Quality of Tiffany jewelry compared to other designer brands

[Mishella]

I never paid attention to the diamond specs or looked at my valuations before, but I decided to go through them to see.

For “fashion” jewelry, Tiffany uses lower color diamonds with more clarity discrepancy.
G—J, IF—SI1

For “fine” jewelry, Tiffany uses higher color diamonds with less clarity discrepancy.
D—G, IF—VS2

The distinction is based on collection and not on diamond size, because my novo ring’s diamonds are super teeny tiny. So, something in the T, Atlas, or Return to Tiffany collection would have lower color diamonds than something from the Schlumberger or Victoria line.

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They use SI, J quality stones in their platinum and 18k jewelry all the time. Couple screenshots, including their own website:
I was kinda shocked when visiting their store I asked to see the certificate for their Victoria necklace and saw I color SI quality there. People often think that by overpaying 5-10x for Tiffany jewelry they will get the best quality possible, but that is not the case.

 

[sosauce]

They use SI, J quality stones in their platinum and 18k jewelry all the time. Couple screenshots, including their own website:
I was kinda shocked when visiting their store I asked to see the certificate for their Victoria necklace and saw I color SI quality there. People often think that by overpaying 5-10x for Tiffany jewelry they will get the best quality possible, but that is not the case.

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Hmm, which Victoria necklace was this? You don’t get the certificate for a few weeks until after you purchase the item. For the larger Victoria pieces where each diamond is over 0.17 carats, you get certificates for each larger stone. I thought you were talking about accent stones, which come in a range and don’t come with any accompanying paperwork unless they cost over $10,000.

For larger stones, where you choose your own color/clarity, it’s not difficult to find diamonds below G color from other brands. I mean, just look at Cartier, which has had that practice for decades. But unlike Tiffany, where the diamonds get their own Tiffany & Co. laser engraving (“Tiffany” diamonds), the ones you get from Cartier are generic, unbranded stones that aren’t certified.

I actually don’t know anything about Cartier’s accent stones. I’ve only purchased one diamond piece from Cartier for my sister, and I never got any paperwork telling me about its valuation, or what the color/clarity range is for the piece. For my Van Cleef pieces, the website is relatively transparent about the accent stones, so I know that the diamonds are between D—F color. But for Cartier, I don’t even have a boutique in my state, so I’m really not sure what color/clarity I got. I don’t torture myself about it.

I’m buying a Bulgari piece this year for the first time, and I don’t know what color/clarity they use for their accent stones either. Nor is the website particularly upfront about it. I guess we’ll find out if they send me any paperwork after my purchase. Otherwise, I guess I’ll never know lol.

 

[Vintage Leather]

What era are we comparing?

All three companies have had wildly varying quality over the years, and in the case of Cartier, between the workshops (BAW was creating the hand-made 18k gold with Le Coultre movement Cartier Crash at the same time New York was offering a gold-plated over steel Tank watch with a Hamilton movement.)

Pre-2008, Tiffany had a minimum standard of VSI for pave pieces, and offered both GIA and Tiffany certs.

Pre-2000, Cartier made several lines in platinum instead of only using white gold.

 

[Mishella]

Hmm, which Victoria necklace was this? You don’t get the certificate for a few weeks until after you purchase the item. For the larger Victoria pieces where each diamond is over 0.17 carats, you get certificates for each larger stone. I thought you were talking about accent stones, which come in a range and don’t come with any accompanying paperwork unless they cost over $10,000.

For larger stones, where you choose your own color/clarity, it’s not difficult to find diamonds below G color from other brands. I mean, just look at Cartier, which has had that practice for decades. But unlike Tiffany, where the diamonds get their own Tiffany & Co. laser engraving (“Tiffany” diamonds), the ones you get from Cartier are generic, unbranded stones that aren’t certified.

I actually don’t know anything about Cartier’s accent stones. I’ve only purchased one diamond piece from Cartier for my sister, and I never got any paperwork telling me about its valuation, or what the color/clarity range is for the piece. For my Van Cleef pieces, the website is relatively transparent about the accent stones, so I know that the diamonds are between D—F color. But for Cartier, I don’t even have a boutique in my state, so I’m really not sure what color/clarity I got. I don’t torture myself about it.

I’m buying a Bulgari piece this year for the first time, and I don’t know what color/clarity they use for their accent stones either. Nor is the website particularly upfront about it. I guess we’ll find out if they send me any paperwork after my purchase. Otherwise, I guess I’ll never know lol.

