Tiffany''s - actually worth it to me.
- Thread starter nespa
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Insinuating that Tiffany''s has better rounds is totally in error. I''d put Good Old Gold and WhiteFlash''s round inventory up against Tiffany''s any day. Plus they give far more info on the stones than does Tiffany. I am certain that I got a better round stone from Good Old Gold than I could have gotten from Tiffany. But still, I think it''s fine if someone chooses to buy there for the brand name, blue box, or whatever.
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Upside Down man wrote:
>I don''t necessarily blame you for your inherently cynical view of retail jewelers, but I do think it''s misguided to believe that having Tiffany clean your ring is any better than any other jeweler
i''m in nyc - not sure where you''re from. if you go to 47th street it''s a much different "vibe" than in tiffany''s (and i''m not talking about PS-related 47th street shops, because i readily admit they were of higher caliber than the other non-PS-recommended shops on 47th). you can''t guarantee either (47th st. or tiffany''s) *won''t* mess it up, but i am getting the insurance - and you''re right that does cover it either way.
>>so again, she liked it and i bought the mcDonalds of rings.
>See, it''s statements like these that prompted me to respond in the first place.
i simply meant (and am owning up to the fact that) my girlfriend wanted that ring...and that i do realize it''s not a super-coolio ring like many i''ve seen here (the custom work that gets done). but it''s her ring & i love her so she gets what she wants.
>A comment like "I got the McDonald''s of rings" just signals to me how brand conscious you
actually you are incorrect in your assumption - but i can see how you might get that from some of the stuff i wrote. i didn''t *want* to end up at tiffany''s -- i thought their stuff was exorbitantly priced. UNTIL i really did my homework & went back. then (and cautiously) after looking at the reports i found the closest thing i could find to a "good" deal, for the cushion cut with the specs i desired.
i simply think they (and other stores like them like Harry W. & Graff) get first "dibs" on the quality cushions. i didn''t price rounds at all, and don''t know for sure. but from my understanding unless you''re going to get down & dirty & really compare at the facet level (making sure there''s symmetry, no oddly-shaped facets for instance) or even do an actual appraisal, can any of us really compare a $20K to $40K stone? probably not. i''d need more research on that one. in the case of cushions there''s just less stock available; in certain ranges there was NOTHING available & i had to work with what i could find.
>That''s why I commented earlier that it seemed to be like you were making an effort to justify your purchase.
well i was making an effort to justify why i thought the prices at tiffany''s were actually similar to online prices, when you [compare as best you can two diamonds of similar specs, as was the case for the cushions].
>suspect if you tweak a category to get all your specs lined up, you are looking at an online pricetag of $14,000 or so.
that''s *very* close to what i paid for my diamond, at Tiffany''s. by your pricing my markup was about 10 - 15% above online retailers, at the most. i think that''s pretty good (and worth it).
>I promise you I''m not trying to rain on your parade,
well, you''re definitely entitled to your own opin... and you probably know a fair amount more than i do about diamonds & how to value them. but my post was for those who (if they feel like doing some homework) might find what i did - nowhere near a 40% markup, but rather similarly priced (especially when you factor in reproducing the setting vs. getting the actual setting -- I''m sure that''s worth a bit more there, too).
>Your fiance is (or will be) happy with your purchase, which is really the only priority that matters.
on that we truly agree.
>I don''t necessarily blame you for your inherently cynical view of retail jewelers, but I do think it''s misguided to believe that having Tiffany clean your ring is any better than any other jeweler
i''m in nyc - not sure where you''re from. if you go to 47th street it''s a much different "vibe" than in tiffany''s (and i''m not talking about PS-related 47th street shops, because i readily admit they were of higher caliber than the other non-PS-recommended shops on 47th). you can''t guarantee either (47th st. or tiffany''s) *won''t* mess it up, but i am getting the insurance - and you''re right that does cover it either way.
>>so again, she liked it and i bought the mcDonalds of rings.
>See, it''s statements like these that prompted me to respond in the first place.
i simply meant (and am owning up to the fact that) my girlfriend wanted that ring...and that i do realize it''s not a super-coolio ring like many i''ve seen here (the custom work that gets done). but it''s her ring & i love her so she gets what she wants.
