my personal taste though.

As far as the inflated price, I think of it as a service charge. You know you are buying a quality diamond at Tiffany''s right off the bat. You don''t have to put much effort into researching diamonds, Tiffany''s does it for you and all you have to worry about is what you like best. They are like a broker or a realtor, they do all the leg work and then you show up and choose what you want. And you pay a service charge for it. Not to mention they have an amazing upgrade option and lifetime warranty.

Most importantly, if names matter to the woman than go with Tiffany''s.

 

[Beacon]

Date: 1/15/2008 1:38:17 PM
Author: Diamond Confused
Personally I prefer a ring from Tiffany for various reasons. I can tell the difference from a Tiffany ring and others; not because of the diamonds themselves, but the settings are exqusite and no replicas can match a real Tiffany ring. They are so delicate and intricately detailed. I''m sure there are places where a better diamond at a much better price can be purchased but I think it''s the over all look that matters. That''s just my personal taste though.

As far as the inflated price, I think of it as a service charge. You know you are buying a quality diamond at Tiffany''s right off the bat. You don''t have to put much effort into researching diamonds, Tiffany''s does it for you and all you have to worry about is what you like best. They are like a broker or a realtor, they do all the leg work and then you show up and choose what you want. And you pay a service charge for it. Not to mention they have an amazing upgrade option and lifetime warranty.

Most importantly, if names matter to the woman than go with Tiffany''s.

I would agree with you for a small sized ering, maybe .50 ct or less. Then you are getting the very nice Tiffany setting and that accounts for a lot of the price. But if you are buying a bigger stone, it''s more than just a service charge, LOL. For the price of a good 2.5 carater you could have the very same stone PLUS a new Camry if you didn''t buy it at Tiffany. I know, cause I shopped it both ways.

If the OP''s g/f doesn''t care about the Tiffany brand then I would not recommend him to pay up and buy it.

 

[UCLABelle]

Beacon- I agree with the "more than a service charge". My rings retail was about $27,200 over a year ago....I think about that every time a cool car drives by....At least I didn''t pay that price (got way lucky).

 

[oldminer]

Tiffany & Co is "all that it is cracked up to be" in the minds of those for whom the Brand is highly important. For those who don't know or care, it isn't a big deal at all.

There are few four or five stars restaurants in the USA. They are extraordinarily costly compared to most other restaurants. They are alll that they are cracked up to be, too, but if you prefer family dining, less overbearing service, less lavish settings, no reservations, then these upper end restaurants are not for you and the stars in their ratings won't mean a whole lot.

The Rolls Royce dealer has a whole different level of service and attitude than even a Mercedes dealership. If you drive a normally priced car, you might well be overwhelmed by what goes on at the upper end. Then again, you might just not like to be waited on so much, or pay that much for the privilege. Remember, you have already paid, in advance, for most of what any car dealer provides to you in the way of superior service.

Define what meets your level of need. You can buy superior diamonds and jewelry from some wonderful, yet seemingly ordinary vendors. You can get shoddy service from places you'd never think would treat you so badly, and you can get top flight service from most places that charge you for extraordinary service as part of the business deal.

Getting the best treatment at ordinary prices is the nicest of all.