There aren’t many jewelers in the world quite as recognizable as Tiffany & Co. While Cartier, jeweler to royals from every corner of the globe, may have made it all but impossible for anyone else to make as much of an impact with the word ‘Love’, the sense of luxury that is tied to Tiffany & Co can be evoked without any single piece of jewelry at all. All it takes is that little blue box.
Tiffany and Co have plenty of signatures. From their ‘Return to Tiffany & Co’ heart tag charms to their subtle-yet-distinctive ‘T’ hallmark and exclusive “Tiffany Setting”, Tiffany’s pieces range from the obvious to the subtle.
There’s definitely a lot to love about this brand. Anyone sentimental for the classic styles of Hepburn, or the modern opulence held by some of the brand’s leading lights right now – lights as bright as Beyonce and Jay-Z – will feel drawn toward Tiffany & Co.’s 5th Avenue flagship.
Before you blow your savings on a Tiffany diamond, however, there are a few things you should know about buying an engagement ring from this world-famous jeweler.
Tiffany & Co has risen to the very height of popularity as a result of a combination of luxury and exclusivity. Its pieces reflect a level of quality that anyone preparing to spend thousands of dollars will want to find – if not, it’s unlikely they would still hold the same level of esteem from customers around the world.
You can feel confident that any engagement ring purchased from Tiffany’s will be of a high quality, and will last for many, many years.
The catch? The mere fact that Tiffany & Co. is a luxury brand.
Like Cartier, shrewd branding and marketing are central to Tiffany and Co.’s success. They have built a level of exceptionality and matchlessness around their name – something that many of us find hard to resist – and a sense of authority within the world of fine jewelry that shoppers feel drawn to them.
After all, it’s hard to argue with the fact that sitting down to dinner and bringing that ‘robin egg blue’ box from your suit pocket would be a pretty spectacular moment. But, let’s say you took that same Tiffany diamond engagement ring and moved it into a less distinctive box – is the moment really going to be any different?
In all likelihood, no – and sacrificing that brief flash of Tiffany blue could save you thousands (and thousands) of dollars on your engagement ring.
Tiffany & Co.’s engagement rings are, as you might expect, truly beguiling. They exemplify precisely the level of quality and beauty you would expect from one of the world’s most prestigious jewelry brands – although, admittedly, you can find that same level of quality and craftmanship elsewhere for a fraction of the price. Yes, Tiffany & Co. live up to expectations, but a lot of other brands surpass expectations to create the same results.
Tiffany & Co.’s signature look is a simple solitaire in white gold or platinum, and a stunning diamond held in place by that six prong Tiffany setting. It’s the LBD of the engagement ring world and a real stunner.
But there are alternative options too, and the brand even deviates from its commitment to bright, star-like platinum and white gold by offering yellow and rose gold, too. Still, the selection is (understandably) relatively limited. There are some more modern, unexpected designs alongside the classics, but not much choice if you’re looking for some added embelishments without going overboard.
Tiffany & Co. proudly state that they only accept 0.04% of the world’s gem grade diamonds. It sounds great – guaranteed high quality, even for a diamond novice – but, given the fact that a diamond can easily be of ‘low quality’ and still eye clean, bright, brilliant, and beautiful, it’s not necessarily a perk for shoppers.
Another important thing to note is that Tiffany & Co. do not use any of the leading diamond grading labs like GIA or AGS. Their grades for Cut, Clarity and Color follow the same format as GIA, but each diamond they receive is graded by their own in-house team.
However, Tiffany & Co. is a reputable jeweler, and they have enough confidence in their own methods that they clearly state they will ‘hold themselves accountable for the accuracy” of the grades they give to their diamonds. Keep in mind, however, that the GIA only grades loose diamonds, so you won’t be able to send your Tiffany ring to one of their labs.
When it comes to clarity, ‘Tiffany Standard’ only covers grades down to VS1 – despite the fact that shoppers can find many eye clean options at VS2, SI1 and even SI2 clarity. Similarly, their color grades considered ‘Tiffany Quality’ go as far as I color diamonds, which means they don’t even include the entire ‘Near Colorless’ range in their offerings.
