Help me choose Tiffany e-ring!

[chuchumom]

Long time lurker and love this forum! Long story short, I've been married for 4 years now, and finally fee right to buy a diamond ring. I've asked my SAs to send me options of 2ct, G, VS2 rings with HCA scores under 2. And she comes back with these two.


Option1: 2ct; HCA 1.8
OPtion2: 2.11ct; HCA 1.6 ($3500 more)


Option 3: I am also considering a pre-owned one with much better specs E/F with similar price point.


Which one should I go for?


Sorry have to rush to work now but would love to hear from you ladies!

 

[ame]

None of the above. Keep looking. Cut quality isn't great on any of them and you don't have a cert for one of them. Find my cheat sheet for the specs to keep it in and do NOT veer outside of the specific ranges.

Color and clarity aren't the issue here. It's all cut quality. Don't buy what won't return light or sparkle properly.

 

[chuchumom]

None of the above. Keep looking. Cut quality isn't great on any of them and you don't have a cert for one of them. Find my cheat sheet for the specs to keep it in and do NOT veer outside of the specific ranges.

Color and clarity aren't the issue here. It's all cut quality. Don't buy what won't return light or sparkle properly.

Thank you so much Ame! I know you are very knowledgeable in diamond on this forum! Thank you for taking your time to answer.


I am a little confused. I thought by only looking at HCA < 2 will automatically eliminate the bad ones. Should I ask my SA only go by the cheat sheet, or should be by both - cheat sheet and HCA less than 2? Maybe following the cheat sheet will automatically take care of HCA <2, but not the other way?


Sorry for my ignorance. My SA told me she has already spent a lot of time checking the whole inventory but only comes back with these two options. She might not be happy that I will ask her to check something else again. But I know by spending this much money, I should get what I want. She at the beginning insisted that all Tiffany diamonds are well cut, and they are all under score 2 automatically without checking. I know that's not true!

 

[ame]

Yea she's full of it. Tiffany diamonds are not all well cut, in fact the majority are poorly cut as she's probably discovering going through their selection. If they were, they'd all fall in my cheat sheet and she wouldn't have to weed through their inventory so hard.

They do not select stones for cut quality. That is not their priority. They select them for an combination of color and clarity and general salability and cut quality is kind of a third factor that comes in. Their priority is overall "will this sell". Most of their clientele are not concerned about cut quality; they want to know the color and clarity, the size and the price.

This isn't going to be a fast process. It is going to take patience on both ends.

I don't often use the HCA, to be clear. I rely on numbers. I only run HCA on stones after I've seen all the numbers on stones. And sometimes (gasp!) I don't even bother with an HCA. The HCA is not going to be an end all be all tool to guarantee they're well cut. Even the man that developed it says that. It's just a tool to help weed stones out and give them more of a look when there isn't much data to go on photo wise. But if they're not falling in my cheat sheet, just because they have a good HCA doesn't guarantee anything. There are plenty of stones that get a good HCA score that are dogs, have huge tables or are steep deeps, and plenty of stones that fall just outside of a 0-2 range on the HCA that are stunners. It's not the final decider.

That is why I give the cheat sheet numbers, to make sure you keep those numbers in mind when you're looking, THEN put those numbers in. Some numbers within those ranges don't all work together. Some CAs and PAs aren't going to line up. I don't love a 55% table with a 62% depth.

 

[chuchumom]

I passed on the cheat sheet numbers to my SA, at the beginning she seems so supportive. She even said she will contact the buyer in NewYork to look for the ring that fall into the range. Then 1 hr later, she called me back, mentioned that the director from the store looked at the 2.11ct one, so amazing the ring, the table size is right on, no problem with the depth at all, and tripe excellent really hard to find blah blah, that I should just buy it right now. What crap is that, totally pissed me off.

 

[chuchumom]

Sorry for the rant. I had to let it out.


Ame, thank you so much for your explanations and help! My understand about the 2.11ct one is because it's too deep, and the carat weight goes to bottom and the girdle correct?


OK, will see what my SA comes back with.

 

[ame]

I don't blame you at all!!!

Wow. You should just buy it? Because some sales director who isn't versed in cut and wants to make numbers said so? This is one of many reason I'm not a fan of theirs. They play emotions and aren't educated enough in what they're actually selling.

If they want a sale they should be working for you, meeting your needs. I'd be firing that store so damn fast.

 

[ame]

Is having the brand vital for you? Like you must have it? I can help you find a ring that looks like a Tiffany real deal and then you can always get a Tiffany branded band.

