Tiffany quality -- any issues?

[ffflyin]

Hi all,

I've had a rather infuriating experience with my purchase of some Tiffany earrings in the past year. I purchased these pearl and diamond studs (it's a single pearl with diamond attached) in March this year.

• Within 2 weeks of purchase, the pearl on one stud fell off.
• I brought it back and they kindly did a 1-for-1 exchange.
• I wore the newly exchanged studs, and again, after about 2-3 months the pearl fell off again.
• I went back to Tifanny and as I didn't want to wait or make ANOTHER trip down, they told me that since the last time they did a 1-for-1 exchange it could be a product issue and it would be best try and fix it instead of doing another exchange (the logic totally escapes me).
• ANYWAY, last Friday I went to pick up these studs again which have now been repaired.
• This morning (Monday), I woke up and stood up from my bed and THE PEARL FALLS TO THE GROUND. AGAIN!!! I should add I am not a stirrer in my sleep I literally sleep still as a corpse...

This is SO INFURIATING!!! I don't even know what to do now, I guess this post is partially to vent but also to ask if anyone else has experienced such issues? I am aware pearl studs tend to have issues but this is on another level. I have had way cheaper pearl studs that have lasted for way longer, and I've practically worn pearl studs all my life.

Does anyone know what I can do? If I go back and they exchange them again I would be shocked if the problem does NOT recur. Anyone also have alternatives if I need to do a 1-to-1 exchange for other daily wear studs in store? I am not particularly interested in silver pieces or anything overly flashy for daily wear. Open to non-Tiffany options too, but not sure if that would be against the rules of this thread.

Thanks in advance ladies!!! And...

... BIG SIGH.

 

[RachelVerinder]

Hi!
Same problem here with pearls studs (simple ones, without diamond) but the earrings were much older. One of the pearl fell after half a year or so, so I went at Tiffany's and they sent it to repair workshop. Since then everything is fine... except that when I came to take the earrings back, I was asked for the equivalent of 87 dollars (I'm in Europe) ! Money is not the problem, I'd gladly pay for a good job done. But it seemed to me very "little" from a company like Tiffany's as when I dropped the pearls for repair, I was never told of any fees...
Well, maybe you should ask for a (free!) real and serious fixing of the peal rather than for a new pair of earrings...
Hope this will help!

 

[ffflyin]

Hi!
Same problem here with pearls studs (simple ones, without diamond) but the earrings were much older. One of the pearl fell after half a year or so, so I went at Tiffany's and they sent it to repair workshop. Since then everything is fine... except that when I came to take the earrings back, I was asked for the equivalent of 87 dollars (I'm in Europe) ! Money is not the problem, I'd gladly pay for a good job done. But it seemed to me very "little" from a company like Tiffany's as when I dropped the pearls for repair, I was never told of any fees...
Well, maybe you should ask for a (free!) real and serious fixing of the peal rather than for a new pair of earrings...
Hope this will help!

Thanks for sharing! All my repairs have been free so far, because my earrings are pretty new. I asked on Friday if it falls again whether I'd be charged for the next repair, and he said technically they would have to but if it does fall again given the newness of the item they would waive it. I suppose the issue is... if it's a product issue and it's been through a swap and a repair, it may just be a quality/product problem. I don't have the patience anymore to return each time to repair it, and obviously if this problem persists the earrings won't be "new" after a year and would I then have to pay repair fees each time?

I'm sorry to hear they charged you 87 dollars!! That's insane given that it's an issue with their products! If my memory serves me right, I think many years ago when I bought tiffany pieces more often they shared that repairs would be free. However about 4/5 years ago when I was browsing they told me they changed the policy and would charge for repairs going forward... I wonder if your item has been with you for a while that this is why you were told one thing at purchase, and another thing now.

 

[RachelVerinder]

Yes 87 dollars seems crazy to me just to fix one pearl that shouldn't have felt! But as I said before, as my earrings were not new, no problem paying. I'm just annoyed the SA said nothing about the cost (everything my Tiffany ring is cleaned it's free even if it's much older!) before the job was done. And also the time I came to get my pearl fixed, I also made a small purchase for a friend who just had a baby. Not as if I was always asking and never buying... Well in fact I'm not so willing shopping at Tiffany's anymore. I own 3 pairs of their earrings (knots, onyx pearls studs ans pearls studs) and a silver mesh ring with diamonds (can't remember the name) and that's enough.
Maybe you're right, and maybe you'd better shop at a jeweller with no qualities issues...
Maybe another member has suggestions?
Have a nice day!

