Tiffany Ring Price/Clarity Question

[Fly Girl]

Get an idealscope and take it along to check out the Tiffany diamonds. Along with the specs, this will allow you to cherry pick the best one.

 

[rocku]

Did price of ring in consumer space go up a lot in recent years?

http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-684397.htm

This stone is $5200 for 0.9 H VS2. If I add PT950 setting on top of it.
Come close to my tiffany with .86 G VS2 stone. Of coz mine was purchase a while back.

I also find Tiffany charges $1400 for the same PT band we bought @ $800 5 years ago.

Crazy market, isn't it.

 

[antifreze]

1st off - you guys are awesome. Thank you so much for helping me with this.

So I called Tiffany''s and spoke to a rep. At the scottsdale store in AZ there are 0 that meet my criteria, so I''ll probably have them ship some to the store for me to look at. The one ring that they said met my requirements were this:

Round Brilliant
Tiffany Setting
H color
VS1
.75ct
$7100

So I think I''m going to go pick up an idealscope, and have them send 4-6 different ones that vary in size, clarity, and color so I can see for myself. I''ll also take those spec''s in (thanks for those!).

I''m getting extremely excited for May 15th!!!

 

[whatmeworry]

If you can see them in person and have an idealscope, why even bother with specs? Would you throw away something that you really liked because it didn't meet the specs?

 

[antifreze]

Date: 3/24/2008 5:25:19 PM
Author: whatmeworry
If you can see them in person and have an idealscope, why even bother with specs? Would you throw away something that you really liked because it didn''t meet the specs?

I''ll use the specs to get a selection to look at, I''d rather have them send there cream of the crop within my criteria for me to look at

Kind of a fail safe, since I dont really know what I''ll be looking at (besides how shiny, scratched, etc.)

 

[whatmeworry]

Fair enough. But I''ve noticed that most of the newer Tiffany diamonds have crown angles > 35.0. So if you still want to stick by those specs...

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I have looked at Tiffany''s website, as it is a good starting place for diamond education because it is pretty basic and easy to understand. I remember them having a big section on clarity, and I think it stated they only sell diamonds with no inclusions visable to the naked eye. So, to echo what most have said, if I were shopping there, I would go with the lowest clarity and put my money into the size and color, what ever is most important to your and your GF.

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 3/21/2008 1:45:16 PM
Author: Dogmom
How about this from Signed Pieces? It is well within your budget, and an original Tiffany piece with papers and box.

This is a GREAT option. You still get all the Tiffany service, assuming this is a real Tiffany, and boy I would much rather have a .95 than a .75. Tiffany will even refurbish the ring for a small charge, and about a 3 week delay from when the store sends it in. I would SO GO in THIS direction if you have less than $10K to spend on the ring. Really. And I LOVE Tiffany, so I would never try to talk you out of a Tiffany ring. But why get it "new" when you can get the Tiffany warranty and service without paying retail? in fact, after they service it when you go pick it up, nicely ask them for a new ring box and to wrap it for you and they will probably do that too. They do stand by all their jewelry no matter who you purchased it from, but one big caveat: it must be a real Tiffany.

 

[Jenn5504]

Date: 3/21/2008 7:10:50 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/21/2008 6:52:32 PM
Author: bee*

Don''t think that''s true for all girls. Personally I much prefer my ring that I got from Tiffanys rather than getting a bigger ring, and we could have got much bigger going elsewhere. I''m sure he knows what his gf would like.

Sorry, its true for MOST girls... (OK, before people start kicking and screaming, yes its a gross generalization, let it be)...

Anyhow, OP has 5 posts and was confusing cut and clairty, so clearly he needs some educating on the subject (and he came to the right place)... that being said, he''ss never mentioned what his GF wants? Has she told him that she ''simply must have a Tiffany band'' or is she like half the population that has no idea about pricing information from T&C and they absurd markup... (listen, this is coming from someone who just shelled out $$ for an authentic T&C eternity band)...

ask yourself this: if you put a .75 T&C and 1.2 ACA set in a SC Tiffany replica in front of your gf and told her nothing about the rings, where they''re from etc... which do you think she''d choose?