>A comment like "I got the McDonald''s of rings" just signals to me how brand conscious you
actually you are incorrect in your assumption - but i can see how you might get that from some of the stuff i wrote. i didn''t *want* to end up at tiffany''s -- i thought their stuff was exorbitantly priced. UNTIL i really did my homework & went back. then (and cautiously) after looking at the reports i found the closest thing i could find to a "good" deal, for the cushion cut with the specs i desired.
i simply think they (and other stores like them like Harry W. & Graff) get first "dibs" on the quality cushions. i didn''t price rounds at all, and don''t know for sure. but from my understanding unless you''re going to get down & dirty & really compare at the facet level (making sure there''s symmetry, no oddly-shaped facets for instance) or even do an actual appraisal, can any of us really compare a $20K to $40K stone? probably not. i''d need more research on that one. in the case of cushions there''s just less stock available; in certain ranges there was NOTHING available & i had to work with what i could find.
>That''s why I commented earlier that it seemed to be like you were making an effort to justify your purchase.
well i was making an effort to justify why i thought the prices at tiffany''s were actually similar to online prices, when you [compare as best you can two diamonds of similar specs, as was the case for the cushions].
>suspect if you tweak a category to get all your specs lined up, you are looking at an online pricetag of $14,000 or so.
that''s *very* close to what i paid for my diamond, at Tiffany''s. by your pricing my markup was about 10 - 15% above online retailers, at the most. i think that''s pretty good (and worth it).
>I promise you I''m not trying to rain on your parade,
well, you''re definitely entitled to your own opin... and you probably know a fair amount more than i do about diamonds & how to value them. but my post was for those who (if they feel like doing some homework) might find what i did - nowhere near a 40% markup, but rather similarly priced (especially when you factor in reproducing the setting vs. getting the actual setting -- I''m sure that''s worth a bit more there, too).
>Your fiance is (or will be) happy with your purchase, which is really the only priority that matters.
on that we truly agree.
> Nespa, you are ridiculously presumptuous and embarrassingly WRONG.
no embarrassment - i can admit when i''m wrong; if you did your research then you did your research. but i''ll be clear once again - i found the exact OPPOSITE of what you say to be true, for the ring i purchased... yes, at tiffany''s. and remember it was not for rounds but rather a cushion.
my point is, if more people took a closer look at the merchandise they''re purchasing at [any of these higher-end stores; not just Tiffany''s] they''d most likely see certain factors which justify a higher cost than the merchandise online. i say there''s a reason a 60K ring is worth that, at those stores.
not to impune your diamond-inspecting ability, but i''d want an appraiser to tell me why it (is or isn''t) worth $60K. make sense?
no embarrassment - i can admit when i''m wrong; if you did your research then you did your research. but i''ll be clear once again - i found the exact OPPOSITE of what you say to be true, for the ring i purchased... yes, at tiffany''s. and remember it was not for rounds but rather a cushion.
my point is, if more people took a closer look at the merchandise they''re purchasing at [any of these higher-end stores; not just Tiffany''s] they''d most likely see certain factors which justify a higher cost than the merchandise online. i say there''s a reason a 60K ring is worth that, at those stores.
not to impune your diamond-inspecting ability, but i''d want an appraiser to tell me why it (is or isn''t) worth $60K. make sense?
One more item I feel worth mentioning (as I did a year''s research so feel I can chime in here).
I *COMPLETELY AGREE* with everyone here who recommends Good Old Gold. They were great. Their reports are more extensive than most...and their website has tons of great info. AND they''re cushion experts; the H&A reports and info on their site was invaluable. IF IF IF i could have found someone to re-do the setting (and at the last minute I bailed on that idea when I factored in cost, timing, etc.), I would have tried to work it out with GOG or with JewelryZone cushions.
AND THE QUALITY IS MUCH BETTER THAN ON BLUE NILE. because they pay attention to each detail (and do not hide the extra details, like other sites did).
so if you''re in the market for a round (or even cushion) i''d listen to everyone else here & run to GOG.
last, it was GOG (and 2-3 other vendors i approached) who were the ONLY ONES willing to replicate the setting for me. everyone else said it was "beneath them" / that they "wouldn''t want to waste [our] artist''s time trying to recreate something from Tiffany''s".
my thought was -- if someone pays you $3.5K to recreate a setting, who cares where the design originated? i was surprised at how un-helpful many stores were...and GOG (and other PS-referred sites) made up for it.
