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Tiffany Tanzanite

Indican

Indican

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
132
Hi Everyone,

I have purchased a couple second-hand Tiffany pieces in the past and didn't have a problem getting an insurance valuation report for those pieces. For the past items, I did have original receipts and told them I was not the original buyer -- they said no problem and let me purchase the insurance report. I recently purchased a pair of second-hand Tiffany Tanzanite earrings. I do not have any paperwork for these earrings. I'm not sure if Tiffany's policy has changed, but I was told that unless I was the original owner, I am unable to purchase an insurance report. I purchased the earrings online from a jewelry consignment/estate seller. I paid much more for the earrings because I figured I could easily take them to Tiffany for authentication/valuation. I have written to the seller to ask if they can give me the name of the consignor (I asked about paperwork, receipts when I made the purchase). I'm including some pictures of the earrings in case someone is a Tiffany Tanzanite fan and recognizes them from a past collection. Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.

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Tiffany have not helped with purchases bought on the second hand market for quite a few years now. You were lucky that they helped you as much as they did. Unfortunately I think you may struggle to get help from them. :(sad
 
They won't even authenticate that it is Tiffany (which you don't need because they probably say so), let alone any other info, if it's bought second-hand, I don't believe. I doubt the online seller can give you consignor info either -- that could be dangerous if it happened with a bad person. The most they might offer to do is ask if the consignor will contact you.

--- Laurie
 
@ LD You're right, I probably just lucked out with the other pieces. I took those in about two years ago. They were pieces still currently being sold in the store, unlike these earrings.


@ Laurie Very true. I guess I just need to decide if I want to keep them now.



They are supposedly Tiffany, set in platinum, 3.6 tcw -- and that's all I know. I have some time to return them if I decide I impulsively overpaid (thinking I could easily get them authenticated/valued by Tiffany). I'm new around here... is it OK to ask for people to give values on this to help me decide if I should keep or not? Values based on if they are Tiffany and values if they are non-Tiffany would be helpful as well.
 
Yep, Tiffany stopped issuing insurance valuation reports or even authenticating that a piece is Tiffany for anyone except the original buyer (or apparently an inheritor if you have like proof of the will, or something that sounds complicated like that) last year as far as we can tell. There are several other threads on it. I think your best bet is to take it to an appraiser who often works with signed pieces (ask the auction houses in your area) and getting an appraisal.
 
Distracts's advice is great. It's also about your only avenue. Can't give you a valuation from photos -- and you need an appraiser who knows the market for these items anyhow. Good luck.

--- Laurie
 
distracts|1372135805|3471845 said:
Yep, Tiffany stopped issuing insurance valuation reports or even authenticating that a piece is Tiffany for anyone except the original buyer (or apparently an inheritor if you have like proof of the will, or something that sounds complicated like that) last year as far as we can tell. There are several other threads on it. I think your best bet is to take it to an appraiser who often works with signed pieces (ask the auction houses in your area) and getting an appraisal.
Click to expand...

Distracts is correct; for any sort of accurate valuation, it is best that the experienced person be able to see it in hand.
 
I hate to sound negative but typically the posters on this forum don't buy coloured stone items from Tiffanys as the quality is, I'm afraid, not brilliant. Interestingly and surprisingly, their coloured stones leave much to be desired and they sell treated gemstones at a price that you would / could purchase as untreated. You are therefore paying for the name, Tiffany. The Tanzanites in the earrings are ok and fairly good but they're not outstanding (if the photos are accurate).

As to valuation - there's two types (1) or insurance purposes that typically is a grossly over-inflated amount or (2) a valuation of how much the piece is worth.

At the end of the day if they are for you (not resale) and you like them and you feel you paid a fair price then don't worry about them! Just enjoy wearing them.
 
LD is right: you pay for the advertising & fancy store rent, not excellent untreated gems. One other caveat -- don't mean to pile on you, just trying to help in the future. In your photos the only place the earrings say Tiffany is on the screw backs, which actually don't look like a style I ever saw at Tiffany when I worked there. I don't know if they ever used screw backs or not, but it would have been a few or more decades ago. Anyway, the earrings must be marked too if they're real -- can't tell from the pics.

