Anyone ever make a lateral move (kept pretty much same size) but switched to a name like Tiffany or HOF from a no name stone? Just curious if most upgrade to increase the size or if some really only care about the name and will keep similar size. Also curious if many people on forum can really see a difference between regular stone and a HOF one. I can't see it but maybe it is just me!
lateral move to signat. e-ring?
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by regular stone, do you mean just something from the case in the local brick & mortar store and not a diamond chosen for it's specs?
My DH proposed to his ex with a ring like that. It was just a pretty ring. I think because of their age/lack of diamond knowledge, they just picked something that looked nice & was as large as they could afford at the time. And then when that relationship ended, she gave back the ring.
When he started hinting about rings to me, I made sure he knew what specs I was expecting. He was able to get a trade in at the same store, otherwise I would probably have asked for a cartier 1895. lol Mostly because i liked the setting, not because I thought it was a "superior" diamond, though.
My diamond is actually the same carat weight as the trade-in, except the that it's set in platinum, whereas the 1st ring was set in 14k yg and mine is leaps and bounds improved in color/clarity & cut. I don't think the 1st ring even had specs for the cut/polish/symmetry.
I
My DH proposed to his ex with a ring like that. It was just a pretty ring. I think because of their age/lack of diamond knowledge, they just picked something that looked nice & was as large as they could afford at the time. And then when that relationship ended, she gave back the ring.
When he started hinting about rings to me, I made sure he knew what specs I was expecting. He was able to get a trade in at the same store, otherwise I would probably have asked for a cartier 1895. lol Mostly because i liked the setting, not because I thought it was a "superior" diamond, though.
My diamond is actually the same carat weight as the trade-in, except the that it's set in platinum, whereas the 1st ring was set in 14k yg and mine is leaps and bounds improved in color/clarity & cut. I don't think the 1st ring even had specs for the cut/polish/symmetry.
I
I think it makes sense. I can usually tell at a glance when a ring is Tiffany or a Tiffany-style setting. The prongs rarely look right when an independent jeweler tries to copy a Tiffany design. I thought I was a nut case until I was discussing engagement rings with my co-worker and she mentioned it as well!
One thing to consider is purchasing a patented cut like HOF or a Tiffany Novo/Lucida. Then you definitely are upgrading on cut.
One thing to consider is purchasing a patented cut like HOF or a Tiffany Novo/Lucida. Then you definitely are upgrading on cut.
I have a Tiffany setting and it is amazing how delicate the prongs are! I know a lot of people like to knock Tiffany's, but I have had nothing but wonderful service and the craftsmanship on the diamond pieces I own is impeccable.
To be honest, I am not sure it makes sense to move from a generic diamond to a branded diamond. Like Gimme said, if you move to a patented cut, it will be something new and unique. Even with places like Tiffany's or Cartier, you still need to do your homework to ensure you get a best cut. At Tiffany's, we passed on about 3 RB solitaires until we found one with the cut specs we wanted. It is a bit disappointing that you still need to do the legwork despite the premium you pay at these stores. We went with a branded ring because DF didn't feel comfortable ordering a loose stone online and the name was somewhat important to him. Between Cartier and Tiffany, I prefer the look of the classic Tiffany setting. If we had been working with a smaller budget, I absolutely would have pushed DF to go the custom route to ensure the biggest bang for our buck! I should say though that I am totally in love with my ring!
It is funny - my jeweler used same expression - "biggest bang for the buck". I began another thread stating that I was happy with my 1.21 carat. But I often thought of upgrading to a same size branded stone. Two of the three jewelers I spoke to today personally felt not to go with branded even though they sell them. They believe you get more bang for $ if you upgrade size and still get a decent cut, color, and clarity. For instance a 1.33 HOF is about $20,000 and a 1.61 HOF is about $27,000. But for $20,000, one could probably purchase an unbranded 1.5-1.7 size stone. Swanky, where are you?! I know you know about this stuff!
^^ I think "biggest bang for your buck" is often referred to size since that seems to be the primary factor that is visually noticeable. I am sure that most people will not be able to tell a Tiffany ring from a replica but people will recognize a change in size. I think an excellent cut may also be visually noticeable. Ultimately it's up to the individual as to what is the important factor. 
Maybe you should stack some Tiffany celebration rings with your beautiful non-branded diamond. As long as the 4 C's are close to that of a Tiffany eye clean standard stone I don't think anyone will notice the difference but you. But if you are in love with the subtlety of their particular setting, or you simply want a Tiffany engagement ring, I don't see the harm in swapping.
I am very OCD about my rings. My first upgrade was an ACA branded cut from Whiteflash, an online vendor. It was a beautful stone. My latest upgrade is a larger diamond from a local HOF jeweler. It's a stunning stone with great specs. Both stones were AGS 0 H&A cuts. I see a difference between the stones, but it's difficult to describe. Although the HOF was pricey, I'm always having the diamond and the setting checked. If I bang my hand against something, off I go to the jeweler and so on. I like the service I receive from my B&M. I am very happy I made the change. I would call myself a high maintenance customer
ETA: This summer, I changed the setting on my ring. My jeweler made the transaction seemless for me. She had a wedding band custom made for me to fit flush with my new HOF setting.
ETA: This summer, I changed the setting on my ring. My jeweler made the transaction seemless for me. She had a wedding band custom made for me to fit flush with my new HOF setting.
While I am never going to say that Tiffany diamonds are not absolutely spectacular, you are still paying extra for the name. Biggest bang for your buck is buying an unbranded stone that has excellent specs and has been certified by a reputable gemological association. As much as I love Tiffany and their settings, I did not go that way. However, when I was in Tiffany a couple of years back the staff were fawning over my rings...and the same with a local high end jeweler. So I think we did alright! If I had wanted a plain solitaire, though, nothing beats the Tiffany setting.