I *COMPLETELY AGREE* with everyone here who recommends Good Old Gold. They were great. Their reports are more extensive than most...and their website has tons of great info. AND they''re cushion experts; the H&A reports and info on their site was invaluable. IF IF IF i could have found someone to re-do the setting (and at the last minute I bailed on that idea when I factored in cost, timing, etc.), I would have tried to work it out with GOG or with JewelryZone cushions.
AND THE QUALITY IS MUCH BETTER THAN ON BLUE NILE. because they pay attention to each detail (and do not hide the extra details, like other sites did).
so if you''re in the market for a round (or even cushion) i''d listen to everyone else here & run to GOG.
last, it was GOG (and 2-3 other vendors i approached) who were the ONLY ONES willing to replicate the setting for me. everyone else said it was "beneath them" / that they "wouldn''t want to waste [our] artist''s time trying to recreate something from Tiffany''s".
my thought was -- if someone pays you $3.5K to recreate a setting, who cares where the design originated? i was surprised at how un-helpful many stores were...and GOG (and other PS-referred sites) made up for it.
Jelly
Ideal_Rock
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mrssalvo
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Nespa, Tiffany doesn''t get first dibs on cushions b/c they cut their own. it''s a patented shape and no one else can get them. I was just at Graff last weekend. their store is gorgeous and they have beautiful stones, but you can, with due dilligence find equal or better stone elsewhere. it''s not saying that you won''t find beautiful stones there, you will. but again, my stone has better specs then any Tiffany''s showed me. and please don''t tell Tiffany that their prices is equal the the deals of the mainstream or they will surely increase prices..i''m quite certain they don''t want to be known as the jewelry stone to get a bargain or deal
Again, i''m not surprised you found reasonalbe pricing with the legacy and i''m very glad you decided to get the real deal instead of knocking it off. I''m one that those that think that copying a designer ring to the exact tee isn''t legal or ethical so if you gal wanted the legacy, kudos for buying it for her.
Nespa was looking for a stone with girdle slightly thin to slightly thick, why do we never see slightly thin describing a round brilliant, e.g. I was looking on Whiteflash site and they seem to have just Thin but they use slightly thin on their cushion descriptions. I know that on the AGS scale a girdle measurement under 2.99% is thin but this is measuring at the facet junctions and wider part of the girdle whereas the whiteflash measurements must be taken in the valleys, so how would you find out if a round brilliant was slightly thin rather than thin?
Nespa,
I just wanted to let you know, I found the same results as you. My gf wanted the lucida first, but then changed her mind and decided she wanted the round legacy (looks like BlingDina''s Avatar). After speaking with Mark Morrell and others, I found it would be as expensive or close to the price to have it knocked off for the same quality diamond (Color /Clarity). Although, I could have saved some money if I went to a eye clean SI2. However, when comparing apples to apples, you''re right, the prices at Tiffany for the LEGACY DESIGN is not too bad compared to what you coulds get online (Apples to Apples). What I wanted at Tiffany''s was going to cost me about 16,600. If I got a knock off legacy (Apples to Apples), it was going to cost me about the same price between 14,500 and 15,000 depending on designer and quality of materials (VS2 I color, 950 Platinum). To me, at that level, the price is negligible (14,000 t0 15,000). I''d rather pay the price for what she wants, plus the lifetime service (cleaning and etc.) I''m sorry it seems like people are all over you about your decision. You''ll never convince everyone or please everyone about your choice. Be happy with your choice!!!!!!! I''ll be joining you in about a year, it''ll take me that long to pay cash for that ring, but SHE''S Worth every penny. Goodluck, AND SHOW US THIS BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!! Don''t be a TEASE BRO. We''re waiting!!!!
I just wanted to let you know, I found the same results as you. My gf wanted the lucida first, but then changed her mind and decided she wanted the round legacy (looks like BlingDina''s Avatar). After speaking with Mark Morrell and others, I found it would be as expensive or close to the price to have it knocked off for the same quality diamond (Color /Clarity). Although, I could have saved some money if I went to a eye clean SI2. However, when comparing apples to apples, you''re right, the prices at Tiffany for the LEGACY DESIGN is not too bad compared to what you coulds get online (Apples to Apples). What I wanted at Tiffany''s was going to cost me about 16,600. If I got a knock off legacy (Apples to Apples), it was going to cost me about the same price between 14,500 and 15,000 depending on designer and quality of materials (VS2 I color, 950 Platinum). To me, at that level, the price is negligible (14,000 t0 15,000). I''d rather pay the price for what she wants, plus the lifetime service (cleaning and etc.) I''m sorry it seems like people are all over you about your decision. You''ll never convince everyone or please everyone about your choice. Be happy with your choice!!!!!!! I''ll be joining you in about a year, it''ll take me that long to pay cash for that ring, but SHE''S Worth every penny. Goodluck, AND SHOW US THIS BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!! Don''t be a TEASE BRO.