I''m with sna77 on this subject, but obviously there is nothing wrong with bee*''s opinion either.

I just think it''s fair to throw out to antifreze that IF purchasing from Tiffany and only from T&Co isn''t his future fiance''s preference, then it might be wise to consider doing something like sna77 did. I *personally* don''t understand wanting to pay the huge T&Co. markup, but then again I''m not a huge "name brand" person. I picked out my engagement ring (I had a great time, but missed out on the SURPRISE factor) and I didn''t get it at T&Co., I got it at a local jewler (this was 6 years ago and a few diamonds ago

) but I would bet just about anything that had my husband done it all on his own, leaving me out of the process, he most likely would have gone to T&Co. just because he''s a name-brand guy and they have great advertising---he would have felt comfortable that going there was what you do when you get engaged.

Just out of curiosity, antifreze, are you going the T&Co route because you think it''s the best available ring/diamond out there or because one of you has a preference for the name brand? I LOVE the diversity at PS, we have a wide range of different likes and dislikes, I just love to hear everyone''s reasoning.

T&Co is certainly all high quality goods. There are equal quality goods available elsewhere, too!

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 3/24/2008 5:20:14 PM
Author: antifreze
1st off - you guys are awesome. Thank you so much for helping me with this.


So I called Tiffany''s and spoke to a rep. At the scottsdale store in AZ there are 0 that meet my criteria, so I''ll probably have them ship some to the store for me to look at. The one ring that they said met my requirements were this:


Round Brilliant

Tiffany Setting

H color

VS1

.75ct

$7100


So I think I''m going to go pick up an idealscope, and have them send 4-6 different ones that vary in size, clarity, and color so I can see for myself. I''ll also take those spec''s in (thanks for those!).


I''m getting extremely excited for May 15th!!!

I made the mistake of replying without reading all of the thread and seeing that you want her to be the sole owner of this ring, and frankly, I must admit, I would feel the same way. One thing that is cool about Tiffany is that their diamonds are SO nice, and cut SO well, that a .75 carat will look like a 1.00 carat diamond. I remember when I got engaged so many years ago (more than 10!), we could only afford something that would buy you about 1/2 carat center stone at Tiffany, so I got a 1.15 GIA certified RB elsewhere and I love it. But, I went back and forth over that decision, really agonizing about it. I finally got my Tiffany ring this year for our ten year anniversary. I wear it on my right hand most of the time though, as I feel sentimental about my original ring. Good luck and PLEASE post pics of the ring you settle on. After you have put so much time and thought into it, without any doubt she will LOVE it.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Date: 3/21/2008 2:15:12 PM
Author: antifreze
I appreciate the link, but I think I want to buy a new one from a store. If this was the 2nd ring I was buying, I would be all about saving. But this will be the 1st and only time I propose to the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want something that was made and bought for her.

Now I just need to research different tiffany cuts.

But you guys think if I went with round brilliant, tiffany setting, H color, VS2 - that I could get a .75+ ct for about $7500?

I know how you feel b/c I got my Tiff''s brand new and shiny. I love it!

Now I have been scouring Signed Pieces & other places for other "brand" jewelry.

Nothing like having the original 1886 (6 prong) design that so many covet or copy.

Just my personal thing. I know we paid a mark up but we knew it going in.

Good luck & post pics.

 

[Venice]

even better:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-608062.htm
I just got you from .75 to 1.22 ct for same price, and even a much better color and cut. Who cares about the Si2... it its eye clean no one is going to take a loupe to your FI''s hand...

