Why the Tiffany Bashing?

[ame]

I get stalked by security in Kohls. At least you must look like a high end thief...lol!

Gimmethebag makes a very good point. "So I feel like that for people that would rather pay a premium to have all the searching/researching done for them, Tiffany does sell quality diamond jewelry that is beautiful. "
Very True. DH would probably rather pay the premium to keep me off the internet/forums doing all the searching and researching...LOL. I shutter to think how much time I spent researching diamonds.

lol@Kohls.

Yea he told me to STOP LOOKING AT THOSE SITES. Go back to lusting after what I saw in a magazine lol

I have been in the INFAMOUS store several times, both alone & with a friend. I've had nothing but good experiences. True, I wasn't buying diamonds but did buy several pieces of jewelry & other items. Maybe the staff was having "off days" with me. lol

Maybe I need to go back with you. My husband wondered if it was because I look "too young" to be taken seriously. I don't look that young. And it doesn't seem to matter how I dress. I pretty much wear the same thing every day, a cardi over a cami/tee, dark jeans or slacks, gray converse or crocs flats. SOMETIMES in the summer I ditch the cardi, and just layer a lace-trimmed cami under a tshirt. Im boring as hell, actually, but I don't look like a broke-ass child. And I carry an LP that I know Neimans and Saks have carried in the past. I don't look like a Frontenac/Ladue lunchin' lady but I don't look like I came from SoCo either. It's bizarre. I guess that's why I keep going to Nordies. They treat me well.

 

[billetdoux]

And DF regrets everyday that I learned so much about diamonds. I get overly worried right now about white gold yellowing and he wishes that he had gone to Cartier or tiffany to shut me up and suck up the cost. But if it was platinum then he also knows that I'd be a crazy person with the polishing. So I'd want white gold then!... He can't win. Haha

Cartier's white gold does yellow! Well, it doesn't exactly turn yellow, but it loses it's luster (which is from the rhodium plating) and becomes this dull grey color. I experienced this with my love ring

And, a lot of jewelers have started putting a light plating of rhodium on platinum because this eliminates the polishing issue and makes it shinier. For a wedding band/ring in WG, you'd probably want to get it replated every 3-5 years. Rhodium, if plated correctly, *shouldn't* start to wear any sooner. The cost for plating would run you around $200 if you were to do it on a wedding band because you'd need a thicker plating to last longer.

 

[black jade]

Hahaha you girls need to be in china! ). I've had sales people in stores follow me and then proceed to talk to each other in Chinese about me. People tell me I don't look fully Chinese so a lot of people assume that i don't speak or understand. But I do! Lol

And DF regrets everyday that I learned so much about diamonds. I get overly worried right now about white gold yellowing and he wishes that he had gone to Cartier or tiffany to shut me up and suck up the cost. But if it was platinum then he also knows that I'd be a crazy person with the polishing. So I'd want white gold then!... He can't win. Haha

I'm laughing with you here because I speak and understand fluent Chinese and I'm black and when I was over there it I was always cracking up at the things people were saying about me right in front of my face because they always assumed I couldn't understand. Sometimes I would make a remark so they knew I understood but sometimes I didn't because it was just so funny.

The most common things I heard:''At least her hair is black" (when brushed down)

"how does she get her hair to do that?" (when it was natural and curly). Once I heard someone reply to this "It's fake--I lived in the US and they do that with fake hair"

"Her nose is not THAT big" (I heard this one all the time).

"Nice eyes; has double eyelid" (This is apparently a good thing; but when they got closer then it was always
"Eww, how creepy, she has green eyes")

"She's not all THAT dark, if she put on lighter colored foundation would look okay."

"I wonder what this, that or the other thing she's wearing cost"

(They were always entirely dissecting my clothes and saying what they liked or did not like).

"My g-d, feet so big. Like man."

"Foreigners are big in the bust, aren't they".

Another common thing I'd hear was people discussing where I could be from. they knew I wasn't American because "ALL Americans have golden-yellow hair"!

However to my face when people knew I understood, I never heard any of these things. Then it was always, "Oh, you speak such good Chinese, how amazing" (with no shame at all about whatever they had just been saying);
"oh, you're so pretty" "oh, you're so smart".

However, no one ever thought I was stealing anything. And only children ever followed me, in the countryside (usually yelling 'big eyes! big eyes!" until their mothers grabbed them and pulled them away)

And you should have heard what they had to say about my friend who is about five foot ten with long red hair and very pale (who was ALSO fluent in Chinese). However when they knew she understood them, they would ask her let someone take a photograph with them and her. They never asked me that. Apparently I was strange, but not so strange that they wanted to preserve me forever for friends to stare at in the family photo album.

This was 30 years ago--I've heard that people are more used to foreigners now and much more sophisticated. They were the nicest people by the way--treated me very kindly--I don't mean this to sound as if I thought they were awful or didn't have a good time.