We''re waiting!!!!
codex57
Brilliant_Rock
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Hahaha, true for many, many women. I''ve met lots of girls who aren''t all that into jewelry. Tiffany''s has a much better brand penetration than Harry Winston, etc. The name/box alone can trump all other factors by far for many girls.
The same is true with Vera Wang wedding dresses. Peoples'' tastes very so wildly. However, the Vera Wang name will cause respect/envy even if the observer doesn''t like the style. Again, better brand recognition vs other big name designers like Reem Acra.
bargaincrazy
Shiny_Rock
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Blasphemy nespa!! Do you realize that what you''re saying like nullifies the existence of these boards? I''m guessing that some of the members imploded upon reading your post and are now just piles of dust. I''m obviously just trying to amuse myself at everyone else''s expense. I hope I don''t get kicked off the boards entirely as I am Rough Rock or a step below if one existed.
If this at all qualifies me to post a reply, I have recently purchased a ~2.5 carat cushion through Mark at ERD. I think it''s the world''s most amazing diamond, but it''s a far cry from the specs you posted. I''m actually wondering (and forgive me if already mentioned) how you came down to your specs, since it''s complicated/impossible to come up with "ideal" cushion specs.
If this at all qualifies me to post a reply, I have recently purchased a ~2.5 carat cushion through Mark at ERD. I think it''s the world''s most amazing diamond, but it''s a far cry from the specs you posted. I''m actually wondering (and forgive me if already mentioned) how you came down to your specs, since it''s complicated/impossible to come up with "ideal" cushion specs.
I called quite a few people... but can''t remember if I called Mark. I was sick of dealing online after a while & wanted to see some actual stones again so I tried to visit the addresses listed on EngagementRingsDirect and Scheiner Diamonds (both recommended by PriceScope & listed with NYC addresses). Instead of a diamond shop I found two girls stuffing envelopes and another site with an address that didn''t exist. The girls explained that every now & then someone attempts to visit their "store" but it''s just an online presence. They wished me luck in my search.
Most of the dealers I dealt with on my search were from Pricescope - just couldn''t find a cushion to match my specs. Here''s the list I used for the last couple of months (in no particular order):
Tim / Good Old Gold
Mark / EngagementRingsDirect.com
Isaac & John / Signed Pieces << on 47th street and very helpful 15 West 47th St, Booth 42-45 (booth is now 61 or something like that) 866-398-3074
Leah Cawley / Union Diamond
Leslie Harris / Whiteflash
Harry Winston
Tiffany''s
Graff
many people mentioned that (including Tiffany''s) - saying it''s their signature cut. But I saw quite a few Cushion Modified Brilliants (as GIA is calling them?) Most of them were 1.00 to 1.05 Length/Width ratio so they appear squarish (with rounded corners)
definitely. we started our search there, just to get an idea of what is out there & most importantly, what''s considered "exotic" in stones -- they certainly had their fair share. very expensive too.
well, this entire subject was partially to let people who have tiffany''s rings know that even though it *seems* exorbitantly priced, I found data to justify the pricing. [i''ll always include my disclaimer about rounds here, as some ppl thought i endorsed tiffany rounds...but i have no clue in that category]. so it''s not just about branding & status -- there''s definite value there that i think often gets overlooked because many people are interested in the best deal - down to the last penny.
and i don''t blame them - with everything that''s gone on w/ the economy & job stability/instability/stability, it''s a strange time for luxurious purchases.
Yeah, I see your point -- I came to it without that intention (I tried many angles to make it as close to what she wanted). But ultimately I''m glad I scaled down the size of the stone (slightly - by .1, so I could afford it) and went for the exact style she wanted.
And I *know* I said McDonalds of rings but I was just joking about my purchase - since I know there are some serious rings being tossed around on this site. I''m actually proud of this ring & know she''ll love it.
You know, I found that, too -- and some sites [JewelryZone.com comes to mind] would list the girdle but just list part of it (such as "THIN +") So that would be... thin to extremely thick?
I didn''t know if they simply didn''t have room in their database or rather that info was "hidden" intentionally. I wonder if the threshhold (for THIN) is different for the rounds with respect to the girdle?