Sna77,

I wouldn''t bet on that!! That sentence made me think back to the time I wore my new engagement ring to work. Newly engaged girls have a habit of proudly showing their ring to any one who is interested. Well, one man whom I worked with was looking at my ring. I asked him, "Well, what do you think of my ring?" He turned to me and said, "I''ll tell you in a minute." Imagine my surprise when he promptly pulled out a loupe from his pants pocket and proceeded to loupe my ring! I was shocked! I had an F, VVS1 at the time, so I was a bit relieved. I told him, "You didn''t see anything in there, did you?" He didn''t know what to say... To this day, I can''t believe that that happened to me!!

Antifreeze,

Good Luck in your search for a Tiffany ring. They sure are beautiful!

 

[antifreze]

I decided on Tiffany''s for several reasons. #1 being, that I know my girlfriend really wants one from there. She wants something that will last the test of time. Wants to pass it on to her daughter and so on and she loves the name. I''m sure that after we are married that we''ll be looking on those sites for good deals, and possibly other companies.

Where would I find an ideal scope, not having the best of luck in that search.

Also, what do you know about insurance plans for the ring? What would it typically cost for a $7000-$7500 ring?

I just want to make this engagement perfect. I know she is going to flip out when I pull the little blue box out while sitting on the La Jolla beach in San Diego. Can''t wait!!

 

[Jenn5504]

Date: 3/25/2008 12:50:57 PM
Author: antifreze
I decided on Tiffany''s for several reasons. #1 being, that I know my girlfriend really wants one from there. She wants something that will last the test of time. Wants to pass it on to her daughter and so on and she loves the name. I''m sure that after we are married that we''ll be looking on those sites for good deals, and possibly other companies.

Where would I find an ideal scope, not having the best of luck in that search.

Also, what do you know about insurance plans for the ring? What would it typically cost for a $7000-$7500 ring?

I just want to make this engagement perfect. I know she is going to flip out when I pull the little blue box out while sitting on the La Jolla beach in San Diego. Can''t wait!!

Then Tiffany''s it is! I completely understand now that you explained a little more behind it. She IS going to flip out, that is SO awesome. There are MANY girls who DREAM of "the little blue box" that never get it. Congratulations and way to go!

Oh, IS, I''ve seen the link to those on the PS homepage I think???

 

[sna77]

Date: 3/25/2008 12:23:41 AM
Author: Venice

even better:
http://www.whiteflash.com/hearts_arrows/A-Cut-Above-H-A-cut-diamond-608062.htm

I just got you from .75 to 1.22 ct for same price, and even a much better color and cut. Who cares about the Si2... it its eye clean no one is going to take a loupe to your FI''s hand...

Sna77,

I wouldn''t bet on that!! That sentence made me think back to the time I wore my new engagement ring to work. Newly engaged girls have a habit of proudly showing their ring to any one who is interested. Well, one man whom I worked with was looking at my ring. I asked him, ''Well, what do you think of my ring?'' He turned to me and said, ''I''ll tell you in a minute.'' Imagine my surprise when he promptly pulled out a loupe from his pants pocket and proceeded to loupe my ring! I was shocked! I had an F, VVS1 at the time, so I was a bit relieved. I told him, ''You didn''t see anything in there, did you?'' He didn''t know what to say... To this day, I can''t believe that that happened to me!!

Antifreeze,

Good Luck in your search for a Tiffany ring. They sure are beautiful!

OK, thats nuts. I would have slapped him. My FI has an SI1, but the inclusion is on the bottom, covered by a prong, so she would be all set, but I''m sure she would have wacked the guy...


btw, ideal scope: http://www.ideal-scope.com/cart_order.asp

 

[sna77]

Date: 3/25/2008 12:50:57 PM
Author: antifreze
I decided on Tiffany''s for several reasons. #1 being, that I know my girlfriend really wants one from there. She wants something that will last the test of time. Wants to pass it on to her daughter and so on and she loves the name. I''m sure that after we are married that we''ll be looking on those sites for good deals, and possibly other companies.

Where would I find an ideal scope, not having the best of luck in that search.

