Should I buy a Tiffany''s diamond engagement ring?

[Monikag7781]

Hello everyone,

I recently went into Tiffany''s with my bf and found a three stone diamond-sapphire engagement ring that I really liked. The diamond was an E color, VS1 in an excellent cut. It was very pretty and sparkly and I wanted it right away but since neither of us have experience with diamond buying we want to take some time and shop around. I have a question about Tiffany''s though. Are there diamonds higher priced due to the brand name? Would I be able to find the same kind of diamond somewhere else and get a better price?

Thanks!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/31/2008 11:37:17 AM
Author:Monikag7781
Hello everyone,

I recently went into Tiffany's with my bf and found a three stone diamond-sapphire engagement ring that I really liked. The diamond was an E color, VS1 in an excellent cut. It was very pretty and sparkly and I wanted it right away but since neither of us have experience with diamond buying we want to take some time and shop around. I have a question about Tiffany's though. Are there diamonds higher priced due to the brand name? Would I be able to find the same kind of diamond somewhere else and get a better price?

Thanks!

Welcome!

The answer is yes to both of your questions, Tiffany carries a premium for the brand name, also it is cut which gives a diamond its beauty so if you carefully select a well cut diamond you will have a beautiful ring.

If you give us an idea of what you want and are looking for plus budget, then maybe we could suggest some diamonds you might like?

 

[Monikag7781]

I want a .5-.75 carat diamond that cost''s around $3000 by itself. I just want it to be bright and sparkley. I am nervous about buying online but if this is a good option please let me know. The other thing I liked about the Tiffany''s ring were the sapphires. Those were bright and sparkley too but maybe the store just has better lighting than other jewelery stores?

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/31/2008 12:06:13 PM
Author: Monikag7781
I want a .5-.75 carat diamond that cost's around $3000 by itself. I just want it to be bright and sparkley. I am nervous about buying online but if this is a good option please let me know. The other thing I liked about the Tiffany's ring were the sapphires. Those were bright and sparkley too but maybe the store just has better lighting than other jewelery stores?

Buying online can be a great way to go, many of us have done so with fantastic results and would not hesitate to do so again. If you work with a trusted PS vendor who has in house diamonds with all the cut quality analysis done, then you can't really go wrong. As to the setting and sapphires, some of the vendors could probably create something for you.

Here are some popular vendors.

www.winkjones.com

www.goodoldgold.com

www.niceice.com

www.whiteflash.com

www.exceldiamonds.com

www.jamesallen.com

Maybe look at F G or H colour and VS to an eyeclean SI1 clarity to begin with ( GIA or AGS graded) then broaden the options if you need to.

Here are some diamonds which might fit the bill-

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848244.htm

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/Whiteflash-ACA-cut-diamond-1848243.htm

http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1201123.asp?b=16&a=12&c=77&cid=131

Wink has some on this page which might be suitable -

http://www.winkjones.com/specials/diamonds.php

 

[tacii]

I''m fairly new to PS and was weary of buying a ring/diamond online. However, we bit the bullet and are in the process of getting a custom engagement ring made with Whiteflash. They''ve been amazing to work with. We went with a 0.9 carat J VS2 (went down in color and up on size) with an excellent cut and are working pink sapphires into the design. I''d highly recommend Whiteflash. There are a bunch of other online vendors (that Lorelei has mentioned) that have great reputations as well.

 

[lucky201]

Hi Monikag7781,

I just had a ring made where I worked through Mark at Engagement Rings Direct, who a number of other people on this board have used as well. Mark was great to work with and the ring I have has a center diamond with side sapphires and it looks fantastic. I will post pictures by tomorrow, I promise. My fiance loves it and Mark could not have made the process any easier. I was hesitant at first to work with an online vendor, but it turned out to be great and I know I got a product that is far better than I could have gotten through Tiffany''s or a chain store. Of course the advice and guidance from PS''ers didn''t hurt either. I will add that since I live in the New York area I was able to visit Mark in his office, so that did put my mind at ease a bit more. However, I''m sure he''d be great to work with over the phone/online as well from what I have seen/heard. Hope that helps and best of luck in your search.

 

[jstarfireb]

Tiffany diamonds are expensive because of the brand name; however, they tend to be very well cut and beautiful. Their lighting doesn''t hurt (I think it''s better than most jewelry store lighting as you mentioned). You know you''re getting quality if you buy Tiffany''s. However, with a little bit of searching, you can get a diamond that''s just as beautiful or more so for a much lower price. Buying online does make people nervous sometimes, but both my engagement ring and my 1/2 ct diamond pendant came from Whiteflash (and my wedding band was from Blue Nile), and I have no regrets at all. Lorelei started you off in the right direction. James Allen in particular has some stock settings with colored sidestones.