 

[icydipndots]

I passed on the cheat sheet numbers to my SA, at the beginning she seems so supportive. She even said she will contact the buyer in NewYork to look for the ring that fall into the range. Then 1 hr later, she called me back, mentioned that the director from the store looked at the 2.11ct one, so amazing the ring, the table size is right on, no problem with the depth at all, and tripe excellent really hard to find blah blah, that I should just buy it right now. What crap is that, totally pissed me off.

Hi!! Ame has helped me find my perfect upgraded diamond, and I definitely suggest you stick to your guns, and go by her cheat sheet. Do NOT let them bully you. Where do you live? Do you have another store to go to as an option? I had two SA's at two locations who were rude about the cheat sheet, saying all the same things they said to you "Tiffany's is the best... blah blah blah", and trying to make me seem uneducated about the diamond cutting process, that I didn't know as much as them. So I went to another location where the SA didn't even bat an eye at my request, and just did what I asked, and I got the diamond that I wanted. I live in Miami, so I literally have five stores to chose from, which makes it easy for me to just walk out and not do business with a store with a bad attitude. If you live in a big city, I suggest going to another store with a better SA.

My new upgraded ring should be coming in friday and I'll do a post on the whole upgrade and diamond selecting experience!

 

[chuchumom]

Is having the brand vital for you? Like you must have it? I can help you find a ring that looks like a Tiffany real deal and then you can always get a Tiffany branded band.

I am also open to non-brand, but don't know where to start. I am also worried the diamond gets switched etc. I understand there are pros and cons either way. I have the Tiffany shared setting eternity band already. I'd love to hear what other options would be from you!


Do you know if Tiffany branded diamond will be appraised more than non-branded one? Are they are equally treated based on diamond quality?

 

[chuchumom]

Hi!! Ame has helped me find my perfect upgraded diamond, and I definitely suggest you stick to your guns, and go by her cheat sheet. Do NOT let them bully you. Where do you live? Do you have another store to go to as an option? I had two SA's at two locations who were rude about the cheat sheet, saying all the same things they said to you "Tiffany's is the best... blah blah blah", and trying to make me seem uneducated about the diamond cutting process, that I didn't know as much as them. So I went to another location where the SA didn't even bat an eye at my request, and just did what I asked, and I got the diamond that I wanted. I live in Miami, so I literally have five stores to chose from, which makes it easy for me to just walk out and not do business with a store with a bad attitude. If you live in a big city, I suggest going to another store with a better SA.

My new upgraded ring should be coming in friday and I'll do a post on the whole upgrade and diamond selecting experience!

Hi!!! Congrats to your upgrade!!! Cannot wait for your big review! May I ask how long it took you to find your perfect diamond from Tiffany? I do have multiple Tiffany stores by me that I can go. I just need to work with one that is patient enough with me until I find that perfect one.


Really cannot wait for your big review!!!

 

[ame]

Hi!! Ame has helped me find my perfect upgraded diamond, and I definitely suggest you stick to your guns, and go by her cheat sheet. Do NOT let them bully you. Where do you live? Do you have another store to go to as an option? I had two SA's at two locations who were rude about the cheat sheet, saying all the same things they said to you "Tiffany's is the best... blah blah blah", and trying to make me seem uneducated about the diamond cutting process, that I didn't know as much as them. So I went to another location where the SA didn't even bat an eye at my request, and just did what I asked, and I got the diamond that I wanted. I live in Miami, so I literally have five stores to chose from, which makes it easy for me to just walk out and not do business with a store with a bad attitude. If you live in a big city, I suggest going to another store with a better SA.

My new upgraded ring should be coming in friday and I'll do a post on the whole upgrade and diamond selecting experience!

And I can't wait to see it. It was worth the wait, and I am glad you stuck to your guns. They play on your emotions to make a sale, and it's a pretty twisted game to sell what they have, vs selling you what you want.

I am also open to non-brand, but don't know where to start. I am also worried the diamond gets switched etc. I understand there are pros and cons either way. I have the Tiffany shared setting eternity band already. I'd love to hear what other options would be from you!


Do you know if Tiffany branded diamond will be appraised more than non-branded one? Are they are equally treated based on diamond quality?

Appraisals are for insurance valuation, not for resale. Are you planning to resell it later? You're paying for brand with Tiffany, vs actual diamond quality. That comes with a premium both upfront at the register, and in value retention in resale. But diamonds and jewelry on their own just don't resell well. They are not investments.

Many of the vendors I'd point you to have a trade up policy, where you could trade the stone up later for larger and there's no real time limit, where Tiffany has a 5 year limit, as I understand it. Meaning you have up to 5 years to trade it up, and you have to spend X amount on the upgrade. Each of these might have different "requirements" as in, you have to upgrade say a color, or a clarity grade, but not so much value in price. Each has different requirements. But some have downgraded in size to get higher color and clarity.
Several online vendors can produce very nice replica settings and all of them sell incredible diamonds, cut to rigorous quality standards. You could select your own, and they provide extensive documentation--UP FRONT--with images.

