BRILLIANT post about Tiffany diamonds by Todd from Nice Ice

[skyqueen]

Thank you everyone for the information. I used to think that if I am buying Tiffany then I can just buy online without seeing the stones first. I also tend to think that once the numbers look good, I am also safe to buy the stone sight unseen. Now I have second though. However, since I am a diamond newbie, I still have a question. If the numbers look good or close to good and I have no chance to see the stone, should I still make the purchase? Or I should always buy the stones that I can see first?

I am sorry if the question sounds stupid. Any input is appreciated.

Not stupid at all.
While several members have bought gorgeous diamonds online, with all the certificates intact, and love them...I am old fashioned and have to see a diamond in person. Must be the diamond "singing to me" factor. There will always be something wonderful about one particular stone that tells you...this is the ONE!
I am always suspicious of companies/jewelers that can't seem to get a few diamonds in for you to see in person.

 

[cupcake34]

I'm also wondering about that. I'm interesting in purchasing a diamond online (perhaps from Tiffany's online store) and wonder if I will love it if the specs are good.

I also think it's best to see diamonds in person but then again, store lighting is also very deceptive.

If I get a diamond, see it and love it, would I need to compare it to another one?

 

[FloridaGirl18]

I really enjoyed the article Ame, thank you for posting!

 

[LeeMiller]

Yay, good ol' Tiffany bashing. It's been a while since we've had a dedicated thread to mocking them. Well done!

+1

I love my Tiffany ring and my vintage old European cut diamond earrings (non-branded) Never ran the numbers just trusted my eyes.

 

[LeeMiller]

He better...we looked at inventory a few weeks ago and everything they "offered" was cut quite deep. And to boot .98 ct I VS2 was 10,500... It was XXX and depth was 62.8... I was trying to look at the rest of the numbers but the SA told me that "no one really looks at those numbers, people just care that its XXX"... I do! I care! Lol!!!! I want at least a well cut diamond if he's paying out the butt for .98ct!!! Lol. I went home and sent him a link with an ACA diamond and the vatche u113 that came in 2k under budget, but he is stuck on Tiffany's! Don't get me wrong...I am a total tiffany fanatic...but I want a really well cut diamond. I still plan on getting a tiff wb regardless of the brand of the e ring.

Interesting. My husband wanted to purchase a Tiffany ring, so I found a great deal on one second hand. It wouldn't have occurred to me to argue about his gift.

 

[firstaid]

Thank you for posting the article, I wonder what the ideal specs are for cushion cut, because I think that is what my engagement ring main stone will be.

 

[ame]

Thank you everyone for the information. I used to think that if I am buying Tiffany then I can just buy online without seeing the stones first. I also tend to think that once the numbers look good, I am also safe to buy the stone sight unseen. Now I have second though. However, since I am a diamond newbie, I still have a question. If the numbers look good or close to good and I have no chance to see the stone, should I still make the purchase? Or I should always buy the stones that I can see first?

I am sorry if the question sounds stupid. Any input is appreciated.

Not stupid at all. In those cases, I'd only buy it if the vendor you're buying from allows for a full refund on a return (NOT CREDIT, NOT RESTOCKING) when you get it and if you don't love it, and has it in writing on their site. But other than blue nile, there are other online vendors that DO provide actual images of the diamonds they are selling. Good Old Gold, Brian Gavin Diamonds, James Allen...they give you the ACTUAL diamond in those images, and any testing they've run as well.

I'm also wondering about that. I'm interesting in purchasing a diamond online (perhaps from Tiffany's online store) and wonder if I will love it if the specs are good.

I also think it's best to see diamonds in person but then again, store lighting is also very deceptive.

If I get a diamond, see it and love it, would I need to compare it to another one?

IF you love it, you don't really need to compare it to another one, bec you could be comparing stones til you die. But natural light is a great viewing instrument. Jewelers of all ilks use pretty insane lighting in the stores. Going by a window should help get some natural light onto it and avoid a little of the spotlighting.

Thank you for posting the article, I wonder what the ideal specs are for cushion cut, because I think that is what my engagement ring main stone will be.

There really aren't any set ideal specs for cushions. They're kinda working that out as they go. The AGS has graded a few variants as Ideal recently, notably a Brellia(sp) and the August Vintage Cushion by Good Old Gold. The Ideal notation is based on light return. I believe the Brellia is a modern style cushion with an H&A style cutting. I know GOG also sells those, but the AVC is GOG's actual creation. There are different styles of cushions out there, antique style and modern style. First you have to figure out which style you want and go from there. Those are definitely a buy-with-your-eyes stone.

 

[cupcake34]

IF you love it, you don't really need to compare it to another one, bec you could be comparing stones til you die. But natural light is a great viewing instrument. Jewelers of all ilks use pretty insane lighting in the stores. Going by a window should help get some natural light onto it and avoid a little of the spotlighting.

That's good to know.

I know that sounds rather strange but I somehow prefer to view my rings at home than in a store. Even if I can go to a window there, how will I know if it's "good" or "bad" light? In my home I know where my jewelry looks best and where not - this may help to decide if the diamond's a winner or not?

 

[lanasyogamama]

I've never shopped for a diamond at Tiffany's, but it seems like they are trying to hang on to a sales model that worked well before the internet era, where they can claim that Tiffany diamonds are superior, and you'd be unlikely to find such a good diamond elsewhere.