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Yes, I’m talking about accent stones. It wasn’t a certificate, I chose a wrong word, but kind of a tag that has specs of diamonds on it. I believe it was a vine pendant + 4 marquise earrings were also I color. Brands usually don’t put that info on sale paperwork, but they can provide diamond specs for each piece if you ask. Any brand will, actually. Just ask your Bulgari SA about the stones, they must have that information. What piece are you considering? I have many Bulgari pieces, very happy with all of them.
Chopard puts diamond quality to paperwork though. At least I have it on my watch papers.
All certified diamonds are laser inscribed, same as Tiffany, not with a brand name, but their unique number. I personally don’t see any value in invisible laser inscribing on the stone

 

[etoile de mer]

I agree regarding with @Vintage Leather regarding Tiffany, it really matters what time frame we're talking about, and which line. In the past Tiffany noted the diamond quality used on the website page for each piece. Sadly, they stopped doing that! And I remember them noting in the 90s through early 2000s that for all pieces they'd not go below VS2 and H in color. Because they stopped opening disclosing quality used, I've gotten in the habit of asking specifically about pieces I'm interested in. I'd prefer not to purchase anything from Tiffany lower that VS2 H, and typically prefer a higher grade color. But that's a personal decision. I have found the lack of transparency, and decrease in quality in pieces not deemed high-end or wedding/engagement discouraging. Seems they were quietly lowering the quality on fashion pieces and hoping no one would notice? I am less drawn to their current offerings, but when I'm interested, I just continue to inquire about the diamond quality used.

 

[joseybird]

Personally, my priority is design, not diamond quality. If I love the design of a piece and it’s Tiffany-exclusive, that’s what matters to me.

 

[tulipfield]

This is perhaps not strictly a quality issue but it is something to consider: VCA manufactures all their jewelry in France (there may be exceptions but I am unaware of them), Cartier manufacture all of theirs in Western Europe (save some high jewelry created in New York). Tiffany, meanwhile, manufactures some items in the US but outsources some to the Dominican Republic (it may be “just” the lower-priced lines, but still). To me, if they are cutting corners by doing some manufacture in low-wage countries, that is something to consider.

OTOH there is a noticeable difference in some older versus newer Cartier pieces. I have noticed an ‘80s Trinity ring weighs more than a new one. Still on yet another hand, as many know the original Loves were gold-plated versus the solid 18k we see now.

All things to consider, it’s really case by case.

 

[Mishella]

Personally, my priority is design, not diamond quality. If I love the design of a piece and it’s Tiffany-exclusive, that’s what matters to me.

Keep in mind that you pay 5-10x more for Tiffany, than you’d pay for the same non branded piece. I strongly believe that with their over the top margins and positioning as a luxury brand, they must only use top quality stones, instead of average ones.

 

[etoile de mer]

Keep in mind that you pay 5-10x more for Tiffany, than you’d pay for the same non branded piece. I strongly believe that with their over the top margins and positioning as a luxury brand, they must only use top quality stones, instead of average ones.

I agree. I think Tiffany started lowering the quality in some of their lines to both increase their profits while also attempting to increase their share of the market. In the past, I could always assume Tiffany offered a higher level of quality throughout their offerings. Now, not so much, which is dissapointing. I think they need to choose a lane, and my hope is that LVMH (who claimed to want to take the brand back towards higher quality) will do so.

 

[AntiqueShopper]

They use SI, J quality stones in their platinum and 18k jewelry all the time. Couple screenshots, including their own website:
I was kinda shocked when visiting their store I asked to see the certificate for their Victoria necklace and saw I color SI quality there. People often think that by overpaying 5-10x for Tiffany jewelry they will get the best quality possible, but that is not the case.

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I would not use TRR as a reference for color/clarity as they have been inaccurate in the past.

I will say that the quality has gone down with some pieces in the last 10 years. Though they are not the only ones. In 2016 I bought a VCA 10 motif in all gold. In 2018 I felt the weight of my necklace made 2 years later and noticed it weighed 1/2 of the one I have. The store associate was shocked by the difference in weight. And yes- mine is authentic- purchased directly at the same store I felt the newer one.

 

[joseybird]

Keep in mind that you pay 5-10x more for Tiffany, than you’d pay for the same non branded piece. I strongly believe that with their over the top margins and positioning as a luxury brand, they must only use top quality stones, instead of average ones.

