Replicating Tiffany Etoile Ring for E-Ring.

[StormBringer]

First post on the site most likely not my last. going to ask the big question. I started doing some research and going to the usual places that I have purchased items for her before. Tiffany being the first one. Chose a Etoile with a .80 stone in platinum. SInce this is not going to be a suprise I showed the ring to the lucky girl and I picked exactly what she wanted, except the stone was to big according to her. (Side note, she has little hands and wanted a more sedate ring not going to complain.) She choose a .40 G color stone. Price about 3700$ was looking to spend about ~7K so price not a big concern.

So using that knowledge I had them do a search of the tiffany stock to find a D color IF stone with a steller cut. They found some in that range still well under my budget, ~still ~4.5K. Still notheing to complain about. So looking at this site I know that I can do a lot better then that and support some of the guys who advertise on the site and us the saved cash for a trip someplace warm and tropical.

The big question is, I know that whiteflash had the LE ring which is the tiffany etoile, and I have found a D color stone at blue nile. Is the whiteflash setting better then the tiffany one, and if they are the same is it worth the cost about 800 more for the tiffany one to have it custom made.


This one.
http://www.bluenile.com/diamonds_details.asp?pid=LD00137891&item=1_190&filter_id=0&sec=&query=&page=1&sortby=price-d

So 1642 for the Diamond.
And 1450 for the ring itself
Say 200 for shipping and assembly of said ring.
Total cost for as close a copy of the Tiffany Etoile that I can make for.
3292. Plus my agravation for getting everything done and my time.
A similiar stone in the same setting in the Tiffany store is ~800 more.

So what would you do, I really don''t know how close the whiteflash setting is, and I don''t know how many hours it will take to order everything and get it setup. Also what is the turn around time on the whiteflash site as the tiffany piece is ready to go today.

 

[Daniela]

If she really liked the exact one at Tiffany''s, you should probably just go ahead and get it. Unless that $800 really means a lot (which it might). Sometimes it''s just easier to bite the bullet. Your situation sounds like this might be the case.

 

[pqcollectibles]

You said the Tiff ring would be custom made for your gal early in your post. Then later you said the ring could be ready to go today. If Tiff produces their rings similar to WF, you are looking at a total custom job. I have the WF Le you are talking about and Mr. Le custom makes each one. The rings aren''t just sitting around on a shelf waiting to be ordered. Each ring is made to order, sized for the recipient, and the bezel is custom built for the stone being set in that ring.

You might want to check with Tiff and learn about their process. You might also call WF and chat with them directly. Then make your decision. Going with the Tiff ring may be the most logical choice.

 

[StormBringer]

The ring would not be custom made. I simply had Tiffany do a search on there internal stock and am having them send out a few rings that are near my specs so I have a few pieces to choose from. 800$ in any direction is not going to stop me and the quality on the Tiffany pieces looks better then I have seen in other local stores, that plus some people on the board not getting exactly what they wanted when they had custom pieces made basically has me back to the buying from them.

I appretiate the comments. Turns out all I needed was some more research.

 

[pqcollectibles]

I gotchya now. Tiff has some rings already made that they can send in for you to look at. Right??!!

I know what you mean about the half bezels that most stores stock or have access to. Not very good quality. Rather cheap and flimsy looking for the most part.

It is my understanding that this ring cannot be resized. Changes in the shape of the shank can cause the bezel to pull down (sizing down) or push in (sizing up) on the diamond. The bezel can exert enough pressure over time to damage the diamonds. At least that''s my understanding. You might want to ask about that in case sizing becomes an issue with the ring you select.

 

[StormBringer]

Date: 2/6/2005 6:30:47 PM
Author: pqcollectibles
I gotchya now. Tiff has some rings already made that they can send in for you to look at. Right??!!

It is my understanding that this ring cannot be resized.

That is correct on they have a lot list of what is in every store and can bring in multipuls of the same style and stone so you can pick what you want.

They can be resized but only at Tiffany''s. They build everything in a 6 and then you can resize form there. I need a 5 1/2. They quoted me about 2 weeks to get that done.

The price is difference at Tiffanys with the smaller stones is not that bad, and they have some very nice stones in the smaller sizes but you have to ask. They kept trying to show me G color stones in a VS1. They state that they never go below VS2 and that they try not to go below a G color.

I had them bring in a .40 D IF stone and it was about 350 more then the G in the same size in a VSS2. Will Scope it out and decide what I want to do. my girl must have real good eyes because she can tell the difference between a F and G coloration so I know she will like the D.

 

[ame]

From my experience and from other''s experiences Ive read on here, don''t dare trust that company to do even a fairly decent job resizing it.

Stones falling out, poor workmanship...

Don''t risk it. Either have it made the right size or have sizing beads put into the inside of the shank.

 

[pqcollectibles]

I remember when I ordered my ring from WF, Lesley Harris wanted me to be absolutely sure that I wanted this ring. She was also adamant that I order the correct size. If I changed my mind about the set or had the wrong size WF would have to destroy the bezel to resize the ring or reset the stone in another ring. I really loved the ring and sent WF another ring that fits well as a sizing guide. Never gave it too much thought.

Then one day, I was reading on Gankosin.com or Professional Jeweler,com, or some other bench jewelers'' website, about resizing bezel set rings. Changes in the shape of the shank can cause stress and strain on the diamond over time. When I read that I realized why Lesley wanted me to be absolutely certain about the style and the size of my ring. I tried searching to find the information I''d read before and didn''t. I did find an old PS thread where Rich Sherwood discusses some of the same problems:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/chipping-a-diamond.4840/

 

[StormBringer]

I need to go from a 6 to a 5.5. I called and was informed that everything Tiffany makes with this setting comes in a 6 and is then fit to the hand. Just how much work is required to change that 1/2 of a size?

Now my band that I picked comes from the factory in all sizes up to I think 15, I can order mine and the wedding band in the right size which seems strange.

 

[ame]

It could be a major deal though to even go down a half size. The stones will not be in properly as a result of the bending.

And speaking from experience it WILL look like they messed with it and it will not be polished nicely like it should be. It will look dull and scratched because they can''t polish with the stones set in it like that (which I found out from a REAL jeweler is a line of crap).

 

[valeria101]

I bet the ring would be sized as good as new by the maker, and since the price is not the issue, 0.4 D/IF it is !

 

[StormBringer]

If you look two or three post down you will see the final product that I am having made. I did not want to go thought the trouble of resizing and whiteflash has been steller in getting everything setup with a stone that I feel is of better cut even if it is vvs2 and not if. The cut really is much better then what I have seen with the Tiffanys stuff.

 

[ame]

It looks fantastic! I cant wait for final photos.

I am extremely anti-tiffanys so I am elated with your decision to not use them.