 

[ffflyin]

Yes 87 dollars seems crazy to me just to fix one pearl that shouldn't have felt! But as I said before, as my earrings were not new, no problem paying. I'm just annoyed the SA said nothing about the cost (everything my Tiffany ring is cleaned it's free even if it's much older!) before the job was done. And also the time I came to get my pearl fixed, I also made a small purchase for a friend who just had a baby. Not as if I was always asking and never buying... Well in fact I'm not so willing shopping at Tiffany's anymore. I own 3 pairs of their earrings (knots, onyx pearls studs ans pearls studs) and a silver mesh ring with diamonds (can't remember the name) and that's enough.
Maybe you're right, and maybe you'd better shop at a jeweller with no qualities issues...
Maybe another member has suggestions?
Have a nice day!

I seem to have misunderstood you earlier, sorry for that! Yes they definitely should have mentioned the cost before they took your piece away for repair... rather than to only inform you right at the end. Same here, nothing has really caught my attention these days... the only thing I really like is the hardware collection but I'm not dying for it

Thanks for engaging, and have a great week ahead!

 

[MatAllston]

I’m sorry you are having issues with your earrings. I own two pairs of Tiffany pearl earrings, one of them is like the pair that you have. Both are around 10 years old and I have not had issues so far but I do not wear them often. I put them off before I head out and I take them off as soon as I get home. Do you take your pearl earrings off when you shower?

 

[A1aGypsy]

I would definitely not sleep in them or shower with them on.

Tiffany’s has been really fantastic to me with respect to repairs etc. I’m sorry you are having a problem. I might switch them out for something else as there is obviously an issue.

 

[JessicaWBath]

I've not had an issue with Tiffany pearl earrings (neither ones I've had myself, nor ones I've sold - I deal in vintage and new, so I've had them from various 'eras')... I wonder if the quality of their repair is substandard. If you really like the design, it might be worth getting them repaired by a non-Tiffany jeweller, especially if Tiffany stop being willing to repair for free... Annoying you're having this issue, I agree - and something you shouldn't expect from somewhere as high end as Tiffany!!!

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case... pearls are notoriously picky about hairspray / perfume / damp etc. I can't imagine that would affect the security of the pearl in its setting, but I guess it COULD potentially take a layer off the pearl that then makes it loose. Seems a stretch though...!

Are they the Signature range ones, with the little square diamond? If there's any design where something is going to come out of its setting, it's a setting like that, without proper 'claws' etc. For what it's worth, I don't think they're a good option for everyday wear, given the style of setting.

Other options....
I think there might be too much 'metal' showing for you, but the T Mother of Pearl Circle Earrings... https://www.tiffany.co.uk/jewelry/earrings/tiffany-t-mother-of-pearl-circle-earrings-66886042/

Ditto for Paloma Picasso's Olive Leaf pearl earrings (but the setting looks more reliable...!)...

Earrings for Women | Tiffany & Co. UK

Discover stud, hoop & drop style earrings from Tiffany & Co. in 18k gold, platinum, sterling silver, diamond, pearl & rose gold.

www.tiffany.co.uk

Going away from pearls and only to diamonds... Paloma's Olive Leaf Earrings - https://www.tiffany.co.uk/jewelry/earrings/paloma-picasso-olive-leaf-earrings-GRP09480/

My everyday ones are Elsa Peretti's bean earrings in gold, but they're probably more of metallic / less classic look than what you're after.

