Tiffany''s Lucida 2.1ct... or

[pink]

Before I start my story, I just want to say this forum is one of the greatest place on the net....
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My bf of seven years finally took me e-ring shopping... to Tiffany''s. I really liked the Lucida setting and we set our hearts on the 2.18 ct, D, VVS1, ideal cut (the rest I do not know) for $53,000.

My sweet BF had saved up for 5 years to buy me a 2ct ring from Tiffany''s......

That night I called my mom to tell her our plan and she was disappointed that we were frivolously wasting our money. She pursuaded me into thinking that we should shoot for a lower budget on the ring and save the rest of the money for an emergency fund...

On one hand I feel like an e-ring I should cherish "forever" should be of best quality and biggest size one can afford.. on the other hand I feel like I should be a wise fiance and start saving up for our future....

My boyfriend insists that I buy the Tiffany ring, but I know he''d appreciate it too if I set aside some dough..

If there is anyone out there who would seriously pass up the opportunity to own a 2.16Ct Tiffany''s Lucida ring and buy the D''Vatche x prong with a similar cut stone to save up $20000 for your future, Please give me strength???????

 

[i_like_tiffany_please_dont_hate_me]

If your bf has saved for 5 years to buy you a Tiffany ring, I would certainly suggest that you do buy at Tiffany. he would probably be very disappointed if you didn''t. as for the ring, I am no expert, but from what I have read, if you want to save some money, but still buy at Tiffany, you could probably go for an F, vs2 and not notice any difference at all.

just my £0.01 worth

 

[Xrisus]

what does your BF think

 

[Jennifer5973]

if having a Tiffany ring is important to you and/or your BF, then you may regret not getting "the real thing." There is nothing wrong with buying at Tiffany''s--their stuff is gorgeous and it''s exciting to own a brand name engagement ring. Plus, if it''s the Lucida you love, you may not be happy with anything else.

I encourage you both to really think what is driving the Tiffany purchase. If it''s for any of the reasons I cite above, then go for it and be happy. But if you are questioning your motives/aspirations in any way, I''d take a step back--$53,000 is a lot of money and from your mother''s comment, it seems like while certainly financially stable, you guys are not among the "rich & famous" where money is no object. I am just presuming this from the context clues. You could get a magnificent 2+ ct stone for less than $30,000 in the quality you want through one of the reputable vendorts here or perhaps a good local jeweler. RB is the most availabe shape but there are cushions, Jubilees and Regents.

I am not advocating this to push pscope vendors--I haven''t even bought anything (yet@!) from one of them, but I''ll tell you one thing--I would have LOVED to have $20,000 savings in the bank to start off my marriage....think about it. What if one of you loses your jobs? Impossible you say? Read the papers--no job is secure any more. Just consider all the possibilities and your situation and make the best decision for the two of you.

Think about it HARD and follow your heart. Good luck.

 

[valeria101]

Not being a huge fan of any brand in the world... how abo one D/f VS diamond of the same size and the nicest ever platinum solitaire to go? This sounds pretty inspiring to me. You would not have to 'save' on any conceivable quality treat between Tiffany and the work of a good craftsman.

This is all up to your personal prefference - for once, I am at a loss when it comes to understanding what Tiffany's mark or GIA's D/VVS adds to the presence of a diamond. A gem is a gem, and a fine piece of jewelry needs no stamp to glow in the dark. The pricetag does not add to diamonds' glow either - only make you sacrifice more and work harder: the value of your hard work and 5 year patience has really not much to do with the merit of the respective piece of jewelry. Just me, of course.

If pedigree matters to you as much as the looks of the diamond on hand, than... anything goes. The more branded the better, and the longer the paper trail - better still.

If you do consider the prospect that this particular jewel should hold it's value in time, than better advice is in order. For all I know,Tiffany's pieces resell for at most 70% of their original price - and this for top shelf merchandise as you are considering.

 

[heart prongs]

$53,000 is a lot of $$$...I would imagine that he assumes Tiffany is the best, but I can''t imagine any guy being heartbroken over saving $20 grand, especially one going into a marriage! In fact, Ihe''ll probably think you''re being smart. Tiffany''s has beautiful rings, but it''s not the be all and end all place to buy a diamond! Think: fabulous honeymoon and a great ring! You should definitely talk to him about this and show him this site...good luck...klr

 

[valeria101]

BTW... why do you say "Lucida... ideal cut" ? Lucida is a branded cut, there are no ideal parameters for it.