If you do the blueNile search you''ll see the girdle listed on the left when you highlight a row (THEY REALLY NEED TO BE COMMENDED ON THEIR SITE DESIGN THOUGH!) and searching for cushions you''ll see a lot of ''em [which have NO culet, NO fluorescence] that have EXTREMELY THIN or EXTREMELY THICK in the girdle. Every now & then I''d find one that was so close to what I was looking for, but would say MEDIUM under fluorescence...and earlier on I was told that''s not desirable.
*** THE MAIN THING THAT SHOCKED ME *** and another reason I posted, was that when I plugged my little formula into BlueNile every week, I''d come up with diamonds in the $20K range. I just figured my formula worked for that reason; there was a reason BlueNile is charging $20K for those cushions, and they had NO culet, NO fluorescence, girdle didn''t have any extremes, etc. It was the same story when they jumped up in price. I''m talking overall, in general here, too - as every now & then I''d find one in the $12K range that was a close fit.
OK, i must be a jaded new yorker cause when i read this i figured it was upside down man with a different account, pandering to me.
BUT - if this is a real account then DAMN - i''m glad at least one person could back me up.
AND, i have even better news -- get your credit in good shape / don''t allow too many institutions to do credit checks on you... because i was able to get FREE FINANCING FOR A YEAR.
so even though i kinda ''caved'' and was worried about paying all of that money up front, i paid a modest down payment...and don''t owe a thing until Feb. of 2007.
any accountant would agree that (that''s) a free loan & brings the total cost to own this thing down by (whatever inflation + compounded interest would be on the final price). at least $500 or so. s''worth something.
so if you can finance it, i *HIGHLY* recommend it. just remember to really put that money aside cause even then the monthly payments are fairly expensive.
the ring''s being sized but once i get it i''ll scan it in. again, slightly smaller than what i wanted, but i don''t care - i''m with you; i want to give her simple, courteous follow-up service & lifetime guarantee of the certificate specs & all that. and the ring she wanted.
LAST, my friend at work said [once ring is insured] you can take those tiffany''s certificates & should anything happen, the insurance co. presents the cert back to tiffany''s & has them make the exact ring. i know on some level that makes it less "one-of-a-kind", but it''s not a bad idea that no matter what you have the ring she likes.
i''ll try to attach the pic from their site - it''s the simpler style; not the ornate one.
haha... hardly! these boards really even the playing field though. my *first* experience was helping my friend (about 10 yrs. ago) who was purchasing a ring for a girl who wound up cheating on him & having a family with the guy she cheated with. my friend was on his way into the army - i guess that situation is hard enough.
so - we had to sell the ring back. we bought it at 47th st. & the most anyone would offer was 1/4 of the price (of course) - this was 3 weeks later. we even asked about the return policy but were young & stupid & didn''t get anything in writing. i wound up purchasing the ring from him figuring it was a good investment.
if you purchased from ERD it''s probably pretty dang close, though -- and you''re a full carat above.
it''s true - it''s a complete matter of preference. the only thing that tipped me off (that it was a good deal & that i''ve mentioned it before) is when i plugged that stuff into BlueNile i couldn''t find any 6K or 9K cushions anymore...the price went up to (usually) 12 - 20K. so i figured something was similar to their methodology for pricing.
and to get the specs i simply:
1) read a buncha posts from this site over the months
2) took people''s advice & really looked at the rings to see the difference (yes, G - D is not noticeable to me...but H obv. is)
3) visited GOG -- aww yeah, EXCELLENT site. very informative. again, they were close but probably could have matched my specs exactly if there was more of a selection this time of year.
4) blue nile of course -- you can easily search & sort by most criteria, better than any site
5) a couple diamond tutorials that i found on google when searching "Diamond Tutorials" (in quotes) -- these were the best until I hit GOG''s site.
I also think it''s worth mentioning -- when I approached the vendors with my specs most vendors kept saying "but you''re not giving me a price... that''s too wide of a range i need a price" and i simply said "trust me". and they''d call back with "yep, it was hard to find those specs... " and they''d have (at most) 4 rings.
and the ONLY call/email to come back with a ring that matched the specs came from the guy that sent me the same info I already had from JewelryZone.com. But after comparing those table/depth %-ages to other stones it seemed like *that* was a little off. I finally convinced myself that now that I understand a bit more about the stones it was time to visit Tiffany''s again & really pour over the details of the cert (with a renewed understanding). Every diamond was in incredible shape. I even saw some IF''s which were outstanding & almost considered -but they were 1.08 carat & the like.
