Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Tiffany, Cartier or Similar Brands

K

kgkg

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jun 3, 2010
Messages
15
First time here, so bear with me these stupid questions. My gf wants a Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands engagement ring. I know these brand-names charge extra for their marketing skills.

1. What is the price range should I expect for a 1 - 1.2 carat, D/E/F color, ideal/very good cut, VVS1 or above for Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands. I want to purchase it directly from stores, not second hand or online.

2. Is there any way to reduce the cost? Can I negotiate the price in stores? Are there any similar brands with lower cost?

3. Is the extra cost worth it? I mean except the personal feeling, how do people value this extra cost? Is it through a better cut, reliability, higher quality, or just pure better marketing?
 
Date: 6/3/2010 10:38:59 AM
Author:kgkg
First time here, so bear with me these stupid questions. My gf wants a Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands engagement ring. I know these brand-names charge extra for their marketing skills.


1. What is the price range should I expect for a 1 - 1.2 carat, D/E/F color, ideal/very good cut, VVS1 or above for Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands. I want to purchase it directly from stores, not second hand or online.

a lot. I would stick with VS2 and above, and H and above, unless those other factors are very important to you. I think Tiffany says that a 1 carat solitaire starts at 9200 on their website. Starts at is not D/E/F VVS1...

2. Is there any way to reduce the cost? Can I negotiate the price in stores? Are there any similar brands with lower cost?

not sure how much negotiating there is at Tiffany, or about similar brands

3. Is the extra cost worth it? I mean except the personal feeling, how do people value this extra cost? Is it through a better cut, reliability, higher quality, or just pure better marketing?

to some people, yes. some people like knowing they have a Tiffany or Cartier ring. The cut and quality are good but you can find better online. other people like getting a bigger diamond for their budget with as good or better quality...it just depends on what is more important to you.
Click to expand...
 
You wont find many here that will tell you to get one of those brands. Most here will tell you to buy your own stone and get it set as youll save money and get a better stone.

That being said, the next concensus you''ll get is to buy the tiff/cartier if thats what your GF really wants.
 
Date: 6/3/2010 10:38:59 AM
Author:kgkg
First time here, so bear with me these stupid questions. My gf wants a Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands engagement ring. I know these brand-names charge extra for their marketing skills.

1. What is the price range should I expect for a 1 - 1.2 carat, D/E/F color, ideal/very good cut, VVS1 or above for Tiffany, Cartier or similar brands. I want to purchase it directly from stores, not second hand or online.

2. Is there any way to reduce the cost? Can I negotiate the price in stores? Are there any similar brands with lower cost?

3. Is the extra cost worth it? I mean except the personal feeling, how do people value this extra cost? Is it through a better cut, reliability, higher quality, or just pure better marketing?
Click to expand...
I think it's important to find out exactly why she wants a premium brand engagement ring. Does she not know anything about cut? Is she affected by the romantic notion of getting her ring serviced at a premium store? Do all of her friends have T&Co or similar rings?

Also important to know is your desired budget. You know she's dreamed of a premium brand engagement ring, but if your budget isn't going to reach her desires, then what? Which of the 4 Cs will you sacrifice to get there? Would you consider shopping in the G/H and VS2 range?

You have to honestly ask yourself if given the choice, your GF would prefer a larger, superideal cut diamond with much better performance over a smaller, very good - excellent diamond with the name for the same budget.

I don't know the specific price range for a 1 - 1.2 ct. DEF, VVS diamond at the T& Co and Cartier, but my guess is ~$15k and up. I will tell you one anecdote that might help. I had a friend in Australia shopping in NYC for a ring - 1.5 ct. F, VVS2 diamond ranged from $28k - $30k when he was given quotes at T&Co. He then found a 2.01 ct. Superideal cut through www.whiteflash.com in a platinum knife edge 6 prong setting . . . total cost was $27k.
 
Hi there!
I think that your case is rather interesting. Let me know if I have this right. Your girlfriend seems to just want a brand-name engagement ring, doesn''t matter which brand, whether it be Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston etc. She just wants a brand name ring. She isn''t particularly in love with an exclusive design from a specific store, for example a legacy or a lucida, that cannot be replicated by any other vendor.