If I could find the same non-branded piece I’d buy it, not Tiffany’s. I’m talking about pieces I personally love that I can’t buy anywhere else, not pieces I could buy somewhere else at a quarter the price.

 

[Mishella]

If I could find the same non-branded piece I’d buy it, not Tiffany’s. I’m talking about pieces I personally love that I can’t buy anywhere else, not pieces I could buy somewhere else at a quarter the price.

I meant if the design you want was created by someone else, it would have costed many times less. It’s obvious you have no other option apart from buying from Tiffany if you fell in love with their design.

 

[joseybird]

I meant if the design you want was created by someone else, it would have costed many times less. It’s obvious you have no other option apart from buying from Tiffany if you fell in love with their design.

It is, but your reply appeared to me to be in disagreement, hence my sur-reply.

Of course I’d ideally love to have anything I buy be of the best possible quality, but if a piece is unique, there’s no real point of comparison. I don’t think I’d notice if my pendant had D color flawless diamonds in it, frankly.

Now, something like an engagement ring, stud earrings, etc, where the only thing unique about them is the name? I’d certainly expect the very top materials. But even then there’d be the big name markup, so it wouldn’t be worth it to me even then.

 

[sosauce]

Yes, I’m talking about accent stones. It wasn’t a certificate, I chose a wrong word, but kind of a tag that has specs of diamonds on it. I believe it was a vine pendant + 4 marquise earrings were also I color. Brands usually don’t put that info on sale paperwork, but they can provide diamond specs for each piece if you ask. Any brand will, actually. Just ask your Bulgari SA about the stones, they must have that information. What piece are you considering? I have many Bulgari pieces, very happy with all of them.
Chopard puts diamond quality to paperwork though. At least I have it on my watch papers.
All certified diamonds are laser inscribed, same as Tiffany, not with a brand name, but their unique number. I personally don’t see any value in invisible laser inscribing on the stone

I think you’re mistaken. As I already showed you with paperwork, the Victoria goes from D—G, which is what you contested earlier.

I don’t have a Bulgari near me, so I’m buying it from Saks. I’m getting the serpenti bracelet.

If you buy Chopard, happy hearts is notorious for getting water between the glass panels.

Also, this is a designer forum. Surely, you don’t believe what you say about Tiffany diamonds vs generic diamonds. If you had to choose between two diamonds, but one was branded Costco and the other branded Tiffany, and the two diamonds had the exact same specs and price, I doubt you would seriously choose the Costco diamond over the Tiffany diamond. The fact customers are willing to pay a premium for designer anything is a reflection of that brand equity. Even you would have to admit that a Tiffany or Costco laser engraving would matter to you, if price were no object.

Also, speaking of VCA, I’m very sad about the lotus ring redesign. I don’t like the new one as much. The bamboo details have been lost, and the angles look clunky now. The lotus ring was/is on my longterm wishlist, but I’m not sure where I prioritize it anymore, since I still need to warm up to the new model.

 

[Mishella]

I think you’re mistaken. As I already showed you with paperwork, the Victoria goes from D—G, which is what you contested earlier.

I don’t have a Bulgari near me, so I’m buying it from Saks. I’m getting the serpenti bracelet.

If you buy Chopard, happy hearts is notorious for getting water between the glass panels.

Also, this is a designer forum. Surely, you don’t believe what you say about Tiffany diamonds vs generic diamonds. If you had to choose between two diamonds, but one was branded Costco and the other branded Tiffany, and the two diamonds had the exact same specs and price, I doubt you would seriously choose the Costco diamond over the Tiffany diamond. The fact customers are willing to pay a premium for designer anything is a reflection of that brand equity. Even you would have to admit that a Tiffany or Costco laser engraving would matter to you, if price were no object.

Also, speaking of VCA, I’m very sad about the lotus ring redesign. I don’t like the new one as much. The bamboo details have been lost, and the angles look clunky now. The lotus ring was/is on my longterm wishlist, but I’m not sure where I prioritize it anymore, since I still need to warm up to the new model.

Diamond quality can slightly vary for the same creation, depending on where and when it has been produced, so even if yours are G VS, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t use different quality/color for a different piece.
About the brand engraving - the comparison you offered is very unrealistic. If Tiffany and Costco diamonds cost the same, then either Costco is a luxury brand, or Tiffany is a mass market. The true question is how much money would I be willing to pay for Tiffany engraving on a diamond? And the answer is zero.