Also, what do you know about insurance plans for the ring? What would it typically cost for a $7000-$7500 ring?

I just want to make this engagement perfect. I know she is going to flip out when I pull the little blue box out while sitting on the La Jolla beach in San Diego. Can''t wait!!

do you have homeowners insurance? having a rider added to the policy will probably cost you about $75/year for a $7k ring...

 

[Ty Cobb]

Ok, the man obviously wants a Tiffany ring, new from Tiffs''s. so please cut out the suggestions that he go elsewhere. Some people put a lot of stock and value in the history and name behind the ring.

My 2nd bit of advice. Except for setting parameters, forget the HCA in regards to picking out a ring from Tiffs.

They cut their diamond with a specific goal in mind. They all lend to the younger people''s ring side of the equation.

Have them bring in some diamonds and pick one out on what your eyes tell you. I have seen some dazzling rings at Tiffs
that HCA would have made me think were dogs. I had one the HCA rated as a 4.3 that had a perfect idealscope image.

But anyway. Use specifications to bring in some rings and pick the one your eyes like the best. Look at it in the window light, carry it over to a darkened corner, do whatever you want, but use your eyes. Not some computer program that has no idea what your diamond looks like, but renders a score based on an approximation of what it thinks your stone looks like.

If you are wading through 4 million stones online then use HCA. If you are going to a respected B&M like Tiffs, use your eyes.

 

[Isabelle]

Spot on, Ty Cobb. Your points about the computer program etc. all true. I have seen so many diamonds that were supposed to be so great and they weren''t, even though the numbers said they would be. I have also seen some that supposedly didn''t add up to much, but they had that special something. "USe your eyes"--I LOVE IT.

 

[bee*]

Definitely agree on the use your eyes thing. I didn''t check the specs on my ring at all, I just compared it to lots of others.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Date: 3/25/2008 7:58:32 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/25/2008 12:50:57 PM
Author: antifreze
I decided on Tiffany''s for several reasons. #1 being, that I know my girlfriend really wants one from there. She wants something that will last the test of time. Wants to pass it on to her daughter and so on and she loves the name. I''m sure that after we are married that we''ll be looking on those sites for good deals, and possibly other companies.

Where would I find an ideal scope, not having the best of luck in that search.

Also, what do you know about insurance plans for the ring? What would it typically cost for a $7000-$7500 ring?

I just want to make this engagement perfect. I know she is going to flip out when I pull the little blue box out while sitting on the La Jolla beach in San Diego. Can''t wait!!

do you have homeowners insurance? having a rider added to the policy will probably cost you about $75/year for a $7k ring...

My suggestion is to stay away from Homeowner''s. Sna77 doesn''t have a branded stone. If you want to replace lost stone with Tiffany''s then use Touchstone.com or Jeweler''s mutual.com as they will replace with Tiffany''s or whomever you want. They won''t just show up at your door one day and tell you to pick one diamond from the 5 that all have the same specs as the original but are from who knows where? Homeowner''s specialize in, well, homes, not diamonds.

Otherwise you will have a hell of a time trying to get your non-Tiff''s stone serviced, repaired, whatever from Tiffany''s. And what about having a non-Tiff''s stone but their setting? What a shame.

I used Touchstone because they can easily transfer the policy to Chubb (payout) if I want later.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I agree that you can look at them with your eyes, but you absolutely have to ask them to take the rings to the natural light because all the stones look the same in their lighting.

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 3/26/2008 5:27:39 PM
Author: Ty Cobb
Ok, the man obviously wants a Tiffany ring, new from Tiffs''s. so please cut out the suggestions that he go elsewhere. Some people put a lot of stock and value in the history and name behind the ring.


My 2nd bit of advice. Except for setting parameters, forget the HCA in regards to picking out a ring from Tiffs.


They cut their diamond with a specific goal in mind. They all lend to the younger people''s ring side of the equation.


