Tiffany''s Certifications?

[HavocBride]

I've been researching rings for some time (and lurking here to read all of the wonderful information!) and thought I wanted a Tiffany... I searched the forums about this question and didn't see anything, so I figured I'd ask.

Tiffany has their own lab and certifies their own diamonds... should this be a concern? I know the big diamond labs are GIA and AGS, and I just assumed Tiffany's used one of these labs in addition to theirs. I didn't realize they ONLY used theirs.

How can I compare stones without one of these scales? Doesn't having their own lab leave them free to claim a stone is an "excellent" cut by their standards, but not necessarily someone else's?

Should I request a GIA or AGS report on a Tiffany stone? Am I even allowed?

I hope this question doesn't seem too silly...

 

[Todd Gray]

Date: 12/23/2009 4:20:18 PM
Author:HavocBride
How can I compare stones without one of these scales? Doesn''t having their own lab leave them free to claim a stone is an ''excellent'' cut by their standards, but not necessarily someone else''s?

Exactly

 

[ChunkyCushionLover]

Date: 12/23/2009 4:20:18 PM
Author:HavocBride
I''ve been researching rings for some time (and lurking here to read all of the wonderful information!) and thought I wanted a Tiffany... I searched the forums about this question and didn''t see anything, so I figured I''d ask.

Tiffany has their own lab and certifies their own diamonds... should this be a concern? I know the big diamond labs are GIA and AGS, and I just assumed Tiffany''s used one of these labs in addition to theirs. I didn''t realize they ONLY used theirs.

How can I compare stones without one of these scales? Doesn''t having their own lab leave them free to claim a stone is an ''excellent'' cut by their standards, but not necessarily someone else''s?

Should I request a GIA or AGS report on a Tiffany stone? Am I even allowed?

I hope this question doesn''t seem too silly...

If you feel the need to compare Tiffany''s diamonds to other diamonds Tiffany''s may not be for you.
If you feel the need to pay a competitive price for your diamond Tiffany''s may not be for you.
If you need to see a GIA or AGS certificate on your Tiffany''s diamond then Tiffany''s may not be for you.

They don''t usually have customers (those who actually buy) questioning their cut quality or certification. Its Tiffany''s and that must be quality. (sarcasm)

Run away, TIffany''s cut quality is inconsistant and pretty MEH, especially when you spend 3X the price.

 

[denverappraiser]

You can, of course, request anything you want but I think CCL is correct that they’re unlikely to comply, precisely because they don’t want you to be comparing stones with other vendors in terms of specs vs. price. Usually when a vendor does this (goes out of their way to inhibit your ability to comparison shop) it’s because they don’t think they will fare well in the comparison. It’s up to you to decide if this applies in this case. Their position is that only they can deliver a genuine Tiffany experience and so there IS no competition. This is true enough, but many customers value different things in their diamond than the shopping experience. Things that CAN be purchased elsewhere, and usually for less money.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 12/23/2009 4:32:04 PM
Author: Todd Gray

Date: 12/23/2009 4:20:18 PM
Author:HavocBride
How can I compare stones without one of these scales? Doesn''t having their own lab leave them free to claim a stone is an ''excellent'' cut by their standards, but not necessarily someone else''s?

Exactly

On color and clarity etc I would expect tiffany to be like GIA and a touch stricter on borderline calls. I think they began certification in house after some GIA graders were caught in a bribing scandal a few years back.

But on cut grading they also seem to follow GIA''s system which many experts here find to be generous on the steep deep end - so you should consider getting the proportions and putting them up here or using HCA to help in selecting a stone that we know will sparkle like crazy.

For example here is a happy shoppers experiance
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/a-day-at-tiffanys-with-the-i-scope.69733/

 

[Dreamer_D]

I think that you can ask to see the Tiffs cert on their diamonds and it will give you angles and you can pick the center diamond from that. I have heard of someone doing that. But it seems to me that most diamonds are already set and you get the one that is available in your price range in that setting at that time rather than picking the loose diamond.

You can also just "use your eyes" as some are fond of saying. Tiffany''s is not for "cut nuts", it is for "little-blue-box nuts" anyways.