Tiffany ring on the way. Now what?

[kindred]

The Tiffany engagement ring I won on from Signed Pieces at auction should arrive Monday. I am excited but not sure what I should do about making sure it is a good diamond.

Should I have it looked at by an independent appraiser? Should I get the measurements of it so I can look at the cut using the various tools listed on Pricescope? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[neatfreak]

You should get the measurements and pop them into the HCA first, but most importantly you should look at it in person and decide whether you think it''s a beautiful stone or not. The HCA can only take you so far.

You should also get it independently appraised, but not by just anyone, you''ll want to find someone who has the tools to evaluate cut and give you an opinion on it. Richard Sherwood would be a good person to contact about this, he''s a wonderful appraiser and can give you a very thorough report on it.

And please insure it ASAP!

 

[AprilBaby]

Congratulations!

 

[mrssalvo]

Honestly, if it were me, I''d just look at it and decide if I liked it or not. i wouldn''t mess with paying for an independent appraiser. If anything I''d take it to Tiffany''s and have it authenticated by them. Tiffany doesn''t sell poor diamonds but some are better than others. You should have the #''s off the cert to run it though the HCA if that''s important to you.

 

[kindred]

It doesn''t have a certificate, but it will come with a replacement value sheet from Tiffany. Should I send the stone to GIA or AGS? I really don''t know what an excellent cut should look like so I don''t feel qualified to judge it.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/13/2008 5:43:39 PM
Author: kindred
It doesn''t have a certificate, but it will come with a replacement value sheet from Tiffany. Should I send the stone to GIA or AGS? I really don''t know what an excellent cut should look like so I don''t feel qualified to judge it.

No, don''t bother. An independent appraiser who is good can judge the cut easily and it''ll be a lot cheaper.

But really, Tiffany does not sell diamonds that are dogs as we have said many times before to you...so it won''t be ugly!

 

[kindred]

The Tiffany replacement value sheet is from last month and the only dimensions it lists are: 6.34 x 6.36 x 3.97 mm.

I don''t know if a lab like GIA or AGS would be able to grade it within the 30 day return window, but maybe it would make sense to go ahead and send it to either of them instead of spending the money on an independent appraiser?

 

[kindred]

Thanks, neatfreak. I didn''t see your reply when I made my last post.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/13/2008 6:10:25 PM
Author: kindred
The Tiffany replacement value sheet is from last month and the only dimensions it lists are: 6.34 x 6.36 x 3.97 mm.


I don't know if a lab like GIA or AGS would be able to grade it within the 30 day return window, but maybe it would make sense to go ahead and send it to either of them instead of spending the money on an independent appraiser?

No,it doesn't make sense to do that. First, you'd need to take it out of the mounting (which isn't a great idea unless you need to). Then, they won't give you an appraisal value which you need to insure it anyway. Third, they will only tell you the depth percentages, etc. An independent appraiser can give you an unbiased opinion on the stone's performance which is more valuable IMO. Not to mention that sending it out for a cert is MUCH more expensive than an appraisal.

Just make sure it's a good appraiser.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 12/13/2008 6:11:38 PM
Author: kindred
Thanks, neatfreak. I didn''t see your reply when I made my last post.

No worries. I promise, it won''t be a poor performer, it''s from Tiffany''s and you got a stellar deal on it. As long as your eyes love it when you get it I would keep it personally.

 

[mrssalvo]

Date: 12/13/2008 6:14:33 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 12/13/2008 6:11:38 PM

Author: kindred

Thanks, neatfreak. I didn''t see your reply when I made my last post.

No worries. I promise, it won''t be a poor performer, it''s from Tiffany''s and you got a stellar deal on it. As long as your eyes love it when you get it I would keep it personally.

yep..I seriously would not bother sending it to a lab for grading either.

 

[honey22]

Ditto. If you have it verified as authentic from Tiffs, then I don''t see the need to go any further with grading reports etc.

 

[bee*]

I wouldn''t get it graded either. My ring is from Tiffanys and it''s a beauty. I didn''t get it independently appraised.

 

[kindred]

Update:

I received the ring from Signed Pieces and it is pretty. I took it to a local store and compared it to their Hearts on Fire stone and the HOF was noticeably more sparkly but much more expensive. I have not decided yet whether or not to keep the Tiffany ring.

I have read such good things here about Good Old Gold and about Whiteflash's A Cut Above and I am wondering if there is any chance I could find a stone as sparkly as the HOF stone for $4500 or less for a .9 to 1 carat, G-I color and Vs1-Si2 clarity. The cheapest ACA I can find on Whiteflash right now is a $5,897 / 1.083 / H / SI2. I don't know if they are just picked over for the holidays or if I just can't expect to find a very well cut stone for the price range I was hoping to.

 

[wishinpink]

To broaden your search, you might want to consider some of the other cuts that make diamonds really sparkly too?

http://vimeo.com/2281519 I hope this helps!

 

[glitterata]

You should also consider the Cut by Infinity diamonds that Wink sells (winkjones.com). They''re also sparkly as all get-out.

But they don''t currently have anything in your price, size, color & quality.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am quite surprised to learn that SP sells Tiffany ER without either the GIA cert. or Tiffany paperwork; jewellery perhaps, but not ER''s. Did you not receive anything with the ring?

cheers--Sharon

 

[pixley]

Date: 12/18/2008 8:53:03 PM
Author: canuk-gal
HI:


I am quite surprised to learn that SP sells Tiffany ER without either the GIA cert. or Tiffany paperwork; jewellery perhaps, but not ER''s. Did you not receive anything with the ring?


cheers--Sharon

Very weird. I seem to recall the item on SP was listed with a cert and original box.

 

[kindred]

The ring came with a Tiffany box and a Tiffany "Retail Replacement Valuation". Signed Pieces had another Tiffany engagement ring up for auction that ended earlier that same night which included all that plus a Tiffany certificate showing grading, diagram and all dimensions. Maybe you're thinking of that ring, Pixley?

Thanks for the suggestion, glitterata.

 

[pixley]

Date: 12/18/2008 10:27:09 PM
Author: kindred
The ring came with a Tiffany box and a Tiffany ''Retail Replacement Valuation''. Signed Pieces had another Tiffany engagement ring up for auction that ended earlier that same night which included all that plus a Tiffany certificate showing grading, diagram and all dimensions. Maybe you''re thinking of that ring, Pixley?

Ah, I see. I didn''t realize they had more than one ring for sale.