Cehrabehra
Super_Ideal_Rock
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it''s not about the decision, it''s about the assumption that you can get equitable deals at tiffany vs say GOG. EVen you admit it is about 2100 more which is what, 15% markup?Date: 11/16/2006 1:43:24 PM
Author: salmon
Nespa,
I just wanted to let you know, I found the same results as you. My gf wanted the lucida first, but then changed her mind and decided she wanted the round legacy (looks like BlingDina''s Avatar). After speaking with Mark Morrell and others, I found it would be as expensive or close to the price to have it knocked off for the same quality diamond (Color /Clarity). Although, I could have saved some money if I went to a eye clean SI2. However, when comparing apples to apples, you''re right, the prices at Tiffany for the LEGACY DESIGN is not too bad compared to what you coulds get online (Apples to Apples). What I wanted at Tiffany''s was going to cost me about 16,600. If I got a knock off legacy (Apples to Apples), it was going to cost me about the same price between 14,500 and 15,000 depending on designer and quality of materials (VS2 I color, 950 Platinum). To me, at that level, the price is negligible (14,000 t0 15,000). I''d rather pay the price for what she wants, plus the lifetime service (cleaning and etc.) I''m sorry it seems like people are all over you about your decision. You''ll never convince everyone or please everyone about your choice. Be happy with your choice!!!!!!! I''ll be joining you in about a year, it''ll take me that long to pay cash for that ring, but SHE''S Worth every penny. Goodluck, AND SHOW US THIS BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!! Don''t be a TEASE BRO.
To me it''s about the diamond cut - if you want a cushion that is cut in the lucida way, by all means go to tiffs. If you want a regular round but you want it to say tiffany''s inside your ring and you want to *know* that every time you look at your ring, the markup is worth it.
What you aren''t going to get people to agree with is that you''re gonna pay the same price, apples to apples.
Date: 11/17/2006 12:14:10 AM
Author: nespa
You know, I found that, too -- and some sites [JewelryZone.com comes to mind] would list the girdle but just list part of it (such as ''THIN +'') So that would be... thin to extremely thick?
I wonder if the threshhold (for THIN) is different for the rounds with respect to the girdle?
If you do the blueNile search you''ll see the girdle listed on the left when you highlight a row (THEY REALLY NEED TO BE COMMENDED ON THEIR SITE DESIGN THOUGH!) and searching for cushions you''ll see a lot of ''em [which have NO culet, NO fluorescence] that have EXTREMELY THIN or EXTREMELY THICK in the girdle. Every now & then I''d find one that was so close to what I was looking for, but would say MEDIUM under fluorescence...and earlier on I was told that''s not desirable.
*** THE MAIN THING THAT SHOCKED ME *** and another reason I posted, was that when I plugged my little formula into BlueNile every week, I''d come up with diamonds in the $20K range. I just figured my formula worked for that reason; there was a reason BlueNile is charging $20K for those cushions, and they had NO culet, NO fluorescence, girdle didn''t have any extremes, etc. It was the same story when they jumped up in price. I''m talking overall, in general here, too - as every now & then I''d find one in the $12K range that was a close fit.
Maybe John Q would know if there is a reason slightly thin is not shown. However, is ''slightly thin'' a description used by AGS or not as their 2.99% states thin and then >3.00% is medium, so this may be the reason.
JohnQuixote
Ideal_Rock
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You are correct, Pyramid. GIA and AGS terminology is: Extremely Thin, Very Thin, Thin, Medium, Slightly Thick, Thick, Very Thick, Extremely Thick. Both labs consider Thin, Med and Sl Thick good as averages. More info in this thread.
winternight
Brilliant_Rock
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Date: 11/17/2006 12:14:10 AM
Author: nespa
You know, I found that, too -- and some sites [JewelryZone.com comes to mind] would list the girdle but just list part of it (such as ''THIN +'') So that would be... thin to extremely thick?
I wonder if the threshhold (for THIN) is different for the rounds with respect to the girdle?
If you do the blueNile search you''ll see the girdle listed on the left when you highlight a row (THEY REALLY NEED TO BE COMMENDED ON THEIR SITE DESIGN THOUGH!) and searching for cushions you''ll see a lot of ''em [which have NO culet, NO fluorescence] that have EXTREMELY THIN or EXTREMELY THICK in the girdle. Every now & then I''d find one that was so close to what I was looking for, but would say MEDIUM under fluorescence...and earlier on I was told that''s not desirable.