Have them bring in some diamonds and pick one out on what your eyes tell you. I have seen some dazzling rings at Tiffs

that HCA would have made me think were dogs. I had one the HCA rated as a 4.3 that had a perfect idealscope image.


But anyway. Use specifications to bring in some rings and pick the one your eyes like the best. Look at it in the window light, carry it over to a darkened corner, do whatever you want, but use your eyes. Not some computer program that has no idea what your diamond looks like, but renders a score based on an approximation of what it thinks your stone looks like.


If you are wading through 4 million stones online then use HCA. If you are going to a respected B&M like Tiffs, use your eyes.

TY Cobb: I just went and read your posts. I have to say that I agree with almost 100% of every post you have written! LOL I live in Houston too. I have tried on many a $100,000.00 ++ ring at the Houston Tiffany''s, just for fun, but it was in the separate room. You are right about the insurance. You are right about them using their own cut system, which may not be the same as HCA but that doesn''t mean it isn''t outstanding. And when you are talking about resale, you are right about that too. The name in a ring always brings more on the resale market, though truth be told, you are spot on in saying that no one (except maybe people who can afford "The Star of India" or whatever) buy diamonds for the investment. You really tickled me with all your posts. You really cut right to it. And as an avid fan of Tiffany including a collector and reader of the wonderful books by John Loring (Tiff''s Design Director), I have to say that part of what makes reading what you write so enjoyable is that your sentiments reflect my own. I bet your FI is over the moon with her RB. And as I mentioned above in an earlier post to antifreeze, Tiffany diamonds always look larger than they are b/c they are cut so well. I bet your .84 looks well over 1.00!

 

[sna77]

Date: 3/26/2008 7:11:42 PM
Author: Isabelle



Tiffany diamonds always look larger than they are b/c they are cut so well. I bet your .84 looks well over 1.00!

I think this is a silly statement. The stone looks the mm size it is.

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 3/26/2008 9:11:31 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/26/2008 7:11:42 PM

Author: Isabelle




Tiffany diamonds always look larger than they are b/c they are cut so well. I bet your .84 looks well over 1.00!

I think this is a silly statement. The stone looks the mm size it is.

I think it is more helpful to disagree without characterizing someone''s opinion as "silly". And, I disagree with you. I have seen many poorly cut diamonds where the table was spread to make the surface appear larger; to make carat weight appear higher than it is. I have seen other stones that were so well cut that even though they are smaller carat weight like .75, they appear larger b/c they sparkle more.

 

[sna77]

Date: 3/26/2008 9:21:21 PM
Author: Isabelle

Date: 3/26/2008 9:11:31 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/26/2008 7:11:42 PM

Author: Isabelle




Tiffany diamonds always look larger than they are b/c they are cut so well. I bet your .84 looks well over 1.00!

I think this is a silly statement. The stone looks the mm size it is.

I think it is more helpful to disagree without characterizing someone''s opinion as ''silly''. And, I disagree with you. I have seen many poorly cut diamonds where the table was spread to make the surface appear larger; to make carat weight appear higher than it is. I have seen other stones that were so well cut that even though they are smaller carat weight like .75, they appear larger b/c they sparkle more.

Sorry, didn''t mean to seem like I was chastizing your statemtn... I hear this argument all the time and it drives me nuts--its suh retoric... what are you comparing it to? a .75ct well cut stone stone should look like, well, a .75 ct well cut stone. i crummy stone might look smaller.

so if your comparing apples to apples, the Tiffany .75 ct should look like a H&A .75 ct, Hearts on Fire .75ct, or a mall store .90 ct.

I''m not sure how this is relevant?