Now a days there is so much information available, and people are accustomed to using that data to help inform their decision, especially on a big purchase like this, that using any language about it not being important is not going to be acceptable.

It does seem that while they will eventually hand over data, it is never immediately available, like you can get at other jewelers.

 

[ame]

That's good to know.

I know that sounds rather strange but I somehow prefer to view my rings at home than in a store. Even if I can go to a window there, how will I know if it's "good" or "bad" light? In my home I know where my jewelry looks best and where not - this may help to decide if the diamond's a winner or not?

Maybe but even the best cut stones will not look amazing in every lighting situation.

 

[ame]

I've never shopped for a diamond at Tiffany's, but it seems like they are trying to hang on to a sales model that worked well before the internet era, where they can claim that Tiffany diamonds are superior, and you'd be unlikely to find such a good diamond elsewhere.

Now a days there is so much information available, and people are accustomed to using that data to help inform their decision, especially on a big purchase like this, that using any language about it not being important is not going to be acceptable.

It does seem that while they will eventually hand over data, it is never immediately available, like you can get at other jewelers.

It's not just Tiffany that is hangin on to that. A LOT of the brick and mortars are like that still. They don't want to compete with the Internet and they don't want to deal with someone educated. I think the shroud of secrecy is just dangerous. Anywhere.

Anecdote:
There's actually a jeweler here that I stopped in with a friend who wanted a reset that has a giant poster on their wall about "Internet diamonds" and how it's a scam and how they're inferior. The owner kept talking to me about mine, I think to run interference while his SA was on my friend, and he asking me a lot of questions about where I got my stone, after I displayed far too much knowledge for his comfort level, telling my friend to ask about the melee size and quality before buying anything. I answered "online from an AMAZING vendor who uses ASETs, Firescopes, Idealscopes and an ISee2." Not one of which he knew about. After I explained what a few were, namely the ASET, he said "you need a diamond tester too bec I bet that's a cz and you got ripped off! Should've come here!" I snapped my head up and said "one, I've been thru GIA, just like your little cert on the wall says, so I can identify the crystal structure just fine without a tester, and two the internet vendors I frequent don't sell CZs! You didn't listen to a word I just said because based on your little framed tirade you don't want to know what your competition has on you. And that attitude is gonna put you out of business early." He asked us to leave if we weren't making a purchase. My friend was mortified but guess where she bought her next diamond: not that guy! He has sold and made some nice things, but that attitude is going to kill him in the end. At least Tiffany's and Cartier have started to allow for the internet a little bit, at least selling that way. I don't know that you'll get that much more data, but it's a start.

 

[vintagefinds]

Interesting. My husband wanted to purchase a Tiffany ring, so I found a great deal on one second hand. It wouldn't have occurred to me to argue about his gift.

She has an opinion about her engagement ring. It's not unusual or ungrateful.

 

[vintagefinds]

I liked the article, but I don't think Tiffany is necessarily appealing the consumer who wants the pavilion angle and table in a certain range, or even cares about these things at all. Tiffany emphasized color and clarity because that's what their customers perceive as quality, and in that sense they are assured a quality diamond. They are not so much lying about the quality of their diamonds, but using different markers, which to focus on the 4Cs instead of the more technical aspects. Tiffany is offering the experience where a diamond-clueless man or couple can walk in and be more or less guaranteed a beautiful diamond with a brand name attached to it that's significant to them. No worry of getting scammed or shoddy workmanship. I think the experience and piece of mind they offer is perhaps as important to customers than the actual ring.

 

[cupcake34]

Maybe but even the best cut stones will not look amazing in every lighting situation.

True, but I know where my jewelry looks better and worse.

Do you think it is possible to see if a diamond is great even when you don't have another one to compare?

 

[ame]

I liked the article, but *I don't think Tiffany is necessarily appealing the consumer who wants the pavilion angle and table in a certain range, or even cares about these things at all. Tiffany emphasized color and clarity because that's what their customers perceive as quality, and in that sense they are assured a quality diamond. ** They are not so much lying about the quality of their diamonds, but using different markers, which to focus on the 4Cs instead of the more technical aspects. Tiffany is offering the experience where a diamond-clueless man or couple can walk in and be more or less guaranteed a beautiful diamond with a brand name attached to it that's significant to them. No worry of getting scammed or shoddy workmanship. I think the experience and piece of mind they offer is perhaps as important to customers than the actual ring.

*You are correct on that first point for sure. And on your last points. Their ideal customer is someone wanting the customer who is necessarily informed, but someone who wants the brand, and the convenience and perceived comfort of walking in, saying I want that one and walking out feeling like their money got spent well. And there's nothing wrong with that. But if someone goes in and asks the "hard questions", they have to have a better response than was illustrated in the article, and has been illustrated in many anecdotal experiences.

**I'd liken it to a "lie of omission", if you will. Not so much a lie, but omitting pertinent data to make a truly informed decision, and in some cases using emotion to conceal that. Cut IS a C in those 4 C's. They're just opting to focus on the other three as their value markers, vs the most important C in a diamond's value and what determines its make and where the sparkle actually comes from. Color, Clarity and Carat are not what make a diamond sparkle, that is CUT. And CUT in the 4Cs is not the shape, that's the cut quality: angles and proportions.

True, but I know where my jewelry looks better and worse.

Do you think it is possible to see if a diamond is great even when you don't have another one to compare?

Yes.