$20,000 Decision...Please help!

[court811]

it's TOTALLY not worth it for Tiffany, and I love Tiffany.

I wanted a Lucida e ring, but when we went and looked the prices were ridiculous for what it was, we ended up going to a great local jeweler, and I got a radiant cut, better quality, cut and price, and a half ct bigger than at Tiffany and for $3.5K less.

Tiffany is great, but you can special order and have something designed at any great custom jeweler.

save your money

my custom jeweler also cleans it whenever I want for free, checks the setting, does the appraisals every year (The man who invented the radiant cut cut my stone and he died 3 months later, my ring has appreciated over 30%), I feel the service is great!

[courtneyh]

Originally Posted by sputnik

i think tiffany's overcharges and you're paying for the name. i agree with kasumi, buy a loose diamond and choose your own setting. and if you really like the tiffany setting, you can get a jeweler to copy it. you'll get a bigger diamond and the same quality for a lower price.

i agree 100 percent...my boyfriend and i went into tiffanys and tried on so many rings and i feel in LOVE with a couple but i just cant justify spending that kinda money just because its "tiffanys" we went to this great jeweler in our area and found beautiful rings for great prices....i would shop around!!!!!

[tweetie]

Originally Posted by sputnik

whether you have the money or not, you're still paying extra for the name. ... you can get the exact same quality for less money. i guess for some people the brand is important as a status symbol and they need that extra validation, and they're willing to pay for it.

That can be said about almost anything designer - is Chanel or Hermes REALLY that much better than a handmade non-designer bag? Like thousands better? Probably not. So of course people are paying for the name.

I disagree about the status symbol with a Tiffany e-ring - unless you're extremely familiar with the design or are one of my friends, you wouldn't know my ring is Tiffany. It's not a status symbol - to me, Tiffany is the classic e-ring. Same with the reason I chose to get married in Vera Wang, since she symbolizes the classic bride to me.

I think someone who buys only logo'ed LV/Coach/Gucci is in fact looking more for status far more than someone who chose a Tiffany ring. Just my opinion.

[court811]

Originally Posted by tweetie

That can be said about almost anything designer - is Chanel or Hermes REALLY that much better than a handmade non-designer bag? Like thousands better? Probably not. So of course people are paying for the name. I disagree about the status symbol with a Tiffany e-ring - unless you're extremely familiar with the design or are one of my friends, you wouldn't know my ring is Tiffany. It's not a status symbol - to me, Tiffany is the classic e-ring. Same with the reason I chose to get married in Vera Wang, since she symbolizes the classic bride to me. I think someone who buys only logo'ed LV/Coach/Gucci is in fact looking more for status far more than someone who chose a Tiffany ring. Just my opinion.

ITA. I think that purses are MUCH more easily recognized than a brand on your e ring unless someone reeallllllly knows their e rings, its not like by buying at a local custom jeweler you're buying a fake ering like a fake bag KWIM?

[spacytracy]

IMO, Tiffany is overpriced.........beautiful but VERY OVERPRICED. I agree about getting the stone first then picking your setting. I see you live in California, have you tried going to a Robbins Bros. My BFF has a TDF ring that they bought there and it's so pretty.

DH bought me a ring from Nordstroms (yes they carry beautiful rings - all my diamonds are Kwiats - except for my engagement ring - which is a big name for diamonds - stars wear it on the red carpet), it's a VVS1 (which is close to flawless), color F and it is just barely over .5 carats which is ok sized on my fingers (although for our 10 year I want a bigger diamond - 3 more years!) but it radiates and sparkles like you wouldn't believe. He bought it 7 years ago and it was a little over $4,000.

I would def go for CLARITY over brand name or size any day! I have other friends who have diamonds with so many inclusions in them it seems pointless to have bought it.

You could prob get a beautiful ring for about $8,000 and keep the rest for your wedding, a fab honeymoon or to go towards a deposit on your new home or to furnish your new home. Either way, it really is your choice. Don't make a rash decision though. Oh and whatever you do.......as soon as you pick that baby up.........GET IT INSURED!!!

My sister's SIL just lost her 6 carat diamond while skiing and it wasn't insured!! There goes about $40,000 down the drain!!

http://kwiat.com/

this is my right hand ring (but mine is platinum):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2879128/...bo=6005505&P=1

my earrings:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2905157?...=searchresults

and the good thing about buying from Nordstrom is that when we want to upgrade my main ring, we can take it back to them and they will give us in FULL the price we paid for it towards the purchase of a bigger diamond. Most places just give you back half or less than half of what you paid if they even take it back at all.