If perfection matters, why get one D/IF ? There is a longer tradition for this concept of "best of the best" than for the latest cut by Tiffany. It would definitely be less expensive, although not much. An appraiser could advize better, of course, but my gut fealing says that top grades have wider recognition of 'value' (= stronger demand long term) than any branded cut can among a serious flood of branded cuts to which Tiffany itself has been adding up new ones fast.

 

[Patty]

Listen to your mother.

 

[alexah]

Not to be too nosy, but do you currently own a house? ...that'd make a nice downpayment... Who's paying for the wedding?

Anyway, for comparison's sake, there's this excellent princess from good old gold - LINK to 2.03 F VS2 - with the setting you want, it'd come to like $20K. Edited to add: GOG also carries luceres which are more similar to lucidas than princesses.

You mentioned the lucida you're looking at has an "ideal cut" - what makes it so? what are the parameters? From what I've gathered, lucidas are light leakers...

Obviously, this decision is btwn you & your boyfriend, but you're obviously having some second thoughts if you're looking for guidance here... I do wish you the very best of luck with whatever you decide & early congratulations on your impending engagement!!

 

[Libster]

Nice problem to have

Hmmmmmm....when I got married, we were not fortunate enough to have any extra money for diamonds. My hubby wanted to feel secure financially and build on our life together. After 15 years, I finally got a diamond, but still not the most expensive we could afford. My hubby looks at diamonds as something pretty to look at, and make me happy, not something to invest loads of money in. He feels like if he purchases a home, he can always go to the bank and get a mortgage if he needs $$$. If he buys a car, he can do the same, a bank would lend him money for that piece of paper (the title). He can't do that with a diamond and the resell for anything we would ever buy just isn't there. There is no Hope diamond in my future

!!!

My point is that after we found ourselves comfortable financially, in all areas of our life, I received a beautiful diamond. I don't know you and your fiance's situation. You may already own a home, have a huge nest egg for retirement, and money for a rainy day. Only you can decide what your situation is. Just wanted to give you something to think about.

And like Patty said...."Listen to your mother." No better advice than that!

 

[bstraszheim]

Another option is to go to www.signedpieces.com and when they have a Lucida in stock, which they did have recently (it was 3.5ct and about $66,000 so probably not what you were looking for, but Signed Pieces *does* get them), then you could get a Tiffany ring, but not have to pay $53,000 for it. I think that it is wonderful that your boyfriend saved so long and hard in order to get you something very special! Congratulations on your upcoming engagement, I wish you the happiest life together!

I wish you well,

Bridget

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Wow! $53,000 is a lot of money. When I told him how much my new toy would cost, he said "I could buy a car for that" and he could but it would probably be a jetta or something. $53,000 is the price tag on a really nice Mercedes! Wow!

I went to Tiffany''s as well. It was hard not to get swayed by their beautiful store, their helpful sales staff and those sparkly diamonds!! But next time you are there, look up and see the lights that are shining right around the case.. the also put a "black pad" down so that you can look at your diamond and see how white it is. Many other places use white in order for you to accurately judge color.

Anyway, I think you can get a great diamond for that budget! 1) you can spend the wad and get the Tiffany''s 2) you can spend the wad and get a larger diamond with the most perfect setting ever 3) you can spend $30,000 on a more than fabulous ring and save the $23,000 and spend 1 month vacationing in Bora Bora or tour Europe or something.....

Nice dilemma though! (your mother is probably right, unless you are J-Lo or Britney, $53,000 does seem *extravagant*)

Good Luck!

 

[hoorray]

I agree that your engagement ring should be very special to you both. I personally don''t think that has anything to do with how much it costs. It is a gift and a symbol. If having theTiffany name and/or the "perfect" quality (to the level that your eyes can''t see it, it''s just mental) is important to you, than get it. I think there are lots of ways you can get an equally beautiful and equally large stone and still have a nest egg (which is what I would do), but you have to live with it, not me.