1.) The price range will be probably close to 20K at Tiffany-- I''m not sure about Cartier.
2.) There is no way to get a discount at Tiffany--they do not haggle. I''m not sure as to whether or not Cartier will budge on the price, but I do know that at Harry Winston, they do negotiate.
3.) In my opinion, it is totally worth the premium is you love a specific ring and can''t get in anywhere else. If you just want a name brand for no particular reason, other than to be able to say it''s from one of those stores then no, I do not think that the premium is worth it at all. The extra cost is just for the name brand-- their diamonds are not cut any better than a diamond that you can find for a much more reasonable price from PS vendors. It''s all about marketing.
 
I would recommend...

determining your budget, then seeing what you can get for your budget at Tiffany/Cartier vs online. also maybe ask your GF? Do you know what style she wants?
 
I would show your GF exactly how much bigger of a diamond she can get from a non-Tiffany site, and then find out if she still would rather have a MUCH smaller ring from Tiffany''s. I have a feeling she might change her mind when she sees the difference, but, if not, then I would get her what she wants :) Good luck!
 
Thanks, y''all!

I think the reason that my girlfriend wants a Tiffany is that all her friends have Tiffany. Another reason is that she thinks Tiffany means "forever", because she likes the novel "Breakfast at Tiffany''s" although I think there is nothing about Tiffany in that book. She does not even know about Harry Winston, well, neither did I until you guys told me.

She likes a round-shape stone because it mean "classic" and "forever".

I can afford up to $25,000, but I prefer lower than $20k because I need money for a future house downpayment. Given the budget, my girlfriend says she does not want anything larger than 1.2ct.

I really need advice on saving money based on these criteria. Any suggestion is welcome. Thanks!

Also, is it cheaper to buy in Europe, New York, or somewhere else in the US? I live in New York, but if it saves money, I can fly to Europe.
 
If she really loves Tiffany then absolutely get her Tiffany.
1.gif
There''s nothing wrong with that!
I don''t really think that it will make a difference on the price of the ring itself if you buy it in the US or in Europe, however something that you should consider is tax. Say, you go and buy the ring at a Tiffany in PA where sales tax is 6% instead of in NY where sales tax is higher. I don''t know a whole lot about the tax thing, maybe more experienced members can chime in here.
If you''re willing to be more flexible on the color and clarity, you can save a ton of money and still get a GORGEOUS stone. G colored diamonds face up VERY white. Cut is the most important factor anyway--color and clarity are more about "rarity". If you''re totally set on a colorless (D,E,F) stone, definitely get an F. There is no reason to pay a huge amount of money (thousands) for something that you can hardly see. That also goes for clarity, just look for eye clean. You won''t be able to see inclusions in an accurately graded VS1 or 2 stone.
With a budget like yours, you will have no problem walking into Tiffany and getting her the ring of her dreams.
 
Sounds like you''re stuck with Tiffany for sure! Clearly her idea of the ring goes well beyond the quality of the stone, and is rather the sentimental "idea" of owning a Tiffany ring. Damn Tiffany is one hell of a marketer! From what you said only Tiffany carries this symbolism, not Cartier, Harry Winston, Graff, etc. In my opinion, being a lucky owner of many items from these companies, Tiffany is consistently the worst quality (not bad but just not nearly as nice). For diamonds I always choose Harry Winston and sometimes Graff or online vendors. For artistic pieces Van Cleef, Cartier and Buccellati are tops IMO.

I will say, however, flashing around a Harry Winston stone to her GF''s will set her apart from the masses in a very unapologetic way! And Harry Winston only deals in D/E/F, VS2+ and negotiates.

My advice is to simply visit a few of these stores and decide from there.... but I''m afraid you''re stuck with Tif.
 
Well, I do not think I am stuck with Tiffany. I think my girlfriend will be happy if she can show off to her friends that she gets a more "artistic" piece. Personally, I am happy that I give her something "special" that is different from her GFs. I just hate to follow her GFs'' choices.

Therefore, I am open to brand names that signal better artistic quality than Tiffany, although it is very difficult to define artistic quality.

