Sad realization...

[Allisonfaye]

The other thing they do that bugs me is use very high clarity. I would prefer an eyeclean SI 1 all day long over their pricey VVS and VS rings. I guess it is just what your preferences are but I would never choose clarity over color...or size. Cut comes first, then color. (IMO)

 

[kathyinjapan]

For those ladies who have Tiffany Engagement Rings, are your hubby wealthy?

hardly but they have a good range of specs and sizes and we were able to find one that was within our budget

but I agree with the others, try not to get yourself too worked up over this. brand means nothing, what matters is the sentiment

 

[AlbertsLove]

Well after reading all your ladies post, I have come to a conclusion... I am not going to worry about the ring...I want the symbol. Do not get me wrong, I come from a neighborhood in L.a were its mostly hispanics. I mean I love about 10 min from downtown l.a. So u could imagine all the fakes around here. Also must of my friends are girls who are not in college, pregnant at a young age. We really do not know diamonds. I mean I am sure some do, but not my friends. We are into the sparkle. So I know my friends wont know a tiffany from anything else. I want the symbol of love from him. I want to feel like I deserve it. He says that I do but that he does not have the money. I was looking at the jewelry exchange in tustin website and they have some great prices. But I do not understand the meaning of anything. I showed them to him and he said that they were great. I found a 1carat solitaire and a 3stone ring with a weight of 1carat for 699.99 . I have come to realize that 1 carat would be ridicules on me. He says the 3 stone would be great... Has anyone seen any of this diamonds? Bought or know any feedbacK? I be super happy with one of this. Maybe I can go into tiffany and see it under their lighting... he he.

 

[maniacalmollie]

I am assuming there are a lot of diamond dealers in LA-- probably a good place to start with stones, rather than a retail shop, as they will cost much less than retail.

Even on Bluenile.com, which is pretty reputable, you can find good prices on smaller, but pretty engagement rings in gold and white gold (platinum jacks the price up considerably). And of you "build your own," there are a number of diamonds just shy of a half-carat, under or around $700. For instance, 0.45carat, round brilliant ideal cut, color H, VS2 for $718. Then a 6-prong setting in 18K white gold, at $325, and you are right around $1,000. You could go a little smaller on the stone and do better.

http://www.bluenile.com/classic-engagement-rings

I would venture to guess you would get a LOT more for your money than at Tiffanys by doing some research.

 

[BagaholicAnon]

I think a lot of the reason that Tiffany diamonds look so good is the lighting in the stores. Once, I took my diamond in and compared it to a Tiffany ring and my diamond looked sooo much better. Even the SA had to admit it. The other thing I find with Tiffany diamonds is that they are often very low K, L, M on the color scale and I didn't want to go that low. ( I think my minimum would be a G). I have an F. (I think).


I understand you wanting your dream ring and all. I am not going to lay a big guilt trip on you about that but I frankly think, if you can't afford it, you are going to have to find another way to be happy. I am sorry but I wouldn't touch a diamond ring on Ebay with a 10 foot pole, unless it was sold by someone like Signed Pieces. You are just asking to get taken doing that.

To me, a diamond is something that must be seen in person before purchasing. I bought mine from an online retailer but it had a return policy so I had so many days if I didn't love it. Also, this particular online retailer was HIGHLY recommended over and over again. That is the ONLY way I would buy anything on line. There are so many ways you can save money on a ring that is just as nice as a Tiffany's ring. I recommend that you check out Pricescope.com. There are endless threads about Tiffany's (whether it is worth the premium or not) and you can get educated and maybe get the exact ring that you want for 1/3 less of the cost.

Good luck.

I agree with all of the posts, but I just wanted to clarify that Tiffany only uses diamonds I color or better and clarity VS2 or better. It's on their website. Which still doesn't justify the price, but they do have their standards!

 

[mjlover1977]

i second the whole 'all you really need is a loving man' ... this morning my boy said (after seeing a cash converters ads on tv) 'what would you do if i bought your ring from a trader?' he expected me to respond with a 'Ugh, dont even suggest it!' but instead i explained that i was more blown away with the fact that this man that i ADORE, love more than any guy, wants to marry ME! I felt blessed and the luckiest woman in the world.

The 1 carat sparkler i got? that was the icing on a perfect beautiful cake.
Sure, id love a blue box (i know im getting a necklace for christmas ... thats enough!) but i prefer my boy being able to afford our dream house ... and have us live happily ever after (not strapped for cash and drowning in bills - ever after!)

xx

 

[AlbertsLove]

i second the whole 'all you really need is a loving man' ... this morning my boy said (after seeing a cash converters ads on tv) 'what would you do if i bought your ring from a trader?' he expected me to respond with a 'Ugh, dont even suggest it!' but instead i explained that i was more blown away with the fact that this man that i ADORE, love more than any guy, wants to marry ME! I felt blessed and the luckiest woman in the world.

The 1 carat sparkler i got? that was the icing on a perfect beautiful cake.
Sure, id love a blue box (i know im getting a necklace for christmas ... thats enough!) but i prefer my boy being able to afford our dream house ... and have us live happily ever after (not strapped for cash and drowning in bills - ever after!)

xx

See that has been my dilemma sometimes I wonder why I am not able to have both. I know I cant. I know I have great boyfriend. He is amazing, but I was in love when I saw the rings. I want the symbol of our love. I want the ring that he chooses... like you said the icing on the cake.