[luckycharm06]

^^ holy moly...she lost a 6 carat ring?? that is awful...

Well, just an update for everyone: we called our SA from Tiffany's and told her that we decided on a different stone...she was completely understanding, and said if we ever wanted to come back for our wedding bands, a right hand ring, or an upgrade one day, don't hesitate to call. that is why I absolutely adore T&CO...the customer service is unmatched!

Thanks for everyone's input!

[lorihmatthews]

Originally Posted by spacytracy

I would def go for CLARITY over brand name or size any day! I have other friends who have diamonds with so many inclusions in them it seems pointless to have bought it. Oh and whatever you do.......as soon as you pick that baby up.........GET IT INSURED!!!

ITA with both these points. My ring is a VVS1 clarity and it allegedly has one pinprick flaw, which we have never been able to find. If need be you can come down the scale a bit for things like color and it will be fine if your clarity is great.

And definitely get it insured. I wore my ring for almost 2 weeks before it was insured and I almost had a heart attack. Your insurance company will need the store appraisal, so make sure you get a copy as soon as possible.

[spacytracy]

oh and I just remember what the brand name of my e-ring is...........DUH!

It's a Lazare Kaplan who is the guy that made the "ideal cut" name. There is a serial number etched into the side of the stone that you need one of those microscope thingies to see.

http://www.lazarediamonds.com/

ok just got out the receipt/appraisial for mine and it says it's a tiffany mounting 6 prong w/knife edge band. Single round brilliant diamond "ideal cut" w/lazer inscription on girdle.

Oh and it's an I color not F as stated above, VVS1 and .58 carats

It was $4072 but DH worked at Nordies at the time and got a 33% discount, so it only cost him $2729 but it's insured for the full price of $4072

[mozzarella]

I would definetly try to get a bigger diamond from a no-name jewler for the same price. BUT it's not like a stupid rock is in any way representative of your relationship. Bigger or smaller, it really doesn't matter. If you know you will feel more special, or it's been your dream all along, get a Tiffany one. We are all suckers for the brand, the dream, the feeling...

[shani]

Yes, it's expensive, but you said you yourself, you love it. I say, go for the Tiffany's ring.

[La Vanguardia]

Everything is worth it if you are in love with it and can't get it out of your head. You have to think that if you buy a non-Tiffany ring, would you be content with it or would the thought of a Tiffany keep popping up your head?

I'm also currently undergoing the same dilemma. I'm thinking of getting a tennis bracelet and I'm still unsure whether to get brand or non brand. I'm now trying out different designs and styles and getting price comparisons between my local jeweler and brand ones. I'll just have to see with which one I fall in love with.

One thing is for sure though that if I end up not getting a brand one, I would go for a custom made so then it really has all my specifications and I know I will be content with it.

[desirusso]

I LOVE tiffanys but I refuse to have a diamond from there when I have a close friend that's a jeweler and can get me a very nice diamond for a lot less.... If you know someone check around and see what you can get. I know it 's not a tiffany diamond but you can add more diamonds to the ring or the band for what you will pay for just the one stone.....

[jeslyn]

I would go for Tiffany's anyday. Tiffany and their little blue box and superb service, the whole image and what it symbolize is just so divine.

But to each of his own, it ultimately is what you can afford and fall in love with.

[Couturegrl]

Originally Posted by mozzarella

I would definetly try to get a bigger diamond from a no-name jewler for the same price. BUT it's not like a stupid rock is in any way representative of your relationship. Bigger or smaller, it really doesn't matter. If you know you will feel more special, or it's been your dream all along, get a Tiffany one. We are all suckers for the brand, the dream, the feeling...

Well said!

[risingsun]

Originally Posted by snoozle

Go to www.pricescope.com and go look at diamonds there. They will help you. If you want to pay for the Tiffany name than I guess it is worth it but if you don't there are lots of other places to buy round brilliant stones. I bought mine from goodoldgold.

I bought a fabulous diamond from Whiteflash. They have their own brand of "super ideal" diamond called A Cut Above, which is comparable to Hearts On Fire. I agree with the above poster. Go over to PS. The members are friendly and will give you good feedback about looking for a stone One of the most important things I learned about diamonds, is the cut makes the biggest difference in the performance of the stone. A well cut GIA ex/ex/ex or and AGS 0/0/0 will give you a stunning diamond