Brand or No Brand

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#47
nld in nyc said:
Really? Were those jewelers HW & Cartier? =)

I am genuinely curious about this. I could be mistaken but when I shopped around (after the fact)- I think we paid a several thousand dollar markup for the Tiffany name.
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I live in Singapore and here, Cartier prices are almost on par with Tiffany for similar diamond specifications.

And when I compare Tiffany to local jewellers, the prices are almost the same.
And their platiumn settings aren't as good as Tiffany. The only thing that makes local jewellers cheaper is that they seem to be always having sales.
 
#48
Contessa said:
I really think many of us spend so much time worrying about whether we have the "right" ring....bigger, smaller, brand, no brand.....that we lose sight of what's fun.....like enjoying the ring!!!!!!
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Exactly! Enjoy the ring and what it represents. :smile1:

Some people just don't understand what the difference is between cost and worth. It's in your opinion what you and your fiance want, how much money to spend on it, what you value, not what other people value. Eveyone values different things differently. A burger ring would have served the same purpose. :p

No matter how much a ring, branded or non-branded, if you have your heart set on it, even if it cost 10x more and you can afford it, you'll still get it because that is what you want, can afford and what you value. Spending much much less on something you don't adore wouldn't make you happy but a waste of money to be spent on something you don't fancy.

At the end of the day, a friend should just be happy for you and with you. Cost of the ring should not bother anyone else.

Just my 2 cents :)
 
#49
Hi marialc,

Just saw this thread. I agree..your friends must be jealous. If my DH could afford a HW and we both loved the ring, why not go branded? What's most important is both of you are happy with the ring - it doesn't matter what anyone thinks! HW does have impeccable workmanship for their settings...even Britney Spear's ring designer can't mimic a HW's setting exactly.

I saw a glimpse of what your ring must look like in person - of course yours is bigger and the so much better in quality compared to the one featured here. But this youtube video did make my eyes water! Your ring must look incredible in person!!

http://rockdiamond.com/index.php/je...emerald-cut-in-18kt-hand-made-18kt-halo-r3431

You are just so lucky :smile1: and blessed!
 
#50
eye candy said:
Hi marialc,

Just saw this thread. I agree..your friends must be jealous. If my DH could afford a HW and we both loved the ring, why not go branded? What's most important is both of you are happy with the ring - it doesn't matter what anyone thinks! HW does have impeccable workmanship for their settings...even Britney Spear's ring designer can't mimic a HW's setting exactly.

I saw a glimpse of what your ring must look like in person - of course yours is bigger and the so much better in quality compared to the one featured here. But this youtube video did make my eyes water! Your ring must look incredible in person!!

http://rockdiamond.com/index.php/je...emerald-cut-in-18kt-hand-made-18kt-halo-r3431

You are just so lucky :smile1: and blessed!
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I think everyone has their own reasons and criteria on purchasing an e-ring and like you said, it doesn't matter what other's think because at the end of the day, I will be the one wearing the ring. I just wished that people can be happy for me instead of being so negative. That's why I love TPF because there is always a positive vibe here. :happydance:


Thanks for the video as well. The ring is gorgeous! :drool:
 
#51
for an e-ring, it's not so critical because the diamond quality is usually the most critical factor. and for something like a solitaire, you can't really tell by looking at it if it's Tifanny or Cartier or James Allen or Brilliant Earth or Sears or whatever.

but if the design is exceptional, than i'd go with a brand. like alex wu or something, you can really see the original design. but most e-rings don't stand out in terms of design or originality. so why bother with a brand if the design isn't knockout?
 
#52
I wish wish wish my BF had gone no-brand. He had a small budget and went Tiffany solitaire. If I had been a Tiffany-lover, that would have been great, but I had never seen or considered Tiffany or even been interested in the brand. He impressed plenty of other people, but not me with the brand name! I would have been impressed by a bigger size (for the same price), OR something unique/different like a pave band or a thick band. Yes, I know, materialistic. I give up, yes I am! Clothes/handbags/shoes I love my brands so I can see why he thought to go that way with jewellery, but even so I tend to love brands that are in my price bracket, and the brands I can't afford I don't tend to lust after.
 
#53
Bentley1 said:
ETA: I'm curious as to why in general it seems to be ok for ladies with branded rings to be questioned about their choice, but it's distasteful to question someone with a non-branded ring and suggest that they should of gone with Tiffany, Cartier, HW instead.
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It is not my intention to be contrary, but I think tasteful/distasteful depends on one's circles and/or public interactions. Not only are my engagement and wedding rings unbranded, but they are very unusual. I've been harassed by so many complete strangers about what's on my finger. None of them seem to be aware it might be rude to argue that I can't be married with what I have on my hand. Anyhoo, I pay attention to those who like my set (and lots of people do).