 

[oogiewoogie]

Albertlove... since your in the LA area.. check out Robbins Bros.. they'll give you the entire tutorial & the fun part is checking out the diamonds under the microscope. We've gone in there to check out an upgrade.. w/ no "sales pressure" Totally loved the SA.. and will be going back to him when the time is right~! :o) g-Luck.. & have fun with it!

 

[sinniebunnie]

eh.. tiffany is just a name.. what do you love more? the name or the style because you can get the same style elsewhere

i know wanting to be a teacher is the greatest thing, to me its the most selfless career because you want to educate others for a living. saddly it does not pay much. maybe when you retire you can have your name brand ring but for now you should focus on how happy you are now and how happy you will make others as a teacher.

 

[mjlover1977]

See that has been my dilemma sometimes I wonder why I am not able to have both. I know I cant. I know I have great boyfriend. He is amazing, but I was in love when I saw the rings. I want the symbol of our love. I want the ring that he chooses... like you said the icing on the cake.

Oh hon - i know ... but can i just tell you, every day i look at my beautiful ring and just think how amazing it is that my boy chose that perfect diamond for me ... sure, it could have been tiffany but honestly, diamonds are diamonds and they are magical and beautiful and when you have it (no matter what size) you will love it.

For my 30th b'day my boy got me a tiffany heart ring with a teeny tiny diamond on it ... i just say 'well, ive already got a tiffany diamond' ... hee hee.


if i were you, and Tiffany matters more than 'size' then id do as one of the other girls suggested and get a celebration ring. Not all rings have to be single stones?

Do you know roughly how much budget he has?

 

[AlbertsLove]

eh.. tiffany is just a name.. what do you love more? the name or the style because you can get the same style elsewhere

i know wanting to be a teacher is the greatest thing, to me its the most selfless career because you want to educate others for a living. saddly it does not pay much. maybe when you retire you can have your name brand ring but for now you should focus on how happy you are now and how happy you will make others as a teacher.

Ahh.. thank you. That really touched my heart. I really can not wait to become a teacher.

 

[AlbertsLove]

Oh hon - i know ... but can i just tell you, every day i look at my beautiful ring and just think how amazing it is that my boy chose that perfect diamond for me ... sure, it could have been tiffany but honestly, diamonds are diamonds and they are magical and beautiful and when you have it (no matter what size) you will love it.

For my 30th b'day my boy got me a tiffany heart ring with a teeny tiny diamond on it ... i just say 'well, ive already got a tiffany diamond' ... hee hee.


if i were you, and Tiffany matters more than 'size' then id do as one of the other girls suggested and get a celebration ring. Not all rings have to be single stones?

Do you know roughly how much budget he has?

Hmm not sure. I have been debating wether to ask or not. I have a genetal question, someone answered it but I am still confused. What is more important color or clarity? I mean if its a I2 I3 is the imperfections really noticeable. Not all carats are the same right?
What do you guys think about this rings.. I love them and I would be happy with them. Specially since I am a working lady, I work with kids as of right now and a part time at Mcodnalds plus full time work.
What would you guys choose?
http://www.jewelryexchange.com/productdetails.aspx?jewelryID=2431#

http://www.jewelryexchange.com/productdetails.aspx?jewelryID=2585

http://www.jewelryexchange.com/productdetails.aspx?jewelryID=3095


With this band. My Favorite is the 3 stone. What do you guys think???

http://www.jewelryexchange.com/productdetails.aspx?jewelryID=1289

 

[Kitsunegrl]

I2 or I3 are really bad clarity grades. I wouldn't go below SI for a ring that is going to be worn every day.
You should check out Pricescope. com; they have a lot of good general information on the 4 Cs of diamonds, how to get the most look for your budget, etc.
Good luck!

 

[Mrs. MC]

I2 or I3 are really bad clarity grades. I wouldn't go below SI for a ring that is going to be worn every day.
You should check out Pricescope. com; they have a lot of good general information on the 4 Cs of diamonds, how to get the most look for your budget, etc.
Good luck!

I agree. In most every case you get what you pay for. Flaws also depend on where they occur because of the way diamonds are cut the flaw can be mirrored and duplicated. Also you wouldn't be happy with it unless it was perfect. I would have a hard time buying something like this online without seeing it in person. If you want something more blingy for less money maybe you could try a princess cut invisible setting. They take 4 smaller diamonds and configure them into a square so it looks like one big diamond. You could get this on a plain band with a wedding band that has a few small diamonds like maybe in sections and that shouldn't bee too much if you get it in gold. Good luck

 

[soshesaid]

Don't feel guilty about wanting your dream ring! But there are ways of getting what is close to your dream without spending a lot of money at Tiffany. I LOVE Tiffany, but there are many other jewelers who sell diamonds of comparable quality for much less. I can afford to shop where I want for diamonds, and I don't shop at Tiffany, because I know they are VERY overpriced -- because they are charging for the name stamp on the ring.

With that said, that you have found a man who loves you IS more important than the ring in the big picture of life. Rings can be saved for ... make a plan, save a little each month.