Tiffany & co and other big name jewellers

Tiffany & co and other big name jewellers

Author
Discussion

Mashedpotatoes

Original Poster:

1,344 posts

147 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
When I bought my soon to be ex's engagement ring I jumped in two footed and rushed into the most expensive jewellers on the high street like the proverbial fool.
They even gave me a free dirty weekend in Falmouth chucked in, how I didn't realise at the time that I was actually paying for that weekend within the price I do not know.
Any way I'm now considering buying some diamond ear studs for the future Mrs mashedpotatoes from Tiffany and co and thought I would stop and ask the advice of the knowledgable.
Are there better online stores that will sell me as good if not better for half the price?
These are what I was looking at:

http://www.tiffany.co.uk/jewelry/earrings/tiffany-...

Edited by Mashedpotatoes on Monday 8th February 21:15

Piersman2

6,596 posts

198 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Just go anywhere but Tiffany. Lol. Not only are you paying double for it being a shop, you're then paying double again for the little blue box.

I bought the OH a silver necklace from Tiffany becuase she wanted it. When it arrived I couldn't believe I'd paid so much for so little. Never again. I felt properly ripped off.

This year I bought her an eternity ring online... no less qaulity, much more diamond than highstreet retailer... and don't even waste your time and money at Tiffany.

DanielSan

18,745 posts

166 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
With a bit of searching you can find the small in dependants who don't have quite such a ridiculous mark up, or if you search really hard even find the odd one man band who makes stuff to sell on to ships and buy directly from him.

Mashedpotatoes

Original Poster:

1,344 posts

147 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
DanielSan said:
With a bit of searching you can find the small in dependants who don't have quite such a ridiculous mark up, or if you search really hard even find the odd one man band who makes stuff to sell on to ships and buy directly from him.
Ships as in dealerships?

djsmith74

371 posts

149 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
If you want something a little different and a one-off, then have a chat with ecain65 on here. This is his thread on the stuff he makes, which is seriously impressive, and seems to have a very good reputation amongst the PH ranks...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

insurance_jon

4,054 posts

245 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
The Mrs recently took a liking to something in Tiffany. I had it made identical in Dubai for a quarter of the price

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?

Mashedpotatoes

Original Poster:

1,344 posts

147 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Jimboka said:
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?
This is what I'm not sure about, I mean it's not like the name is plastered over the studs like it is over a watch, so is it just the knowledge of where it comes from? Surely diamonds and there quality/grade/weight and so on are what gives there value.

olivebrown

137 posts

109 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Jimboka said:
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?
This!

Half the appeal for her would be to say they are Tiffany. The psychological attraction of the brand can't be discounted.

She would be happier to tell her friends when they ask, that they are Tiffany, then some story about how her BF shopped around and got a great deal down at jewellery Quarter.

I mean if you want some resale value (if there is such thing with diamonds) then by all means get them from Jewellery quarter etc.

technodup

7,576 posts

129 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Mashedpotatoes said:
This is what I'm not sure about, I mean it's not like the name is plastered over the studs like it is over a watch, so is it just the knowledge of where it comes from? Surely diamonds and there quality/grade/weight and so on are what gives there value.
It's the box.

Seriously.

Their eyes light up more at the box than the thing inside it. They show the box to their friends before the ring. A wee turquoise cardboard box. An exercise in the power of branding.

tuffer

8,849 posts

266 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I have bought my Wife several pieces from Tiffany, she loves it. You may be able to buy similar for cheaper but that is not always the point. Its like buying a Seat rather than a VW, sometimes the packaging and buying experience is worth it.

Ayahuasca

27,427 posts

278 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I bought my wife some diamond earrings from Tiffanys.

For the money I could have bought bigger diamonds from a no-brand, or slightly smaller ones from Tiffs.

She was absolutely delighted. The blue box is expensive, but worth it.




The Moose

22,820 posts

208 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
olivebrown said:
She would be happier to tell her friends when they ask, that they are Tiffany, then some story about how her BF shopped around and got a great deal down at jewellery Quarter.
Obviously you're not a salesman then wink

My soon to be wife takes great pleasure in telling all her mates with Tiffany or similar branded jewellery on that hers was custom made to my design.

The fact that the diamond is bigger, of better quality (in almost all measurable ways), looks better and cost about 1/2-1/4 of the others is great thumbup

CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
One box, just over a tenner. Sorted.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tiffany-Co-Protective-Gi...

Neil H

15,323 posts

250 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
olivebrown said:
Jimboka said:
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?
This!