Having a next egg as you start your life together is huge. It allows you a level of comfort and opportunities that you wouldn''t have otherwise. I''d listen to your mother, but you have to decide.

 

[cushioncut]

I''d say if you have your heart set on the Lucida, and he has saved for it, you should go for it. However, as a compromise, I would go for lower color, clarity, and ct weight. IMO D is overkill, as is VVS1. Why not have Tiffany bring in a 1.9 to 2.0 ct G/H, VS2 (or SI1 if they have it). I bet you''d cut about 10K to 15K off the price, at least, and not notice any difference whatsoever.

 

[Hest88]

For me it depends on whether or not that $53K is the totality of your nest egg or is it only a fraction? Who is paying for your wedding? What happens if one of you is laid-off (a very real possiblilty for anyone at any level in this day and age). Do you have money saved up for your honeymoon? Do you own a house?

Additionally, how disappointed are you going to be not to have a Tiffany? Is the name most important to you, above all else? I would never spend that much money for something when I could get something similar for a fraction of the price, unless I had just won the lottery or something and $53K were just chump change. A Flanders or Lucere in a Vatche setting is going to look as incredible as the Tiffany, or you can even opt for one of the newer square cuts such as a Queen of Hearts and get even better light return than from the Lucida.

And, as others have said, if you have your heart set on a Tiffany. why not downgrade the color and clarity, two areas that will have no real-world impact on the visual performance?

 

[rosy]

By all means get the Tiffany''s! If you''ve been disciplined enough to save for five years than you have been WAITING for it for five years. Your patience must be rewarded. Your mom does have a good point so you should take steps to trim down what you''re spending but still get the beautiful Lucida from Tiffany''s. Go into the store & ask the salesperson to sit down with you & search the computer for a Lucida with a slightly lower color & clarity. I would go E-F & VS1-VS2. You will save TONS of money this way & there will be no discernable difference whatsover in the diamond to the naked eye. The salespeople there will gladly sit down with you at the computer & even pull up the certificates so you can write down the information on it. When you spot one you like they will contact the store that has it & they will ship it over so you can look at it & if you like it you can buy it. Hope this helps.

 

[treysar]

I guess it depends on what tiffany means to you. There are plenty of poeple who would say, "ohhh, you got your ring at tiffany!"

There are also plenty of people who would say, "What a waste of money, she got it at tiffany".

Also, will you be telling everyone that''s where it''s from? Because if your pleasure is telling people what brand it is, and that makes you happy, then you should do it. However, if you''re not one of those people who announec wha they have and where they got it, or if that kind of thing doesn''t mean a lot to you, then I think it''s a waste.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

This is true. They will even print out the certificate for you as a *copy* so that you can look it over. They did this for me in Tampa. The saleslady was very helpful. I agree with Rosy, if you really want the *Lucida* then get the lucida, but there is really no need to get the D VVS1!

 

[solange]

If price is no object and you expect to have a much higher income in the future, perhaps Tiffany is the way to go. However if you are looking in this price range, the Tiffany of now is not the Tiffany of the past. This diamond may be superb but not all their stones excel. There are other more prestigious names such as Harry Winston, Van Cleef, Cartier, etc. You might want to check them out although I know the Lucida is an Tiffany exclusive.

You also might want to check out some of the Pricescope vendors. Most will send a stone to an appraiser near you where you can see it and have it appraised before you pay for it. We are married many years and our children are on their own. My husband wanted to buy me an anniversary ring from one of the more prestigious Fifth Avenue stores. I looked but could not bring myself to spend that much money for something I could get for far less. I bought a stone on line from Whiteflash, lower color and clarity than you are considering but large, excellent cut and gorgeous.There are many other highly regarded vendors such as GOG, Engagement Rings Direct, Nice Ice, etc. And Signed Pieces does get Tiffany rings that are a resale.

I do not know your situation but if you are planning on buying a home and having a family, the money you save now will come in very handy in the future. But if Tiffany is your choice and you both agree that nothing else will be satisfactory, you should go ahead with it no matter what anyone thinks.