 

[Isabelle]

I completely agree with you that a well cut compared to a well cut will look about the same size. But I think it is *relevant* to the question posed by antifreeze and answered by so many, (rather poignantly by Ty), b/c so few people have the tenacity to seek out well cut diamonds, be they purchased from Tiffany or be they a H&A sold by WF, GOG, or what have you. I think that when a person plonks down the money to buy a well cut stone, they should know that they are making a smart decision even if they are going with a smaller carat weight. Ultimately, a Tiffany diamond has more brilliance than 95% of the diamonds out there. I mean, after all, don''t most people buy crappy diamonds without putting any real thought into it? It would be great if that weren''t the case, but one need only look around to see that most people are not jewelry enthusiasts and...well, you can tell. I guess I have seen so many poorly cut stones in my time that for me, I notice the difference between a Tiffany diamond or Lazare, or H&A, or what have you, versus the average "mall purchase" as you said. And one of the things I have noticed is that well cut diamonds look bigger than their actual carat weight b/c they tend to sparkle A LOT even when they are relatively small.

 

[sna77]

Date: 3/26/2008 9:49:50 PM
Author: Isabelle
I mean, after all, don''t most people buy crappy diamonds without putting any real thought into it? It would be great if that weren''t the case, but one need only look around to see that most people are not jewelry enthusiasts and...well, you can tell. I guess I have seen so many poorly cut stones in my time that for me, I notice the difference between a Tiffany diamond or Lazare, or H&A, or what have you, versus the average ''mall purchase'' as you said. And one of the things I have noticed is that well cut diamonds look bigger than their actual carat weight b/c they tend to sparkle A LOT even when they are relatively small.

Maybe we hang in different crowds, or perhaps this is a generational thing, but I literally do not have a single friend that did not spend months looking at diamonds, researching, etc, before making a purchase. I mean you are asking someone to marry you! You don''t run to the mall and grab the first thing you see... You only get one chance to get this right... It amazes me that someone would plunk down tens of thousands of dollars without doing so...

 

[Isabelle]

Date: 3/26/2008 10:06:02 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/26/2008 9:49:50 PM

Author: Isabelle

I mean, after all, don''t most people buy crappy diamonds without putting any real thought into it? It would be great if that weren''t the case, but one need only look around to see that most people are not jewelry enthusiasts and...well, you can tell. I guess I have seen so many poorly cut stones in my time that for me, I notice the difference between a Tiffany diamond or Lazare, or H&A, or what have you, versus the average ''mall purchase'' as you said. And one of the things I have noticed is that well cut diamonds look bigger than their actual carat weight b/c they tend to sparkle A LOT even when they are relatively small.

Maybe we hang in different crowds, or perhaps this is a generational thing, but I literally do not have a single friend that did not spend months looking at diamonds, researching, etc, before making a purchase. I mean you are asking someone to marry you! You don''t run to the mall and grab the first thing you see... You only get one chance to get this right... It amazes me that someone would plunk down tens of thousands of dollars without doing so...

But they do though. Otherwise, certain places wouldn''t be in business. And we wouldn''t have posts like the one from the guy who was going to spend $6K on a "SI3" diamond from someone in the diamond district in NY when SI3 isn''t even an actual clarity grade. I don''t hang out with different crowds. My friends are all very picky about their bling and most wear designer. But I DO take notice of what is around me. If it weren''t hugely profitable to sell junk at a markup, there wouldn''t be so many people doing it. Just my opinion.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Date: 3/26/2008 10:12:46 PM
Author: Isabelle

Date: 3/26/2008 10:06:02 PM
Author: sna77

Date: 3/26/2008 9:49:50 PM

Author: Isabelle

I mean, after all, don''t most people buy crappy diamonds without putting any real thought into it? It would be great if that weren''t the case, but one need only look around to see that most people are not jewelry enthusiasts and...well, you can tell. I guess I have seen so many poorly cut stones in my time that for me, I notice the difference between a Tiffany diamond or Lazare, or H&A, or what have you, versus the average ''mall purchase'' as you said. And one of the things I have noticed is that well cut diamonds look bigger than their actual carat weight b/c they tend to sparkle A LOT even when they are relatively small.