Thanks, asforhim! I will definitely look at Van Cleef, Cartier, Harry Winston, Graff, and Buccellati. Do you know whether I can bargain at any of these places?
 
I say get her a leon on that budget. Nothing says artistry like custom hand made and his M logo is already pretty sought after. If he ever retires it will be a collectors piece for sure.
 
Date: 6/3/2010 1:43:19 PM
Author: kgkg
Thanks, y'all!


I think the reason that my girlfriend wants a Tiffany is that all her friends have Tiffany. Another reason is that she thinks Tiffany means 'forever', because she likes the novel 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' although I think there is nothing about Tiffany in that book. She does not even know about Harry Winston, well, neither did I until you guys told me.


She likes a round-shape stone because it mean 'classic' and 'forever'.


I can afford up to $25,000, but I prefer lower than $20k because I need money for a future house downpayment. Given the budget, my girlfriend says she does not want anything larger than 1.2ct.


I really need advice on saving money based on these criteria. Any suggestion is welcome. Thanks!


Also, is it cheaper to buy in Europe, New York, or somewhere else in the US? I live in New York, but if it saves money, I can fly to Europe.
Click to expand...
In Europe? Not in Italy!!!
Here you can read the quotation per stone (not per carat) with good/very good cut in Italy. The price are in euro, so you have to convert them.
http://www.idb.it/quote.html
Read and laugh. we cry.
When my husband bought my ring (0.73 F IF ex cut) the price was 11577 euro for a vg cut and in that year with 1 euro you buy 1.60 USD, that it mean that in your valute the price was 18500 USD... Thanks to his friendship with the jeweler we paid the equivalent of 14000 USD.
I think that it is better if you don't search for a diamond here.
I had forgotten that you must add the VAT, 20%
 
Oh a Leon for ever.
30.gif
 
Oh! You''re not stuck with Tiffany! Harry Winston, which is pretty much next to Tiffany in NYC might be a great route for you if you want a brand name. Their pieces are magnificent and far fewer people have Harry Winston rings in comparison to Tiffany rings. Oh- and if you drop the name Harry Winston, it is even more impressive (to many of those who care about name brands) than getting a Tiffany ring.
It''s really cool that you want to get her something different than what all of her friends have. Odds are, you''ll find her something even better.
2.gif

Many here at PS will agree: Leon Mege makes the most beautiful rings in the world. Each of his rings are unique pieces of art--his settings are immaculate. I suggest that you check him out.
I know that you''re looking for a round stone. Do you have any idea of what type of setting you would like? A solitaire, baguette sides, pear side stones, pave band? I would love to know what kind of look you''re going for.
 
I think I will get a solitaire. My girlfriend has very thin fingers, around size 5.5. Anything on the side of the ring may look awkward on her finger.
 
How about a Leon Mege custom designed by the master (well, with your input). You could make it a one of a kind type ring...
that would be out Tiffanys for me.

Here is some of his work...
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=26
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=350
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=7

halo work
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=533
http://www.artofplatinum.com/4images/details.php?image_id=520


But how would she feel if she didnt get a "name" that everyone else knows?
 
Thanks a lot, Tyty333! I will let my girlfriend take a look. These pictures are stunning.
 
Date: 6/3/2010 5:11:34 PM
Author: kgkg
I think I will get a solitaire. My girlfriend has very thin fingers, around size 5.5. Anything on the side of the ring may look awkward on her finger.
Click to expand...

Ha, many here would disagree with your *awkward* comment! There are some very delicate pave settings available out there, including at the designers mentioned. Leon is an expert with micropave.

I personally like solitaires, but as the owner of a 5.5 finger (which seems not that small on PS actually - seems like everyone has even smaller here!). I can say pave or sidestones does not look awkward either! A poster on here (yssie) has a new 3-stone with a 2.7ish centre on a 3.25ish finger or something and awkward is the last thing I think of!

It is just a matter of personal preference. Your GF has expressed preferences for certain brands, has she done so for styles?
 
Since you mention size 5.5 is not that small finger, I need to make sure the size is right. Her finger is definitely on the 'very' small side. Thanks!

She has never told me her preferred style. She just want a round stone. I need to show her some Leon Mege's picture and let her choose.
 