 

[reena]

how about the best of both worlds: get an equally gorgeous (if not MORE gorgeous) 2 carat ring from a pricescope vendor or non-brand name local vendor, which you'll be able to do for about half that amount, and save the balance of the money.

or, if you want to spend the whole amount on the ring, then by all means go out and get yourself something utterly traffic-stopping from a non-5th avenue vendor. sorry, but if someone gave me $53k (!!!!) to spend on a ring, you'd better believe i'd come back with something a HELL of a lot bigger than 2 carats.

just my .02--good luck.

 

[youngster]

Many years ago my then boyfriend and I were faced with a somewhat similar dilemma. We had both worked and saved through school and were getting married a year after graduation. We had put aside money for our honeymoon and for a large part of the wedding. We had a nice sum of money left over - about $25,000 I recall. So, my then boyfriend said something like this - "Instead of buying a nice shiny rock, how about we invest the money in the stock market and buy a nice piece of real estate we can live in?" I thought it over, we discussed it, I took a deep breath and we agreed. It turned out to be the best decision we could have ever made. Instead of the diamond, we bought real estate (near the beach, in So Cal, in the early 80''s) and invested in the stock market (again, in the early 80''s). I didn''t get the shiny rock that year but we started off our married life in great financial shape and in complete agreement about our goals.

So, sit down and have a heart to heart with your boyfriend. Talk about your finances and your lifetime goals. Talk about why he wants you to have the Tiffany ring, because its important to him or because he knows that its important to you? Good luck. I''m sure you''ll make the choice that''s right for you both.

 

[michela002]

Wow, that is really sweet that he has been saving for so long for it!!!!!

Don''t get me wrong, I actually really love Tiffany''s, partly because of the whole "experience". However, unless I was marrying a multi-gazillionaire to whom Tiffany''s money was "couch change" I would never buy a diamond from them. It''s just SOO much money!

Here are the some things to consider

1. Will you always be disappointed you didn''t get the Tiffanys? If you will, then go for it. He saved the money for that purpose, so there is nothing wrong with doing it if it means something to you both.

2. How much have you looked elsewhere? Maybe you should consider looking somewhere else, you might find something you love as much for cheaper. it''s easy to get dazzled in Tiffanys and forget there are other diamonds out there. If you like name brand stuff, check out the other famous ones, Cartier, harry Winston etc.

3. Is your boyfriend of the opinion that only Tiffanys carries high-quality diamonds? If so, maybe get him to do some research on pscope or elsewhere, he might reconsider his view and be ok with you not getting a Tiffanys ring. And think of the size diamond you could get by spending all that money elsewhere!! Lol.

4. What else could you do with the money you''d save? Honeymoon, house, wedding, vacation, new furniture, kids college (if you are going to have kids) - its a LOT of money. And like your mom said (much as we never want to admit they''re right) you probably do need to consider having money set aside just in case of job loss, accident ... better to be safe than be forced to sell your ring if something horrbile happens!!!!!!! But hey - if he saved that much for an e-ring maybe money is less of an object and you are all set for things like that. If you are, then it''s really just whether you want the tiffanys or something equivelant.

Basically, you don''t need to buy Tiffanys to buy something stunning. Lots of people on this forum will tell you you can get something MORE beautiful for less money that''s not from tiffanys. Or if you want a name brand check out some of the other famous ones too.

I used to love the Lucida too, but I looked around and my heart is now elsewhere ... give it some time and some thought. Also, consider looking around at other styles and not just trying to get someone to immitate tiffanys - you may find you like another style better than getting something similar and always being reminded that you didn''t get the real one.

It''s up to you and your bf, but your mother has a point ... give it some really serious thought.

Me, personally, I''d buy non-Tiffanys. They''re beautiful, but you get less for your money, and I''m finding I like different styles more, now that I''ve opened my eyes to all the possibilities ...

 

[Sparkster]

Who will be paying for the wedding costs? If it's the parents, then I think that's wrong. To blow $53K on an e-ring and then have the folks pay for the wedding is just plain spoilt as some of that $53K could be used. It's a different story if you and your fiance are paying for the wedding.

Also, that money would go a long way towards your future. Would you rather have a shiny ring on your hand or a downpayment on a house or paying off a huge chunk of a mortgage?

 

[hlmr]

Hi Pink:

I would pass on Tiffany''s and buy a 3+ carat stone of the same quality from an on-line vendor.

