Tiffany & Co - which store?

[vetrade]

Calling all diamond ring aficionados............elder son is taking the plunge and knows his GF wants a Tiffany & Co engagement ring so has turned to me for suggestions on where to buy. But I do know my limitations so maybe a knowledgeable AFFer can help? Surely some of you ladies have the inside info !!

He travels extensively so he is flexible as to where to buy.

I thought one of their stores in Dubai might be best value but our only experience is with their NY store (prices we saw there a few months ago seemed expensive even for what we normally expect at Tiffany). They apparently also have a store in Bangkok now too.
Do Tiffany's prices vary much from city to city or are they standardised once exchange rates are factored in? Budget approx 50K.

 

[Denali]

Damn, for $50K, if it was me, I would be hoping for 5th NY because that's the story you get to tell all your girlfriends and they eewhhh and arrrhhhhh over it while giving their boyfriends the evil eye.

 

[robd]

Damn, for $50K, if it was me, I would be hoping for 5th NY because that's the story you get to tell all your girlfriends and they eewhhh and arrrhhhhh over it while giving their boyfriends the evil eye.

I'm going to agree with this. If you want to say your ring is Tiffany & Co., you wouldn't want to put Bangkok in the same sentence. For $50k, you would get a cracker of ring in Dubai (non T&Co.).

 

[Denali]

I'm going to agree with this. If you want to say your ring is Tiffany & Co., you wouldn't want to put Bangkok in the same sentence. For $50k, you would get a cracker of ring in Dubai (non T&Co.).

What are you saying, my rolex from the Manila isn't cool? The guy said he is going to send me the box and papers for it.

 

[bismarck]

EDIT: I wrote this and then realised I didn't answer your question. No, I don't know how Tiffany prices vary by city.


Oh goodness please please please don't buy it from Tiffany & Co.

I'm sure you've been a sensible parent and advised that buying from Tiffany is similar to buying retail F. At the end of the day you can end up with virtually the same product at 1/10th the cost by buying miles if you give up the little blue box.

As a comparison, a 1.5 carat Tiffany setting retails for about $35k - The Tiffany® Setting Engagement Rings | Tiffany & Co.

Or you could get a virtually flawless diamond for $20k and add $3k for the setting. 584260 loose diamonds, round cut, 1.56 carat h color vs1 clarity ideal cut

Hell, if he still wants to spend $50k he could get something bigger (though IMHO, once you get up to about 2ct I think it starts to look too big).

Ultimately, if the decision is to buy a T&C ring I think you'd need him to go in with eyes wide open that he's spending 50% more for an inferior product based on the marketing.

I'd suggest the girlfriend, after the initial thrill of opening the blue box will probably also realise that it's just a waste of money.

If he wants to create a story about the ring that she can tell her girlfriends, have him fly to Dubai and get it custom made from one of the diamond merchants (I can recommend one if he's interested). Then there's a story and he hasn't paid T&C's ludicrous markups.

Suggest a browse of this website would help - https://www.diamonds.pro/ - I found them very helpful and it certainly educated me when I was going through this process a couple of years ago.

Good luck to your son though.....it's a very exciting time.

 

[Denali]

I was going to suggest a "Tiffany inspired" ring, ie, get bigger, better diamond for your buck and have the setting made but some princesses want the pretty blue box experience.

 

[robd]

EDIT: I wrote this and then realised I didn't answer your question. No, I don't know how Tiffany prices vary by city.


Oh goodness please please please don't buy it from Tiffany & Co.

I'm sure you've been a sensible parent and advised that buying from Tiffany is similar to buying retail F. At the end of the day you can end up with virtually the same product at 1/10th the cost by buying miles if you give up the little blue box.

As a comparison, a 1.5 carat Tiffany setting retails for about $35k - The Tiffany® Setting Engagement Rings | Tiffany & Co.

Or you could get a virtually flawless diamond for $20k and add $3k for the setting. 584260 loose diamonds, round cut, 1.56 carat h color vs1 clarity ideal cut

Hell, if he still wants to spend $50k he could get something bigger (though IMHO, once you get up to about 2ct I think it starts to look too big).

Ultimately, if the decision is to buy a T&C ring I think you'd need him to go in with eyes wide open that he's spending 50% more for an inferior product based on the marketing.

I'd suggest the girlfriend, after the initial thrill of opening the blue box will probably also realise that it's just a waste of money.

If he wants to create a story about the ring that she can tell her girlfriends, have him fly to Dubai and get it custom made from one of the diamond merchants (I can recommend one if he's interested). Then there's a story and he hasn't paid T&C's ludicrous markups.