Hate to say it, but before Pricescope and working at GIA, I woooo''ed over TIFFANY. I even went there and asked for the "largest" stone I could get for $20k.
33.gif
Looking back I was such a rookie! Don''t fall for "the man" and give in to their marketing...but I see how it can be hard to convince the GF so do whatever is best for your situation. Everyone is different, however, I definitely agree with the other PS''ers and recommend going with Leon. That''s sticking it to the man!
 
You have to keep in mind ring sizes are a bit different...we are talking fractions of mm''s from one size to another. A 6 is average in US. A 5.5 is not huge! Just not that tiny...a 2.5 or 3 on the other hand to me seems tiny!

I am petite and my hands are small, but my fingers are long and appear thin (my husband says I have alien fingers) but they range in size from 5.25 to 7.5 on my fingers!!! I have big knuckles on some of them but my fingers do not look huge! They really do not correspond to height, weight, etc very well!

I would get her sized, but it would not be odd for her to have thin looking fingers and be a 5.5!
 
5.5 is on the smaller size but not tiny. Locally the average size is a 7-7.5 per my jeweler. Most rings come stock in 7 where I live. So you are not incorrect in thinking that 5.5 is small. I think here it seems that people have smaller ring sizes but I think we are dealing with all people all over the world and some people are just smaller in general.

I wear a 4-4.25 for a lone ring on my left hand and I think getting side stones would not be too much for her at all. My current rings are 4.5 or 4.75 since one of my bands is wide for my length of finger (I have short kid sized fingers which honestly is not fun). I would be careful with the over all width of a riing with a three stone to make sure it doesn''t hang over the edges, but that would take large stones.

Small stones like in a pave band would be absolutely fine for her ring size IMO.

Have fun looking around Leon Mege''s site. I think his three stones are to die for. Sadly I cannot wear platinum so owning one of his rings is out for me, but I love seeing what others have!

I understand wanting a name though and I cannot fault your girlfriend for it. I only buy Coach purses now. I want the name and I pay more for it. I even saw a gorgeous black patent wallet for almost half the price, yet I still paid the premium for the Coach name. Good luck looking and I cannot wait to see what you come up with!
 
definitely let your gf look at Leon''s website...those are gorgeous. with your budget you can get a really nice ideal cut sparkler :) also has she seen the different sizes in person? 1.5 may not be too big...

do you know what shape she wants? round...princess...cushion...square cushion H&A...emerald...
 
Yeah, 5.5 is just a smidge smaller than average... all guys think their GFs hands are itty bitty and delicate from what I can tell- well, compared to your guys''s huge fingers I guess we all do have little hands
2.gif
So get her a solitaire if you think that''s what she''d prefer, of course, but at a size 5.5 just about anything, with or without sidestones or melee, you want to do that is classic and well made is going to look appropriate. (I have a size 4.75 ring finger for example.)
 
Did anyone find Leon's website not well designed? It is not as "flashy" or "classic" as it should be for a jeweller, although the pictures of the rings are amazing. Did I look at the correct website http://www.artofplatinum.com/ ?

Last night, I told my girlfriend that I want something better than Tiffany for her. She is very happy and seems to be excited. Yeah.... Thanks Ps'ers!
 
That''s great that she liked the idea of getting something other than a Tiffany ring. This way you can get her something really unique and special!
Leon isn''t a typical jeweler, his website is pretty basic. I find it easy to navigate since all of the rings are organized by style. I actually find other jeweler''s websites tough to navigate through all of the flashiness!
I can''t wait to see what styles your girlfriend likes. She is probably SO excited.
36.gif
 
My girlfriend likes to do "window shopping" in the Tiffany store on the 5th Ave. Is there any way to compensate for the loss of this shopping experience if we choose Leon?
 
You should take her to Leon atelier!!! Maybe some of the other Leon girls who''ve been there can chime in. But it''s an experience. Plus he''s got a couple of incredible rings available for sale that your GF can try on and drool over. It''d be like going to the Studio of the real Tiffany in 1920
 
oooh! I have an idea... your girlfriend would probably love it... you could get her a leon ring and then take her shopping at Tiffany for a special pair of earrings or a pendant!
9.gif
best of both worlds!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top