You might feel like you could not live without Tiffany''s right now but in ten years time you would probably feel differently and be glad you had kept some extra money for your mortgage, investment or just nest egg purposes.

In the end, you have to do what feels right to you. Just remember what seems most important right now will not necessarily apply down the road.

Heather

 

[sxn675]

Date: 11/14/2004 6:11:19 PM
Author: reena
how about the best of both worlds: get an equally gorgeous (if not MORE gorgeous) 2 carat ring from a pricescope vendor or non-brand name local vendor, which you'll be able to do for about half that amount, and save the balance of the money.


or, if you want to spend the whole amount on the ring, then by all means go out and get yourself something utterly traffic-stopping from a non-5th avenue vendor. sorry, but if someone gave me $53k (!!!!) to spend on a ring, you'd better believe i'd come back with something a HELL of a lot bigger than 2 carats.


just my .02--good luck.

I agree with Reena about what I'd do (probably the first one, but if I was going to spend all the money, I'd want a 2 carat ring, studs and a pendant!). But, sit down with your boyfriend and talk about it. It might just be that he wants the best for you and he thinks that Tiffany's is the best. My husband felt that way and was going to go into debt to purchase me a ring from Tiffany's or Cartier. I convinced him not to go into debt for my ring and told him that I wanted something beautiful, but I wasn't concerned about the brand (I can't tell from your post how you feel about that). I wound up with a smaller ring (the Cartier lookalike from Whiteflash). But we also put more than 20% down on our house. At the time, I was a hospital executive, but because we put so much down on our house, our mortgage was manageable enough that I could quit my job and go back to school for my Ph.D. (and I was making way more money than him!). Since you're going to get married, this is one of many big financial decisions that you will be making together, so it's good to get in the habit of talking about things. Think about your short and long term goals and contingency plans in case something happens to either one of you. Good luck to you, and please keep us posted on what you decide!

 

[Allisonfaye]

If you ask me, I personally thing there are other stones that are prettier (and cheaper). I just got a regent cut from GOG that is stunning. I would suggest you take a look at some alternatives before making your decision. Once you have done so, you can decide if paying a premium for the Tiffany name is worth it to you.

 

[bichon]

Pink,

Congratulations on your engagement! You''re a lucky lady to have such a disciplined boyfriend who saved a significant amount of money to get you a Tiffany ring!

Everyone on this post has given you some "food for thought" so I won''t add further to their kind words of wisdom. As  suggested, I don''t think there''s anything wrong with buying a Tiffany ring (or any ring for such a high $$$ value) ... as long as you have considered your current and future financial situation. One thing, however, that you may wish to consider is that people including yourself will always be "wowed" by a gorgeous diamond regardless of name brand and size. My 1.2RB, VS1, D colour, EX/EX, Hearts & Arrow, Tiffany-like 6-prong setting, draws a lot of attention because it SPARKLES and FLASHES like crazy. When I first got the ring, I was actually kind of embarrassed to wear it out in public because I was self-conscious AND people would stare at my finger ... and it was nowhere near a 2 carat!

Good luck in making the right decision for YOU and your fiance!

 

[diane5006]

I don''t usually chime in on these threads...but here are my thoughts...why don''t you and your BF look together at different options (size shape setting vendor)...as well as the Lucida...and decide together which one you want...If you still want the Lucida then get it...but then you will at least know you looked at other choices.

 

[LuvthatSparkle]

After all the cents......here''s mine

Everyone made some really great points, there are many options to consider and how rare and wonderful is a Tiffany Lucida anyway. For 1/2 the cost you could get a custom made ring and never see it on another hand but yours. When my BF and I were shopping "TIME" was a huge consideration........ it took your BF "5 YEARS" to save that money, that''s alot of time out of your lives. How long will it take to save for a wedding, a house, another "5 YEARS". An elegant wedding can easily cost $30,000, down payment for a home another $30,000. My BF and I have a 6mo budget frankly it''s all the time we can spare!

 

[RN18]

I have to agree with many others here. I think you can find a beautiful ring, same size, design and quality without spending such a huge amount of money. I have also heard MANY stories of very poor service with Tiffanys which is also something to consider. Is that blue box really worth it? I don''t think so...besides Mom really does know best!