Unfortunately, markings don't guarantee they're genuine. There is so much Tiffany fakery on the internet -- eBay is notorious -- that you need to be completely sure before you pay for the name. Those might be real & if you know & trust your vendor, it helps, but often the vendor can be fooled. Some are very well done. People used to bring fake Tiffany stuff from eBay into our store all the time, seeking authentication (and a few to return them for cash! :nono: ).

Anyway, enjoy them -- they're very pretty whether or not they're Tiff.

--- Laurie
 
@ distracts Thank you. I've gone back and read some of the threads discussing the new policy. I will definitely take your advice and look for an appraiser who works with signed pieces if I decide to keep them.

@ Laurie I should have been more clear when I asked for you guys to give me values. I just wanted to know the max you guys would pay for these, just to give me an idea to help me decide if I want to keep them or not... not the values for insurance purposes. I wanted a Tiffany valuation for two reasons 1) to authenticate the earrings -- I've never seen these earrings before, but then again I have only been looking at Tiff Tanz for the last few years 2) to get an idea of the retail value from Tiffany to see if I got a good percentage off the retail price -- was aiming to get 40% off the estimated retail/value 3) so I can insure it later if I do decide to keep them. So I guess what I really should have asked was.. if you guys saw these pictures of the earrings (showing the color), described as Tiffany, platinum setting, 3.6 tcw... what is the most you would pay for them? Like I said, I was aiming to pay 60% of the estimated retail price. I just wanna figure out if I significantly overpaid for these... if I did, I can return them.

@ Chrono I will definitely get an appraisal if I decide I got a decent price on these, Tiffany or not -- As you can see, I'm green in jewelry buying so I didn't even know I should be looking for untreated stones.

@ LD I really appreciate your honesty.. this is the kind of info I am looking for here.. don't need you guys to tell me they are pretty and I did good if I didn't, lol I'm hear to learn how to make smart purchases... I just want to figure out if they are worth what I paid (with this new knowledge).. I'm afraid to tell you guys how much I paid for them at this point, lol They are for me, and not for resale... so at this point I'm just trying to figure out if I paid a fair enough price to justify me keeping them. I certainly don't feel they are worth what I paid if they aren't authentic Tiffany, that's for sure.

@ Laurie I didn't even realize I should be looking for untreated stones. I'm glad you mentioned that you used to work at Tiffany. I was wondering if anyone recognized these earrings or the design from past collections. They are only stamped on the posts, not on the actual basket settings. I won't purchase Tiffany at retail, only second hand if I get a good deal... I was looking at Tiffany Tanzanite because of history between the two, I'll pay more for the Tiffany label, but not too much more, and definitely not retail. Is it allowed here for me to mention the vendor?
 
Indican, I get you now on what you wanted to know re cost. Somebody else will know more about tanz prices -- I haven't bought any so am not much help. I have doubts about their authenticity if the Tiff hallmark is not on the earring settings themselves -- at least it should say T&CO somewhere. I've never seen backs like those, or screw fittings on Tiffany earrings -- but I'm no expert on all their stock over time. They look pretty modern for them -- it's more of an earlier type, like the 30s & before. However, I could be wrong. The lack of hallmark does bug me, though.

Treatment of gems is an individual preference -- some people want them virgin, others will accept this or that treatment. The important thing is to know what a stone has undergone so you know whether you're paying a fair price & that the stone's integrity hasn't been compromised. Untreated stones are usually more expensive. Tiffany's small print in brochures & website says treated gems are acceptable to them -- most people expect top-notch stuff from them & pay top-notch prices, when better stones are available at lower prices elsewhere. The premium is for the Tiffany name & not much else -- these days not even for the grade-A service they used to offer.

Take a look at eBay/auction sites for similar earrings to see what prices they bring. At least that will give you a base. Then add a whole bunch for the Tiffany brand :$$): . It sounds like you paid quite a bit -- if they don't sing to you, I'd suggest returning them & looking for less expensive ones -- or buying the tanzes & having them set. The sticky at the top of this forum https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/new-to-coloured-gemstone-buying-read-this-first.174284/ is a good place to start.

You're smart to ask! Hope it all works out well for you.