Suggest a browse of this website would help - https://www.diamonds.pro/ - I found them very helpful and it certainly educated me when I was going through this process a couple of years ago.

Good luck to your son though.....it's a very exciting time.

How about flying her to Dubai in F (vetrade points ) and then getting the custom made ring?

 

[boomy]

I happen to work in the industry and can say Tiffany are one of the biggest ripoffs out there. Buying from them is like purchasing full price business class ticket when you can get first class on the same airline for cheaper with a bit of research.

Tiffany have some nice designs so charging premium for their jewellery is fair but the huge ripoff is with their diamonds. They offer low quality and sell at a HUGE margin. Same type of diamond and often much better one can be usually found within 10km from any Tiffany store at much lower price.

Edit: I can see you live in MEL Vetrade. If you like to send me PM I can help your son to save a lot of money.

 

[PLANT]

Get the box off eBay.... Get the jeweller to engrave it
.....$45k on the home loan or their kids trust fund?

 

[Pushka]

Wow. Engagement rings are really expensive these days.

I understand the Tiffany blue box. It's been a great marketing plan. There's just a certain cache to say the ring has come from Tiffany.

But they are a rip off. And for 50k budget that's a giant rip off.

Maybe a smaller ring from Tiffany so the blue box experience is the same but put the balance towards a gorgeous wedding band from Dubai or better value places?

 

[Pushka]

How about flying her to Dubai in F (vetrade points ) and then getting the custom made ring?

This I like. I'm into experiences more than things. A proposal in Dubai could be spectacular. Hey, why not in F on the way over! Truly memorable.

 

[blackcat20]

Wow. Engagement rings are really expensive these days.

I understand the Tiffany blue box. It's been a great marketing plan. There's just a certain cache to say the ring has come from Tiffany.

But they are a rip off. And for 50k budget that's a giant rip off.

Maybe a smaller ring from Tiffany so the blue box experience is the same but put the balance towards a gorgeous wedding band from Dubai or better value places?

They don't need to be that expensive. I'd be horrified to have a 50k ring. And definitely not from T&Co. I love their silver, but there are far better engagement rings around that aren't over hyped.

 

[Denali]

They don't need to be that expensive. I'd be horrified to have a 50k ring. And definitely not from T&Co. I love their silver, but there are far better engagement rings around that aren't over hyped.

My first engagement ring, same hubby, was 0.7ct & $3K and we've upgraded my rings a few times since then. I would happily have a $50K ring if money was no object but for now we are spending it on travelling and retirement plans so each to their own. I tell my hubby that he got a yes very cheaply when we married many moons ago.

These days, sheesh. I feel bad for the guys.

I really like the idea of flying to Dubai. I think a lot of people know T&C is over priced so the lady will get more bragging rights out of a Dubai experience with her girlfriends.

 

[robd]

Here's an example of diamond ring purchased in Dubai in May this year. The centre stone is .70ct, colourless E, clarity VVS with very good finish in 18ct white gold. Total diamond weight 1ct. The cost was just under $2k. It was valued for insurance (which is inflated by about 25%) upon return at $11,439.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Here's an example of diamond ring purchased in Dubai in May this year. The centre stone is .70ct, colourless E, clarity VVS with very good finish in 18ct white gold. Total diamond weight 1ct. The cost was just under $2k. It was valued for insurance (which is inflated by about 25%) upon return at $11,439.

View attachment 54792

That's beautiful!! I'm thinking its time Shrek and I paid a visit to DXB

 

[Pushka]

Here's an example of diamond ring purchased in Dubai in May this year. The centre stone is .70ct, colourless E, clarity VVS with very good finish in 18ct white gold. Total diamond weight 1ct. The cost was just under $2k. It was valued for insurance (which is inflated by about 25%) upon return at $11,439.

View attachment 54792

We are off to Dubai at Christmas. Need details.

 

[Denali]

We are off to Dubai at Christmas. Need details.

I just sent hubby this thread link and said, Dubai?

 

[Pushka]

I just sent hubby this thread link and said, Dubai?

Last time we were in Dubai it was mid summer and Ramadan and way too hot to shop. This time - perfect weather - FOR SHOPPING. . He thinks we are going to the beach. Ha. Maybe on one day.

So, older son is quite serious about his girlfriend. How do I suggest this thread to him - he is 30 - time to get him sorted.

 

[robd]

We are off to Dubai at Christmas. Need details.

Gold and Diamond Park.

Gold & Diamond Park

 

[robd]

Purchased a matching ring for it too. Both rings $2.3k