Other brands... mmmm... Georg Jensen Magic earrings are pretty with pearls, but they're drop style - https://www.georgjensen.com/en-gb/j...519817.html#prefn1=ProductStone1&prefv1=Pearl

Personally, if I had my heart set on pearls, I'd go for Mikimoto's higher end jewellery, as I've never had an issue with theirs and they're the experts in setting pearls (and also, arguably, have the best quality ones)...
They do the same design as Tiffany as well - https://www.mikimoto.co.uk/uk_en/stud-earrings-with-diamond-in-yellow-gold

 

[ffflyin]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your kind responses and empathy . Alas I think I am going to ask them to exchange them for another item, or give me a refund. The daft pearl dropped off AGAIN last week (merely days from collecting it post-repair). Yes, I do sleep in them most days and shower in them -- I understand this could speed up wear and tear, but for this price point and for all the brand stands for being luxury and quality it is a quite unacceptable that this problem has recurred over and over again, with 2 brand new pairs and another repair again now. ARGH am so put off Tiffany now... terrible.

@JessicaWBath yes, mine are the signature pearls with the square diamond studs. Thank you for sharing these options -- I do like Mikimoto and love the Elsa Peretti studs, your taste seems very similar to mine when it comes to these simple daily wear earrings Love the suggestions! I am now a bit wary about buying expensive pearl earrings how upsetting!!!

 

[jaskg144]

So sorry you are having this issue with your earrings - it must be such an annoying thing to deal with!

I recently had the same issue with a piece from Cartier. I decided to give up on the piece, sell it and move on after it had been in for repair. If you can, I would take the earrings back and ask for a credit or a refund altogether. I think it must be a flaw with the design of the product if the same thing keeps happening.

I hope you get your issue sorted!

 

[ffflyin]

So sorry you are having this issue with your earrings - it must be such an annoying thing to deal with!

I recently had the same issue with a piece from Cartier. I decided to give up on the piece, sell it and move on after it had been in for repair. If you can, I would take the earrings back and ask for a credit or a refund altogether. I think it must be a flaw with the design of the product if the same thing keeps happening.

I hope you get your issue sorted!

Thanks for sharing! Out of curiosity... could you share what Cartier piece this is? I am considering purchasing something from them, but I would hate to go through this entire thing again with another brand lol.

 

[jaskg144]

Thanks for sharing! Out of curiosity... could you share what Cartier piece this is? I am considering purchasing something from them, but I would hate to go through this entire thing again with another brand lol.

It was the SM JUC bracelet. It had to go in for repair because it was completely deformed. When it came back, it was great, but it started to bend again I love Cartier's rings, but their bracelets do leave a lot to be desired sometimes because of issues with locking mechanisms, latches, etc.

 

[ffflyin]

It was the SM JUC bracelet. It had to go in for repair because it was completely deformed. When it came back, it was great, but it started to bend again I love Cartier's rings, but their bracelets do leave a lot to be desired sometimes because of issues with locking mechanisms, latches, etc.

That’s horrible! Shocked that it would deform. I’ve also heard so much about the ”new” locking mechanism… But that’s prob best saved for a different thread. Disappointing, given how they’d like people to believe that the level of craftsmanship and quality is unsurpassed and worthy of their hefty price tags.

 

[A1aGypsy]

Oh shoot. I’m sorry. That’s too bad. I would say, unfortunately, pearls aren’t for your purpose. Pearls are very delicate. I think the saying is that they should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.

They often have to use glue with pearls and that glue has to be gentle enough to not impact the pearl. And, ironically, water is deadly for pearls. They are just not going to stand up to showering and sleeping, no matter how much you pay for them or where you purchase them. Even mikimoto says they are not for everyday and moisture (including perspiration) will damage them.

 

[etoile de mer]

Oh shoot. I’m sorry. That’s too bad. I would say, unfortunately, pearls aren’t for your purpose. Pearls are very delicate. I think the saying is that they should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.

They often have to use glue with pearls and that glue has to be gentle enough to not impact the pearl. And, ironically, water is deadly for pearls. They are just not going to stand up to showering and sleeping, no matter how much you pay for them or where you purchase them. Even mikimoto says they are not for everyday and moisture (including perspiration) will damage them.

I agree on all points, and not an ideal match for how OP wants to wear earrings. @ffflyin , I love pearls, but they really must be treated with care, and I don't think they can be expected to fare well worn as noted. In my opinion, it doesn't seem a failing on the part of Tiffany, other than it likely would have been better for customer service (after replacing/repairing a number of times) to offer advice on pearl care. Certainly a nuisance for you, though! Hoping you can find something else that suits you better.