--- Laurie
 
Tiffany has a huge markup - should anyone purchase something of like quality on their own that is comparable, it will cost well under 2x what Tiffany charges. As for the tanzanite, these are commonly heated, so I would not be surprised if this pair is as well. In terms of colouration, these do not appear to be the trade ideal colour. That said, gems and gem colours is also a personal preference. If these appeal to you, then you should keep them.
 
You haven't said what carat weight these are or what the metal type is but to give you a ballpark figure:

White gold earrings with half a carat in each of very very good quality Tanzanite will be around $300-500 at the absolute high end.

Best quality tanzanite for a 1 carat stone is around $450.

If the picture is accurate and reflects the colour of the tanzanites then they're good quality but not top quality.

I hope that helps?
 
LD,
Guesstimated to be 1.8 ct each or 3.6 ctw, set in platinum.
 
Did the vendor have an explanation for what to me appear to be tool marks on the prongs? When I see signs that the gems have been pulled, I become instantly skeptical that the original gems were subsequently restored to the jewelry.
 
I DO see those tool marks too and was wondering................................
 
@ Laurie I went to Tiffany to look at some of their earrings, and all the ones I looked at felt much more substantial than these. I also noticed the stamp on the settings in the store. I've decided to return them since I can't justify the price I paid if they are not authentic; I will always wonder if I kept them. Plus, now that I know better, I'm finding other stuff I like better. They aren't worth the price I paid since they are a simple design that I can get elsewhere. You're right, I've noticed some changes in their customer service over the past couple years too. Thanks so much for all the help. That gemstone buying thread is great!

@ Chrono Thanks for the advice. I think they're pretty, but not pretty enough for the price I paid... I'd prefer if they were darker and smaller.

@ LD, Thanks for the information; it helps me a lot. They are 3.6 tcw set in platinum. I paid $2,670. Thank you LD for creating the gemstone buying thread!

@ AaronL I didn't notice the tools marks until you pointed them out -- good eye. The seller stated in their description, "stones were pulled and weighed by Tiffany & Co."

@ motownmama Now I do too, lol

You guys have been so helpful. I'm learning a lot. Really appreciate all the great advice. I've decided to return the earrings for a full refund. You guys made the decision easy for me, so thank you all!
 
Indican|1372752292|3475896 said:
@ AaronL I didn't notice the tools marks until you pointed them out -- good eye. The seller stated in their description, "stones were pulled and weighed by Tiffany & Co."
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I would have returned these as well because of the iffiness of the stones, brand and pricing. I find it odd that the tanzanites were removed and weighed by T&C. I wonder why that was done...
 
Chrono, I assumed the stones had been pulled to get an accurate carat weight, but if she had this done at Tiffany, she should have had some paperwork to give me.

Christine, Thanks for the link. So glad I'm returning these.

The seller sells mostly estate/vintage items. I assumed that the earrings were just a retired design. Learned my lesson. I lurked here on PS for too long, should have become a member and jumped in sooner. Thank you for helping me.
 
Indican|1372783436|3476055 said:
Chrono, I assumed the stones had been pulled to get an accurate carat weight, but if she had this done at Tiffany, she should have had some paperwork to give me.
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If she had the original paperwork, the stones need not be removed. I find this very disconcerting. Most people are able to get an estimate from the measurement of the stones, so removing stones from a setting is disturbing and unnecessary. Not to mention the fact that we don't know if it was indeed done at T&C or elsewhere to switch the stones.
 
Chrono,

The seller said they were consigned to her and that she didn't have any paperwork on them.

I've already returned them, but they were described like this:

100% Tiffany and Company Platinum Tanzanite Earrings
3.6ctw Tanzanite, approx 1.8ct each earring
Beautiful Color
Platinum screw backs marked 950
Weighs 4g
Original pair by Tiffany & CO.
Stones were pulled and weighed by Tiffany & Co.
All original mountings
 
In any case, I don't want to beat a dead horse further and am glad that you returned the pair. If the stones were indeed pulled by T&C, the carat weight should be very precise, not approximately 1.8 ct each. It ought to be listed as 1.78 ct and 1.92 ct or some such together with the mm measurements.
 