And even here in America when I speak Mandarin to someone you should see their jaw drop to their feet. Usually the coversation goes like this, I say hello and they start saying how great I speak Chinese, because a lot of foreigners can say 'ni hao' and they're not really surprised at that, then I start really talking and they go into total shock. It's really very funny (but of course I don't laugh to their face).

 

[ame]

I seriously think plating platinum is such a waste. My platinum stays plenty shiny without it. I polish them once or twice a year, and it still looks pretty new!

As for on white gold, longevity of the plating is definitely going to be based on how you wear it and how your skin handles white gold. Plating can wear right off or your skin can eat it (like mine does) in minutes, hours, days, weeks. It has nothing to do with how well it's done for someone with an allergy to the alloys in the actual base of the ring.

 

[ame]

"My g-d, feet so big. Like man."

"Foreigners are big in the bust, aren't they".

:lolots::lolots::lolots:

THAT. IS. HYSTERICAL.

 

[black jade]

On topic:
This forum IS a very understanding one. I like that about it very much.

I think that what happens with Tiffany's a lot is that when you mention it, people think you might not understand that you can get bigger diamond at other places and feel obliged to mention that, in case you want a bigger one. (A lot of people value larger diamonds more than name brands). In my experience though, most people stop giving advice once they realize that a person really specifically wants a Tiffany diamond, and is aware of the price premium and doesn't mind.

Of course, there are also certainly people who would just in general run down things that they feel they can't have. I've been on some of the other boards mentioned, never for long and it was amazing to me how NASTY people get on one of them towards anyone who dares buy ANY diamond--and not moissanite, which is clearly so very very superior. I don't have anything against moissanite or any sim but it seemed like the last level of total denial, buying something clearly only BECAUSE it looks like something else; hoping to fool people into thinking it IS something else (they also go on and on about how people can't tell their moissanite is a diamond, which I bet is not always the case even when people say nothing); and then ending up saying that the people who buy the original are stupid and/or stuck up for getting it. Not everyone who buys moissanite or other sims behaves like this of course (I've never had moissanite but I have worn other sims at times and see nothing to be ashamed of in this) but the culture at some boards is amazing that way and they turn on any disagreement like a pack of hounds on a fox.

 

[skphotoimages]

And you should have heard what they had to say about my friend who is about five foot ten with long red hair and very pale (who was ALSO fluent in Chinese). However when they knew she understood them, they would ask her let someone take a photograph with them and her. They never asked me that. Apparently I was strange, but not so strange that they wanted to preserve me forever for friends to stare at in the family photo album.

I nearly had juice come out of my nose when I read this! I should know better than to drink and eat around you fun ladies!


I'm SOOOOOOOOOO jealous of you foriegn language speakers. So SO jealous. I wish I had the knack for it. I have a pretty diverse brain, but whenever I try to learn foriegn languages it's like there is a missing link up there.:girlwhack:

 

[skphotoimages]

On topic:

I think that what happens with Tiffany's a lot is that when you mention it, people think you might not understand that you can get bigger diamond at other places and feel obliged to mention that, in case you want a bigger one. (A lot of people value larger diamonds more than name brands). In my experience though, most people stop giving advice once they realize that a person really specifically wants a Tiffany diamond, and is aware of the price premium and doesn't mind.

THIS!!!!! Yes, I haven't been able to put into words what I wanted to say!! Thank you!

 

[PJcherri]

My husband wondered if it was because I look "too young" to be taken seriously.

This wonders me too. I really like some of the Tiffany designs and I'd hate to skimp out from the designers and go with a replica. When I was in the store I did felt they treated me as if I was a kid or just trying to shove me along even when I asked to look at some of the stuff and went in with intention to buy something (it was for my birthday). It seriously killed part of my excitement tbh.

 

[kohl_mascara]

I noticed the Tiffany bashing as well. Everyone at school was fawning over my classmate's 2 carat G VS2 on a pave band and said "why waste money at Tiffany's when you can get the same thing or better at xxx? If your DF got this at Tiffany's, it would've been 5x more!" right in front of me.

On forums I've been to, I've noticed that most people say they "like Tiffany" but if paying for a name, they'd prefer Cartier or HW numerous times. IMO, this isn't Tiffany bashing but it's brushing off the name as inferior to other luxury brands - otherwise why else not buy from them? Why let a name gauge where and what you buy? Shouldn't it be the style? I mean, if someone mentioned they would rather pay a premium at Cartier, at least mention the design that is influencing one's decision, otherwise it just seems so capricious! I wouldn't buy my dream e-ring from a store for reasons like "name" or "great customer service" - I agree that Tiffany might not have the best SAs, but I literally went to 12 different stores before I found the SA I liked and wanted to work with because I wasn't going to let an attitude get in the way of me getting my ring.

