Saw a 1.35 ct Tiffany classic solitaire for $7,000 - good deal?

[JPie]

Sorry, no photos, and I didn’t buy it. I saw it in a walk and was quite curious. All the Hallmarks look legit - there’s a serial number on the band and the shopkeeper said it matches the engraving on the stone, but I didn’t personally verify. Didn’t see a grading report either so no specs.

Just curious offhand if that’s a good price.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I'm pretty sure that would qualify as an amazing deal if legit! Any paperwork with it?

 

[JPie]

I'm pretty sure that would qualify as an amazing deal if legit! Any paperwork with it?

Called to ask, no paperwork.

I’m dumb. Didn’t think to check Tiffany.com until now. Holy moly, they start at $12,900 for a carat?! Ok, yes, that is a flaming deal if real!

 

[Bron357]

Depending on the diamond stats, even on eBay a 1.34 carat would be closer to $20,000 than $10,000.
Grab a Loupe and go back, check the clarity and number. I’m not sure if you can check the number online but apparently Tiffany doesn’t replace any certificates or documents. If you can check the Tiffany number that would be fabulous.
But yes, $7,000 for a 1.34 carat diamond is cheap, very cheap considering you’d have to assume it’s no lower than an I, VVS2.

 

[scarsmum]

Buy it!!!! After checking it.

 

[JPie]

Hot damn, ok. The guy at the store said in the call that he got it from a dealer and he has the box, just not the paperwork. Says I can get a jeweler to check the engraving.

I’m tempted for the sake of a good deal...will walk back and see if he’s still there to chat more!

 

[chappy]

How was the quality and age of it? Was it the classic platinum solitaire? Assuming authentic, that's a hell of a deal!

Does he have a good return policy? Or allow more photos, to check authenticity? Is the diamond in good condition, without major chips or cracks from wear? How long has he had it? It really sounds too good to be true! I hope it's real and you get a great deal!

 

[yssie]

Hot damn, ok. The guy at the store said in the call that he got it from a dealer and he has the box, just not the paperwork. Says I can get a jeweler to check the engraving.

I’m tempted for the sake of a good deal...will walk back and see if he’s still there to chat more!

Don’t.
Not if you want a genuine Tiffany piece.

There’s a reason the price is “too good to be true”: got the box but not the paperwork, it was lost in a fire/flood/move/divorce/the dog ate it is the oldest, easiest falsehood in the book.

Unless you are willing to pay to have the piece serviced - not in-store cleaning, but servicing that it’s shipped out for... there is no way to guarantee authenticity. Servicing takes time (several weeks) and money (several hundred).

 

[JPie]

Depending on the diamond stats, even on eBay a 1.34 carat would be closer to $20,000 than $10,000.
Grab a Loupe and go back, check the clarity and number. I’m not sure if you can check the number online but apparently Tiffany doesn’t replace any certificates or documents. If you can check the Tiffany number that would be fabulous.
But yes, $7,000 for a 1.34 carat diamond is cheap, very cheap considering you’d have to assume it’s no lower than an I, VVS2.

Thanks Bron! I suck with the loupe & need more practice, but I did manage to take some photos. The lighting in the store is terrible. For comparison, the ring to the right is F color for the modified step cut center stone, melee specs unknown.






DISCLAIMER: not my finger in these loupe pics!

Buy it!!!! After checking it.

I can buy first and then check, but not the other way around. He won't let it out the door without full payment, but he'll give a refund if I get a written appraisal stating that it's not Tiffany.

How was the quality and age of it? Was it the classic platinum solitaire? Assuming authentic, that's a hell of a deal!

Does he have a good return policy? Or allow more photos, to check authenticity? Is the diamond in good condition, without major chips or cracks from wear? How long has he had it? It really sounds too good to be true! I hope it's real and you get a great deal!

He says he's had it for 15 years and only recently put it in his shop. I find it somewhat believable because the state of the store implies that he likes to hoard.

 

[JPie]

Don’t.
Not if you want a genuine Tiffany piece.

There’s a reason the price is “too good to be true”: got the box but not the paperwork, it was lost in a fire/flood/move/divorce/the dog ate it is the oldest, easiest falsehood in the book.

Unless you are willing to pay to have the piece serviced - not in-store cleaning, but servicing that it’s shipped out for... there is no way to guarantee authenticity. Servicing takes time (several weeks) and money (several hundred).

Thanks Yssie. Honestly, I think I'm more drawn to getting a potential bargain than anything else. I've never wanted a Tiffany solitaire; if you look at my e-ring next to it, my style's definitely very different.

It's on hold so I'll see if I'm still thinking about it in the morning.

 

[yssie]

If you are willing to pay for servicing (and this shop is willing to extend the return period for several weeks) - it’s certainly worth considering.

However, an appraisal from any authority other than Tiffany itself is completely, utterly meaningless in terms of authenticity guarantee. I can’t emphasize this enough.
And Tiffany will not issue appraisals or insurance valuations unless you can prove original purchase or inheritance... if you have a relationship with a particular SA you might be able to pull a favour, but I don’t think you’d be posting on PS if that was the case!

 

[chappy]

Tiffany's didn't start inscribing diamonds until 2004, so at MOST he had it 14 years if it's inscribed.

The prongs are kinda mishappen, and the arrows on the diamond aren't aligned (all the authentic ones I've noticed have two arrows directly under top & bottom prongs).

The tab area is also just a little too angular, instead of the nice slope. The prongs themselves also lack a certain fluidity.

While the stamps look convincing, it's not a well-made piece, so regardless of authenticity, I would pass.

 

[Queenie60]

If it sounds too good to be true - usually is. I would be cautious about being taken.

 

[JPie]

Thanks for the detailed analysis, @chappy. And I think you're right, @yssie & @Queenie60 .

Very grateful to have the expertise of others on PS! You all rock.

I will pass and avoid the "too good to be true" deal!

 

[yssie]

I’m glad @JPie!

Recently a member of another forum posted a link to a new low for eBay listings - a set of ten blank VCA certificates of authority. They were fantastically accurate - might have been excellent forgeries or theft of genuine articles... I’m not sure which is worse, to be honest. It was horrifying

That’s just to say... the frauds are really, really good - they’re probably the majority players in the preloloved markets these days! It’s so easy for them to succeed: they need to pull the wool over only one connection’s eyes in a long, untraceable pre-owned pipeline... whereas those selling genuine goods have the burden of proof at every step.

 

[Luce]

Wow, this is pretty scary yssie. I love to browse eBay for pre-loved jewelry....it's terrible to see the fraud that is so prevalent!

 

[JPie]

I’m glad @JPie!

Recently a member of another forum posted a link to a new low for eBay listings - a set of ten blank VCA certificates of authority. They were fantastically accurate - might have been excellent forgeries or theft of genuine articles... I’m not sure which is worse, to be honest. It was horrifying

That’s just to say... the frauds are really, really good - they’re probably the majority players in the preloloved markets these days! It’s so easy for them to succeed: they need to pull the wool over only one connection’s eyes in a long, untraceable pre-owned pipeline... whereas those selling genuine goods have the burden of proof at every step.

That’s both impressive and horrible at the same time! It’s funny, I walked away at first because I didn’t want a Tiffany solitaire. Later I started wondering how good of a deal that was because of the Tiffany name, and that’s how they got me. Good thing I checked here!