*** THE MAIN THING THAT SHOCKED ME *** and another reason I posted, was that when I plugged my little formula into BlueNile every week, I''d come up with diamonds in the $20K range. I just figured my formula worked for that reason; there was a reason BlueNile is charging $20K for those cushions, and they had NO culet, NO fluorescence, girdle didn''t have any extremes, etc. It was the same story when they jumped up in price. I''m talking overall, in general here, too - as every now & then I''d find one in the $12K range that was a close fit.
A couple of points of order.
1. there is no grade of slightly thin girlde, it is ext thin, very thin, thin, med etc
Most labs now grade at the thick main facet junction part but look at the thinnest valley part too - so an extremely thin to slightly thick can be slightly thick all the way around byt have a small extra facet or natural under the pavilion that makes one spot very thin. This is one of the reasons cutters often paint - to stop that thin spot. But often a good setter can make such stones perfectly safe.
2. did someone tell you no culet was bad? No to a small culet is fine.
3. people who blindly state that any amount of fluoro is bad are dummies repeating what other dummies told them
yep, i typed them quickly by memory... my point was it''s good to avoid the extremes...and i saw many of ''em on 47th st. and blue nile.
it''s also important to remember that the general public knowledge of stones is nowhere near what we see on pricescope -- most ppl. don''t even pay attn. to culet & fluorescence & girdle. they''re not the be-all-end-all of criteria...but they definitely apply [as to what makes a nice stone...nice]. while i''ve seen each discussed individually, i figured it was good to shed light on all three of those features; it really helped me compare stones / appraise in the best manner i could.
nope - the reverse. small is fine too but my preference was no culet. i heard that older cushions often have larger culets.
fluoro is not bad...often negligible. BUT "STRONG BLUE" is something (i found) often hidden by dealers. now why is that do you think?
let''s just go to graff & get a nice blue diamond at that point (kidding).
i finally pick up the ring today (tues). i''ve been spending the last 3 days figuring out how to ask her - it''s happening today. wish me luck. haha
thanks again for all the support / the feedback & the discussions. it was all very helpful & you have all played a part in helping [a newbie/from scratch] get a decent ring, be happy with the purchase and i appreciate it.
drew
mrssalvo
Super_Ideal_Rock
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CluelessManInSC
Rough_Rock
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- Jul 6, 2006
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I know I''m chiming in really late on this conversation, but as someone who is also looking for a ring, the Tiffany option, while more expensive, is still in the back of my head as a good decision. I have not made it yet because I''m looking at GOG and Excel, but here is what I think the Tiffany option gives me:
First, my girlfriend wants a Tiffany setting. While the replicas are outstanding, the Tiffany setting is THE ORIGINAL setting and 100% what my gf wants. While she loves looking at the replicas, there may be something about one or the other that isn''t exactly like the real thing.
Second, when purchasing from T&Co., the setting and the daimond are in the same place. I know that I am very stressed out about shipping one or the other to another place and back. I know it''s done all the time, but this is a HUGE investment, and there is something calming about walking into a store and knowing that they are going to handle everything without having to go through an outside third party.
Third, the blue box is never a bad thing.
First, my girlfriend wants a Tiffany setting. While the replicas are outstanding, the Tiffany setting is THE ORIGINAL setting and 100% what my gf wants. While she loves looking at the replicas, there may be something about one or the other that isn''t exactly like the real thing.
Second, when purchasing from T&Co., the setting and the daimond are in the same place. I know that I am very stressed out about shipping one or the other to another place and back. I know it''s done all the time, but this is a HUGE investment, and there is something calming about walking into a store and knowing that they are going to handle everything without having to go through an outside third party.
Third, the blue box is never a bad thing.
etienneperret
Rough_Rock
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- Oct 3, 2005
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- 49
If you are happier with Louis Vitton than Samsonite, or Jaguar than Ford, then you will probably also prefer the Tiffany ring over another lesser know brand. We pay for what we get, sometimes it is the brand name we are paying for and not the quality of the product. It will impress many girlfiends that the engagement ring, actually came from Tiffany.
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Engagement Ring Trends 2025: Styles Set to Shine
Engagement Ring Trends 2025: Styles Set to Shine - 01/15
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