Regarding the original question, I don't believe in buying things just because they are a brand, but I don't believe one must avoid things just because they are a brand. Personally, I think one has the right to like what she likes. I wouldn't recommend chasing a brand, but I think a person has the right to like things from a brand. I like unbranded and highly unique, but I've loved some things that are branded and more widely available. I guess it depends both on the person and the object. (Though, I'm always a sucker for a good deal...)
 
#54
skphotoimages said:
Ugg.. I HATE the "they must be jealous" response. Let me tell you, I have probably in my younger years commented about how much better you could get unbranded. Was I jealous? Absolutely not. It's just how I was raised. I never had name brand things EVER. My first branded purse/jewelry was probably in my late 20's. To me better was, and still is, the objects qualities itself...not the stamp on it OR where i bought it. But that's just my opinion. As I've matured I've come to recognize the worth and value of other people's opinions. I would never make a comment like your friends did anymore, but thats because I realize to other people the NAME does factor in to the objects quality and value. To each their own.
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Well said. :smile1:
 
#55
lilmountaingirl said:
I'm a lover of quality and uniqueness. I would much prefer a 1 ct excellent stone over a 1 1/2 ct good stone. I'm also a lover of timeless brands. So i would prefer HW over no names. But for me i'm realizing it comes down to overall beauty.

My situation is different. I wanted a sapphire but we soon realized that quality sapphires are harder to find than quality diamonds. So my hubby bought me a diamond "placer" ring. We finally found a quality sapphire that i will get for my 3 year anniversary in the fall, but it has been very difficult finding a setting i like. I have searched brand, no brand, everywhere. A lot of "brands" won't put what they consider "foreign" stones in their settings even though i would love a branded setting. And those brands don't really deal in sapphires. So I had finally settled on a Tacori setting, which i have heard of but know nothing about. So i don't know if it is high end, medium end, low end, i just recognize the name. But the other day i saw a no name setting that was so unique i had to have it. And it was more than the price of the Tacori. So this experience has really turned around my stigmas and has shown me that it is just the big picture... And just what makes us happy. Our rings should just say something about ourselves, whether they are branded or not.
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I like the end of this.
(Don't worry, I'll shut up soon.)
I forgot to say anything about size. I love delicate jewelry and have particular tastes. In my case, personally, I prefer to find the thing that is what I love than be affected by size or cachet. That's just me. :smile1:
 
#56
Eilonwy555 said:
I wish wish wish my BF had gone no-brand. He had a small budget and went Tiffany solitaire. If I had been a Tiffany-lover, that would have been great, but I had never seen or considered Tiffany or even been interested in the brand. He impressed plenty of other people, but not me with the brand name! I would have been impressed by a bigger size (for the same price), OR something unique/different like a pave band or a thick band. Yes, I know, materialistic. I give up, yes I am! Clothes/handbags/shoes I love my brands so I can see why he thought to go that way with jewellery, but even so I tend to love brands that are in my price bracket, and the brands I can't afford I don't tend to lust after.
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I don't think you're being materialistic at all. An e-ring is a very important and personal thing. You will most likely be wearing your e-ring every single day of your life--if not for the rest of your life (if you choose to upgrade at a later point), then at least for a long time to come. I can totally understand your wanting it to reflect your tastes and wanting to love it more than you do. Maybe you can talk to him about it honestly and openly and return it/trade it in and look for a new ring together...? I know some women worry about hurting their fiance's feelings by rejecting the ring he chose as the symbol of his love. But I think an e-ring is not just a piece of jewelry he gives you, it really becomes like a part of you over time, and it makes sense for you to be involved in the process of choosing it. I know most romantic movies would say I'm wrong though...haha!
 
#57
puppynapper, thank you for the kind words - unfortunately, I stalled too long trying to like the ring and it was all too late to switch it! Certainly hubby-to-be definitely knows how I feel now, and an upgrade or "side-grade" will definitely be in the future. I now consider it my personal responsibility to make sure other men know how important it is that they give their women a ring she loves, and that having something on their hand that they love for the rest of their life far outweighs the element of surprise! (it also works out a lot cheaper in the long run!) Some people definitely think I'm materialistic... but I'd rather tell people so other women don't have to feel like I did/do :(
 
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