Chrono,

Thank you for the additional information. I wasn't aware that most people are able to get an estimate from the measurement of the stones... that helps me for my future jewelry sales and buys. Thanks so much for your help! I feel like I've made new friends :)
 
Soooo happy I asked for everyone's help on this purchase. I am so glad I returned those earrings. Now I can get eventually get something similar to this set instead! Will consider either T&Co pre-loved or custom Leon Mege :love:

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Indican|1402721036|3692944 said:
Soooo happy I asked for everyone's help on this purchase. I am so glad I returned those earrings. Now I can get eventually get something similar to this set instead! Will consider either T&Co pre-loved or custom Leon Mege :love:
Click to expand...

Tiffany does not always inscribe its stones, particularly when a stone is as soft as tanzanite. I happen to think your studs are authentic. The color is characteristic of Tiffany. The seller of these studs has been trying to sell them for about two years. If you had LOVED them, I think you would have been justified in keeping them, although you may have overpaid a bit. Recently, a very good estate jeweler sold a used pair from the Soleste collection (you reference herein) for just about $2500, a much more substantial earring, but smaller stone. That should give you some secondary re-sell perspective as to valuation, overall.

Also, your instinct to buy Tiffany Tanzanite was a good one. Other than sapphire, its the only colored stone worth buying from Tiffany. Right now, roughly 95% of all the tanzanite imported is processed, well beyond heat, many are synthetic. If you're going to invest in Tanzanite, you're smart to invest in the one very reputable (although pricey) jewelry house who originally brought it to market, and controls the largest supply of the arguably best tanzanite in the world. Finally, all tanzanite is color treated. So don't be scared if you find a well rated piece you love that has been treated, so long as that's all the processing it received.

If you're still interested in owning some Tiffany tanzanite, the dealer who sold the Soleste earrings also has the matching ring, for less than half off the retail, in mint condition. I won't disclose the name here, but I'm happy to share an email where you can contact me privately.

Good luck in your search!
 
RandG, there is no PM service here.
 
pregcurious|1402749241|3693059 said:
RandG, there is no PM service here.
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That's a shame.
 
RandG|1402747317|3693035 said:
Indican|1402721036|3692944 said:
Soooo happy I asked for everyone's help on this purchase. I am so glad I returned those earrings. Now I can get eventually get something similar to this set instead! Will consider either T&Co pre-loved or custom Leon Mege :love:
Click to expand...

Tiffany does not always inscribe its stones, particularly when a stone is as soft as tanzanite. I happen to think your studs are authentic. The color is characteristic of Tiffany. The seller of these studs has been trying to sell them for about two years. If you had LOVED them, I think you would have been justified in keeping them, although you may have overpaid a bit. Recently, a very good estate jeweler sold a used pair from the Soleste collection (you reference herein) for just about $2500, a much more substantial earring, but smaller stone. That should give you some secondary re-sell perspective as to valuation, overall.

Also, your instinct to buy Tiffany Tanzanite was a good one. Other than sapphire, its the only colored stone worth buying from Tiffany. Right now, roughly 95% of all the tanzanite imported is processed, well beyond heat, many are synthetic. If you're going to invest in Tanzanite, you're smart to invest in the one very reputable (although pricey) jewelry house who originally brought it to market, and controls the largest supply of the arguably best tanzanite in the world. Finally, all tanzanite is color treated. So don't be scared if you find a well rated piece you love that has been treated, so long as that's all the processing it received.

If you're still interested in owning some Tiffany tanzanite, the dealer who sold the Soleste earrings also has the matching ring, for less than half off the retail, in mint condition. I won't disclose the name here, but I'm happy to share an email where you can contact me privately.

Good luck in your search!
Click to expand...

RandG, sorry for the late response. The color in the pictures (for the large studs) are a little darker than how they looked in person. I liked the earrings, but didn't love them... especially for the price I paid. The quality of craftsmanship was not great. I really do believe they were inauthentic and have seen negative feedback now for other pieces claiming in-authenticity for other signed pieces they sold.

I still definitely want to get my hands on a pre-loved Soleste set (earrings and pendant). I'm not interested in tanzanite rings.

Thanks for the response and all the great information. My hunt for Tiffany tanzanite will continue! :appl:
 
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