If you REALLY want the brand, stick with the brand. Just maybe find a different SA/store. I think you said NYC, there's several stores in NYC. And maybe don't give them the Cheat Sheet, just tell them you want stones in this range, and we can yay or nay them on our own.

If not, we can work on going a different direction to get the look of the brand, and not the drama of the brand. Brian Gavin Diamonds has a few Tiffany style settings (I have the tapered one), and there's also a few vendors that sell the Vatche U113 which is the closest one I've seen to the real thing--it fools the brand. Rumor has it that the designer used to produce settings for the brand, but it's never been verified. Depending which setting you want, we can find a stone from those vendors.

 

[icydipndots]

Hi!!! Congrats to your upgrade!!! Cannot wait for your big review! May I ask how long it took you to find your perfect diamond from Tiffany? I do have multiple Tiffany stores by me that I can go. I just need to work with one that is patient enough with me until I find that perfect one.


Really cannot wait for your big review!!!

I started "browsing" early this year, but wasn't certain what size I wanted. I had a few brought in, and I made up my mind around May. So from May - Late August is how long it took. To make things easier I'd recommend giving them a range. For example, don't limit to only 1.05 G VS2's, give them 1.0-1.1 F-G, VS1-2, etc. as long as it's a range you're happy with, that way they have a broader range of diamonds to find that one perfect stone. I didn't hand them a cheat sheet, I just said I have "numbers in my head that I'd like to go by". I'll be sure to detail this in my post!

 

[chuchumom]

And I can't wait to see it. It was worth the wait, and I am glad you stuck to your guns. They play on your emotions to make a sale, and it's a pretty twisted game to sell what they have, vs selling you what you want.


Appraisals are for insurance valuation, not for resale. Are you planning to resell it later? You're paying for brand with Tiffany, vs actual diamond quality. That comes with a premium both upfront at the register, and in value retention in resale. But diamonds and jewelry on their own just don't resell well. They are not investments.

Many of the vendors I'd point you to have a trade up policy, where you could trade the stone up later for larger and there's no real time limit, where Tiffany has a 5 year limit, as I understand it. Meaning you have up to 5 years to trade it up, and you have to spend X amount on the upgrade. Each of these might have different "requirements" as in, you have to upgrade say a color, or a clarity grade, but not so much value in price. Each has different requirements. But some have downgraded in size to get higher color and clarity.
Several online vendors can produce very nice replica settings and all of them sell incredible diamonds, cut to rigorous quality standards. You could select your own, and they provide extensive documentation--UP FRONT--with images.

If you REALLY want the brand, stick with the brand. Just maybe find a different SA/store. I think you said NYC, there's several stores in NYC. And maybe don't give them the Cheat Sheet, just tell them you want stones in this range, and we can yay or nay them on our own.

If not, we can work on going a different direction to get the look of the brand, and not the drama of the brand. Brian Gavin Diamonds has a few Tiffany style settings (I have the tapered one), and there's also a few vendors that sell the Vatche U113 which is the closest one I've seen to the real thing--it fools the brand. Rumor has it that the designer used to produce settings for the brand, but it's never been verified. Depending which setting you want, we can find a stone from those vendors.

Tons of helpful information Ame! Thanks much! What are the difference b/w settings from Brian Gavin the tapered one vs others from BGD, and Vatche U113? Any reason you didn't go with Vatche even it's the closest one?


I am thinking if you can send me a few diamonds from these online vendors to look at so I can get a feel first, then decide to go with the brand or not? I want to see how big the difference is... Maybe the money I save, I can get a small Soleste from Tiffany? haha just thinking out loud.

 

[chuchumom]

I started "browsing" early this year, but wasn't certain what size I wanted. I had a few brought in, and I made up my mind around May. So from May - Late August is how long it took. To make things easier I'd recommend giving them a range. For example, don't limit to only 1.05 G VS2's, give them 1.0-1.1 F-G, VS1-2, etc. as long as it's a range you're happy with, that way they have a broader range of diamonds to find that one perfect stone. I didn't hand them a cheat sheet, I just said I have "numbers in my head that I'd like to go by". I'll be sure to detail this in my post!

Yes I love to hear all the details about your experience! That's a great suggestion. I might thinking to loose up the clarity a bit VS1-2 like you mentioned, then G maybe even H? (not sure), 1.9-2.3 ct? I will see what the SA say. Your big day Friday is coming. Great timing for long weekend!