 

[Gayletmom]

Hi Monikag and welcome to Pricescope! I felt a little hesitant, too, about an online vendor when I first came here. I have been researching diamonds and settings for a couple of months now (and doing so alot b/c I am obsessed with my upgrade) and I have read scores, maybe hundreds, of positive reviews regarding the vendors mentioned by Lorelei. Now my perspective has changed so much that I feel more comfortable with the online folks and am leary when someone tells me I should see their "diamond guy" in town. One of the factors that has completely sold me is the lifetime upgrade policy at many of these vendors. I don''t know about all of them but White Flash and Good Old Gold (I''m sure others do, too) both have incredible policies that tell me that they really stand behind their stones. I know that upgrading seems like a strange thing to be pondering when you are just getting engaged but I have been married 18 years and you''d be surprised how fast "diamond shrinkage syndrome" can happen!

Good luck to you in your search, you have come to the right place.

 

[Gayletmom]

One more thing that I forgot to mention: the search engine on these forums is really good. Most of your questions can be quickly answered by trying a couple of words in the search box. There''s a ton of info out there already!

 

[Yogachick]

I just xtarted looking for diamonds/engagement ring myself, but it does seem Tiffany''s is higher priced. It is good quality, but I don''t think it''s worth the price & seems you can find similar rings & diamonds elsewhere for much less.
My 2 cents.

 

[kittybean]

At Tiffany''s you are paying for the brand name. You will often pay upwards of two times what you might pay for similar quality elsewhere.

 

[makemepretty]

I think that if this ring is in your budget and you love it, then buy it. Why spend time and energy trying to find one "just like it" and driving yourself mad if this is the ring you want? Now, if it is out of your budget then by all means try to find something similar that isn''t made by Tiffanys. Yes, you do pay for the name but if you love the ring, then the name is just a bonus.

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 12/31/2008 12:06:13 PM
Author: Monikag7781
I want a .5-.75 carat diamond that cost''s around $3000 by itself. I just want it to be bright and sparkley. I am nervous about buying online but if this is a good option please let me know. The other thing I liked about the Tiffany''s ring were the sapphires. Those were bright and sparkley too but maybe the store just has better lighting than other jewelery stores?

The sapphires seem to be nice (IMO) because they are heat treated and well cut and very well polished. I like them. It doesn''t bother me at all that they''re heat treated. I think the quality is very standardized and I think they''re very beautiful.

 

[lucky201]

Here is a link to some pics of the ring that I had Mark at ERD help me with, https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/e-ring-photos.103608/. I was really happy with the outcome and definitely was able to get more value for my $ than if I went to Tiffany''s, but it is of course up to you. Best of luck!

 

[Dreamgirl]

OK, I''m biased. Just so you know-

You are paying partly for the name but on top of that you are also paying for excellent customer service for life and assurance that you are buying a very HIGH quality ring. Never any worries. They pay incredibly close attention to detail. Also, they just recently reduced the pricing and it may go down a little bit more in the close future.

All jewelry stores have good lighting to show off the diamonds.

I really don''t want to buy from online myself (sorry everyone) but it is more personal to buy from a good quality store that you can actually take the ring back to get serviced from time to time (at no cost.) They have been around since 1837. You could always downgrade in the color and it would still be gorgeous and you would pay less than the one you saw yourself. Your Tiffany SA can call in several rings of the same style (different sizes, color) close to your budget. They also have a no interest payment plan as well. You can''t go wrong with that!

I myself have looked at other rings but noticed after all the trouble of finding a stone and then a setting with the cost on top of that....Tiffany''s isn''t that bad of a way to go! You would probably pay a little bit more but I honestly don''t think it''s THAT much more after all is said and done.

Also, for a .50ct ring you are speaking of, it roughly starts at $5,700. That is for the diamond plus the sapphires set in it already in a platinum setting. Not bad at all.........

That''s what I think.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I love Tiffany! But I''d buy it second hand to get it at a more reasonable price. Signed Pieces is a vendor that advertises on this site and they carry excellent Tiffany pieces, but you have to be patient to find what you want.

Here''s that ring on ebay, too:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TIFFANY-CO-PLATINUM-DIAMOND-SAPPHIRE-3-STONE-RING_W0QQitemZ220333435801QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220333435801&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1326%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

 

[oneandahalfrock]

That''s such a hard call, sure, you''re paying for the name, but it''s Tiffany''s- it''s a name EVERYONE knows.
Explore your options and decided what''s more important to you; knowing you have a genuine Tiffany''s engagement ring, a larger diamond on your hand at a similar price or the same size diamond but the satisfaction of knowing you saved some money.

and yes, I know that''s totally not helpful