Signed Pieces Tiffany Engagement Ring

[2000CBR600]

Hi,

I''ve been shopping for an engagement ring for a couple months. I''ve been contemplating buying a loose diamond online and having it mounted locally vs. a Tiffany (I''m aware of the markup on their merchandise). Thanks to the posts on this form, I found a nice 1crt e-ring in the classic Tiffany setting on the Signed Pieces website.

http://www.signedpieces.com/item.cfm?item_id=3855

Can people that have bought from Signed Pieces give me some feedback whether Tiffany''s offers the same services to people that buy a used item as opposed to being the direct customer. I''ve bought from Tiffany''s before and found their customer service to be excellent, but they''ve always entered my name into their registry after a purchase. Does this matter? Are you allowed to register the piece with Tiffany''s in your name after you make the purchase? Can you get the same services as if you''re were a direct customer such as polishing, ring maintenance, resizing, and trade-ups?

Also, has anyone had any problems with their jewelry from signed pieces such as chips, scratches or defects?

I really wish I could have bought the e-ring new from Tiffany''s, but I''m in no financial position to spend 17K on a ring so it''s either Signed Pieces or I''ll need to go the online loose diamond route from whiteflash or blue nile.

Thank you for your help in advance,

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I believe that you can buy a T & Co ring anywhere, and as long as it''s genuine (which I''m assuming it is if it''s being sold through SP) they''ll service it.

 

[gailrmv]

I have a small eternity band from SP and was very pleased with them. That looks like a beautiful ring and a great way to bring the Tiffany name brand piece into a more reasonable price range. I hope it works out!

 

[2000CBR600]

Thanks for the replies. I''m still undecided on getting a Signed Pieces or new for sentimental reasons, but I''m sure that I''ll get the same service as if purchasing new.

I called my local Tiffany store and spoke to the service manager. They told me they''d be happy to service the ring. I can bring in the ring any time for regular maintenance and they even offered to resize it for free (I told them I am not the original buyer). The insurance appraisal would cost $50 and take about 2-3 weeks to do. He said all they have to do is take down the diamond number and send the request to the head office for the paperwork. This suggests to me that they do a quick examination on site and give you the description and pricing of the item from the purchase date. A little disturbing, but I can''t imagine any damage being sustained to a set diamond that isn''t visible on quick inspection.

I''ve concluded that Signed Pieces is a good option if you can get over the fact that you''re purchasing a used ring. I''m still contemplating this question. I''ve spoken to two different sales reps at the Tiffany store about the chances of getting a trade in diamond when you by from their store. At first, they said "it''s impossible, we grind up our trade in diamonds", but when I asked "you take a complete loss on a trade in diamond, what do your shareholders say?", they changed their story. First it was we redistribute them to lesser vendor, then it was we give a detailed examination of the stone, and only if it''s passed all our test, we''ll re-cut and polish the stone before putting it in a store. I think it''s probably not fair to ask the sales reps what happens to the stone since they probably don''t know. Most likely, the local store examines it for damages and if nothing''s wrong, they give you the trade in credit and send the diamond back to head office.

 

[Nicrez]

Date: 8/27/2007 11:01:03 AM
Author: 2000CBR600

Thanks for the replies. I''m still undecided on getting a Signed Pieces or new for sentimental reasons, but I''m sure that I''ll get the same service as if purchasing new.

I called my local Tiffany store and spoke to the service manager. They told me they''d be happy to service the ring. I can bring in the ring any time for regular maintenance and they even offered to resize it for free (I told them I am not the original buyer). The insurance appraisal would cost $50 and take about 2-3 weeks to do. He said all they have to do is take down the diamond number and send the request to the head office for the paperwork. This suggests to me that they do a quick examination on site and give you the description and pricing of the item from the purchase date. A little disturbing, but I can''t imagine any damage being sustained to a set diamond that isn''t visible on quick inspection.

I''ve concluded that Signed Pieces is a good option if you can get over the fact that you''re purchasing a used ring. I''m still contemplating this question. I''ve spoken to two different sales reps at the Tiffany store about the chances of getting a trade in diamond when you by from their store. At first, they said ''it''s impossible, we grind up our trade in diamonds'', but when I asked ''you take a complete loss on a trade in diamond, what do your shareholders say?'', they changed their story. First it was we redistribute them to lesser vendor, then it was we give a detailed examination of the stone, and only if it''s passed all our test, we''ll re-cut and polish the stone before putting it in a store. I think it''s probably not fair to ask the sales reps what happens to the stone since they probably don''t know. Most likely, the local store examines it for damages and if nothing''s wrong, they give you the trade in credit and send the diamond back to head office.

The day someone grinds up a perfectly good diamond as a trade-in is the day they give you money back and you just put it in your mouth and eat it. They were right the second time. A trade-in stone often goes back to the NY offices (not in NYC) and they are unmounted and regraded. If they are within spec and have the same qualities a TCo diamond would have then they are repolished and then regraded again, eventually going through the grading and review process, sent into stock and remounted into anything from a necklace, earrings, or an engagement ring, depending on it''s need. if it''s not TCo quality, they do sell off these stones back to the market where they have a value and use, just not in a Tiffany store...

To me, for budgeters who truly desire a Tco ring, the BEST way to get one is an estate sale. I would say setnimentality aside it''s the best way, but if you are dying for that luxury name, you may alwso want that luxury experience, so it''s not easy to think "estate" on an e-ring. But rest assured that Signed Pieces are excellent.