Half the appeal for her would be to say they are Tiffany. The psychological attraction of the brand can't be discounted.

She would be happier to tell her friends when they ask, that they are Tiffany, then some story about how her BF shopped around and got a great deal down at jewellery Quarter.

I mean if you want some resale value (if there is such thing with diamonds) then by all means get them from Jewellery quarter etc.
You can't compare it to a watches as a fine Swiss watch will often have another level of craftsmanship put into it versus something cheaper, and you will be able to see that added value. The main costs in your average piece of jewellery, however, is the raw materials. Tiffany sell sterling silver necklaces for £300 FFS, an utterly absurd price.

My advice would be to steer your missus away from being a brand we and value things for what they are, not what the badge tells them they are. Personally I think having something bespoke made by Eddie would be a much nicer gift, than something from what is essentially a high street brand.

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
I bought my wife a lovely eternity ring a few years ago from a top-notch jeweller.

Worryingly, they still send me a Christmas present every year.

Ayahuasca

27,427 posts

278 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Neil H said:
olivebrown said:
Jimboka said:
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?
This!

Half the appeal for her would be to say they are Tiffany. The psychological attraction of the brand can't be discounted.

She would be happier to tell her friends when they ask, that they are Tiffany, then some story about how her BF shopped around and got a great deal down at jewellery Quarter.

I mean if you want some resale value (if there is such thing with diamonds) then by all means get them from Jewellery quarter etc.
You can't compare it to a watches as a fine Swiss watch will often have another level of craftsmanship put into it versus something cheaper, and you will be able to see that added value. The main costs in your average piece of jewellery, however, is the raw materials. Tiffany sell sterling silver necklaces for £300 FFS, an utterly absurd price.

My advice would be to steer your missus away from being a brand we and value things for what they are, not what the badge tells them they are. Personally I think having something bespoke made by Eddie would be a much nicer gift, than something from what is essentially a high street brand.
The raw material in diamond earrings - mostly diamond - is incredibly abundant. There is no shortage of diamonds. They are not rare. What you are buying is not the bit of glittery carbon. If it were, you could buy a cubic zirconia that is just as glittery and much larger for a fraction of the money. Diamonds are all about marketing and image and your subjective feelings towards them.

Audrey Hepburn never made a film called 'Breakfast at Cheap Eddies' did she?





Mashedpotatoes

Original Poster:

1,344 posts

147 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Neil H said:
olivebrown said:
Jimboka said:
But it's not Tiffany. The name is everything.
Why buy a Rolex when a Timex tells the time ?
This!

Half the appeal for her would be to say they are Tiffany. The psychological attraction of the brand can't be discounted.

She would be happier to tell her friends when they ask, that they are Tiffany, then some story about how her BF shopped around and got a great deal down at jewellery Quarter.

I mean if you want some resale value (if there is such thing with diamonds) then by all means get them from Jewellery quarter etc.
You can't compare it to a watches as a fine Swiss watch will often have another level of craftsmanship put into it versus something cheaper, and you will be able to see that added value. The main costs in your average piece of jewellery, however, is the raw materials. Tiffany sell sterling silver necklaces for £300 FFS, an utterly absurd price.

My advice would be to steer your missus away from being a brand we and value things for what they are, not what the badge tells them they are. Personally I think having something bespoke made by Eddie would be a much nicer gift, than something from what is essentially a high street brand.
I'm guessing you didn't really mean to refer to the future Mrs Mash as any kind of a we.

Neil H

15,323 posts

250 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Ayahuasca said:
The raw material in diamond earrings - mostly diamond - is incredibly abundant. There is no shortage of diamonds. They are not rare. What you are buying is not the bit of glittery carbon. If it were, you could buy a cubic zirconia that is just as glittery and much larger for a fraction of the money. Diamonds are all about marketing and image and your subjective feelings towards them.

Audrey Hepburn never made a film called 'Breakfast at Cheap Eddies' did she?
I'm aware of how the diamond market works, precious metals are a little different though. You are still only buying The Name. I guess that in itself has value to some people, I find it a little silly myself.

Mashedpotatoes said:
I'm guessing you didn't really mean to refer to the future Mrs Mash as any kind of a we.
Slightly defensive?

http://goo.gl/n7YRK8

dudleybloke

19,717 posts

185 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Get her some made and have some something personal to the both of you incorporated into the design.
Failing that get some secondhand and tell her they used to belong to someone called Tiffany.