Tiffany & co and other big name jewellers

[Mashedpotatoes]

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

[Mashedpotatoes]

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?

[Mashedpotatoes]

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.

[Mashedpotatoes]

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.

[Mashedpotatoes]

Neil H said:

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

Moving on