Finally, another tPFer mentioned, I'd get signature pieces from the brand associated with it (i.e., if I'm buying a ballerine type ring, I'd get Cartier, or the legacy or a schlumberger design, I'd get it from Tiffany). If I had seen my ring anywhere else first, I would have gotten it, but since Tiffany was the first place I (and others) had seen a design like that, I was going to get it from Tiffany. It's their design and anything else is just a copy! If I wanted to copy a design, I'd want it to be original and make it distinct enough so it doesn't look like just a blatant imitation.

 

[kohl_mascara]

But I totally agree with you guys about being followed. I usually get tailed by SAs who are pushy and want to make a sale or those quiet ones that say nothing but just follow you and monitor your movements. Those are the most annoying of all. Leave me in peace or you're not getting my money you a**holes.

whoops: same thing with me. People always mistake me for being Korean!

black_jade - that is hilarious!! I wish I could speak fluent Chinese (I'm Chinese). Most people think I am Japanese or Korean because I have an accent when I speak (well I guess at least it isn't as bad as an "Americanized Chinese" accent!)

Also, as to your comment about people laying off you they figure out you really want a Tiffany diamond, I wish that were the case with my mom's friends! When she told them both that I was engaged with a Tiffany ring, their heads blew off and they started nagging, saying I wasn't an "informed buyer," I got "tricked," and basically that I was young and stupid for buying a ring from Tiffany!

I don't get why other brand name stores don't have the "bad taste" that Tiffany has!

 

[OVincze]

Well, to add more on my part, I do love Tiffany's designs and would definitely get a Tiffany's piece for the design and quality over larger size and yes the brandname does add value, even if it is not the intrinsic value of the diamond but the a Tiffany's piece will command higher prices even if you were to sell it used at a later time. I see this all the time on antique and vintage dealer sites, brandnames make a huge difference in the case of jewelry. This stands true in non-fine jewelry as well; Swarowski will always command a higher price because it is designer and considered collectible even if not made of 100 % gold and it has crystals instead of gemstones. Recognized jewelry designer pieces retain a much higher value because demand is higher for them as well, they sell easily when used too and their value may actually go up with time. So it is most definitely not a waste of money to get a Tiffany piece whether it is an Ering or anything else.

 

[ame]

This wonders me too. I really like some of the Tiffany designs and I'd hate to skimp out from the designers and go with a replica. When I was in the store I did felt they treated me as if I was a kid or just trying to shove me along even when I asked to look at some of the stuff and went in with intention to buy something (it was for my birthday). It seriously killed part of my excitement tbh.

And they don't get that treating us as inferior or incapable of affording their items (which to me are ridiculously overpriced), kills THEIR commission.

 

[VivianYY]

Totally agree that it's personal preference. I love my luxury hand bag, shoes and clothing. My view point on Jewelry is that if I like a unique signature piece from a reputable jeweler I will def. want to get it from that brand. but since my dream e-ring is less tied to any specific design, i rather focus on getting a good loose stone and setting it to whatever I want. Also for example I would buy the motif necklace from VCA but probably wouldn't buy a pair of round plain earring stud from VCA. It's kind of like buying un-branded white t-shirts for 500 bucks. But heck, if Hermes sells dresser drawer lining papers then there is a market for everybody's taste and liking


^^ I think there are two sides of the coin in those situations. I realized that sometimes some people voice their opinion really without any more thought to it, so it's not necessarily that they are being defensive or insecure, that might actually be how they feel. I think most people are more considerate in voicing a strong opinion on money related things depending on who they are talking to (ie. if someone loves luxury items might not be good sense to undermine it in front of them or directed towards them)

VivianYY I would enjoy your fabulous ring and not think too much about what the motives of the comments are

Laurayuki, I agree with you and I do exactly just that as I am not bothered by her comments. But what's phony about this whole thing is that she and her DF went to Tiffany to look for wedding bands afterwards. So I am just trying to explain the title of the thread, "why the Tiffany Bashing?" If she doesn't care for Tiffany and feel so wrong about paying the premium, why look for a wedding band there?!

 

[kohl_mascara]

Well, to add more on my part, I do love Tiffany's designs and would definitely get a Tiffany's piece for the design and quality over larger size and yes the brandname does add value, even if it is not the intrinsic value of the diamond but the a Tiffany's piece will command higher prices even if you were to sell it used at a later time. I see this all the time on antique and vintage dealer sites, brandnames make a huge difference in the case of jewelry. This stands true in non-fine jewelry as well; Swarowski will always command a higher price because it is designer and considered collectible even if not made of 100 % gold and it has crystals instead of gemstones. Recognized jewelry designer pieces retain a much higher value because demand is higher for them as well, they sell easily when used too and their value may actually go up with time. So it is most definitely not a waste of money to get a Tiffany piece whether it is an Ering or anything else.

A lot of people mentioned that jewelry, especially diamond jewelry have really bad resale values, but that shouldn't be the driving force behind their decision. At least for me, I never plan on selling my e-ring! But I agree that I've seen designer brands sell higher for the same non-designer product (except at certain places like pawn shops where they only sell for the amount of gold, etc. in the piece).