Maybe we hang in different crowds, or perhaps this is a generational thing, but I literally do not have a single friend that did not spend months looking at diamonds, researching, etc, before making a purchase. I mean you are asking someone to marry you! You don''t run to the mall and grab the first thing you see... You only get one chance to get this right... It amazes me that someone would plunk down tens of thousands of dollars without doing so...

But they do though. Otherwise, certain places wouldn''t be in business. And we wouldn''t have posts like the one from the guy who was going to spend $6K on a ''SI3'' diamond from someone in the diamond district in NY when SI3 isn''t even an actual clarity grade. I don''t hang out with different crowds. My friends are all very picky about their bling and most wear designer. But I DO take notice of what is around me. If it weren''t hugely profitable to sell junk at a markup, there wouldn''t be so many people doing it. Just my opinion.

I agree w/ Isabelle 100%! Reason being my own brother did just what you descibed! Yep, he grabed the first pretty, shiney thing he saw and out the door! I think the maul store was Romanos (not in Business anymore I think) anyway he said he was just "shopping around and saw a pretty ring." DUH!!!!

Now his wife is begging to have a new set and I am helping her as much as possible.

I think there are more complexities to the cut then sna77 is taking into account. Just because 3 stones have the same table size or several proprtions similar does not make them equivalent in terms of light return, scintillation, yada, yada........

And yeah my 1 ct. looks bigger than my mom''s 1 ct b/c of cut and all the magical properties of diamonds when the dynamics within them coalesce.

 

[Ty Cobb]

There are so many different factors that come into ring buying, it is ridiculous to make assumptions one way or the other based off your personal experiences. For example--I would say roughly 80% of the diamonds sold in the U.S. are bought for less then $10k retail. I would in fact say 80% of those are probably less the $5k.

People have different criteria when they go diamond shopping. Some, the engagement ring is a dragon they have to slay. A remanent of a by gone era that they are now forced to go through the tradition of in order to appease their bride to be. In this situation, I have known several, price is the #1 overiding factor. In these instances, they tend to hit the mall stores and buy the $1-$2k ring. Not great quality, not really big, but it is the diamond they have to buy.


There is also the strapped for cash romantic who is more concerned about the symbolism of the diamond ring then they ever are about the actual quality of the diamond.

Then there are the romantics like me who happened to be saving money since he first saw breakfast at Tiffanys as a kid 23 years ago and made a promise that he would save his pennies and invest them or whatever so that when the time came his FI''s ring would come from pretty store with the little blue box.

Others are all about quality, getting the absolute best bang for the buck. This is what a lot of the pricescope crowd is all about. Getting that extra bit of value at that extra bit of savings. They are going to buy something, then they want there to be no concerns-overpaying, poor quaility, or otherwise. I both pitty and admire these individuals. I pitty them as they seem to have lost sight of some of the magic of diamonds and have gotten too bogged down in the numbers. I admire them in that they rise above the trivialities of marketing and will in all likelyhood have much more money then I do when they retire.

Then you have the people who could care less about all the aforementioned and just want a diamond.... I could never be one of these people. Diamonds are pretty, but they only hold true value to me in their comemorative value. Engagement ring, son or daughter''s wedding day, birth of a child, graduation. Something along those lines.

In essence though to the arguement: I have to agree with Isabelle. The quality of the stone can make it look bigger then it is. My FI works at a place with several girls her age who are also engaged. One has a 1.25 carat stone that was bought in the Diamond District. Whenever someone comes to the business, even though my FI''s ring is almost half the size of the larger stone, it is the one that is always noticed.

It is little things that make a stones presence stand out. Not just size.


PS: Isabelle, thanks for your kind words. I am hopelessly infatuated with the little blue box, irregardless of how logical I try to word my statements.


Disclaimer: The above comments are the deranged thoughts of a hopeless romantic who has been brainwashed by celluloid dreams in the form of Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany''s, Father of the Bride, My Fair Lady, and other horrendously trashy happy ending nonesense filled movies. If you are offended by them, you take yourself way too seriously and need to be locked in a room with the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, and lots of helium