At no point did it feel like they were trying to dupe customers into overpaying. It’s simply a fact that Tiffany & Co. is dedicated to its own branding – its own persona. They don’t need to offer diamonds of VS2 clarity and lower because their ‘target’ clientele are willing and able to pay more for the prestige of the branding – and that’s part of what makes it such a coveted brand.
The important thing to note here is that Tiffany & Co. is an experience. While they have an online store, their engagement rings typically require a phone call, and most of the emphasis remains on their brick-and-mortar stores. Why? Because a large part of the luxury of their brand stems from a classic approach to discussing design details with customers – something we wholeheartedly agree with. They offer appointments with a diamond expert and plenty of opportunities to get to know their rings’ journeys.
In our experience, walking into Tiffany & Co. is a little like stepping back into a time that only ever existed on the silver screen of the 20th century. There’s a sense of ‘slowing down’, and of being given the time to think – something that the online retailers, so directed toward efficiency and ease, can’t emulate. The sales associates are knowledgeable and, most importantly, it’s clear they are dedicated to continuing Tiffany & Co.’s legacy of luxury with every customer.
Of course, we’re not celebrities, and even the most starry-eyed of customers would be conscious of the fact that their approach to a sale is as much a part of their personal branding as the little blue box itself. Most of us aren’t used to being treated like ‘big spenders’ but when in Rome…
Tiffany also promises a lifetime of aftercare for their engagement rings – a great plus, whether you need it or not.
What we’re not so hot on is the pricing. While it’s an excellent brand for celebrities with near-unlimited budgets who want to capture a little of that exclusivity and prestige, the rest of us will have to choose between that blue box and getting the best diamond possible at our price point. The same quality and craftsmanship can often be found at jewelers near you, without the premium price tag that comes with the Tiffany name.
Buying a diamond isn’t a complicated process, provided you understand what you should expect to pay for certain different levels of quality and different carat weights. It’s perfectly possible to get a stunning diamond for a great price that sits around the middle of the average price range for that carat weight, whether it’s 1 carat or 5, and getting your head around how to do that is a great way to ensure your budget goes as far as possible. That’s the same for those working to $10,000 as it is for those working to $100,000.
At Tiffany & Co., a lot of that final price tag will be a result of their branding – of the story and opulence surrounding their brand. That hallmark doesn’t come cheap.
Undoubtedly, there’s more to a Tiffany & Co. engagement ring than the box it comes in, but we don’t believe they are offering any more than what hundreds of other brick-and-mortar stores across the country are able to offer, and at a much, much more realistic price.
One of the things we really love about Tiffany & Co. is its unwavering commitment to responsible diamond sourcing. They represent a key example of ethical practices in the jewelry industry and deserve to be known as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and a participant in the Diamond Source Warranty Protocol.
Tiffany & Co. ensures transparency and accountability throughout its entire supply chain. They prioritize integrity by meticulously tracing each diamond’s journey, from its extraction to its place in their iconic designs.
Tiffany & Co. also demonstrates its commitment to responsible diamond sourcing through its support for initiatives like the “Botswana sort.” This term refers to the practice of sorting and valuing diamonds mined in Botswana, a country renowned for its diamond production.
Botswana sort is a real boost for economic development and empowerment of local communities in Botswana, where diamond mining plays a crucial role in the country’s economy.
There’s no arguing with the fact that Tiffany & Co. engagement ring is an exciting prospect, but any buyer tempted toward their storefront should remember that much of that excitement stems from the jeweler’s clever marketing strategies over the years. True, the rest stems from being able to hold a truly stunning engagement ring, but that same level of beauty and quality remains available from jewelers up and down the country – jewelers not charging the same premium price for their branding.
A beautiful jeweler with a unique and romantic significance in popular culture, but their pieces are far too pricey – and their diamond selection far too narrow – to entice us past the window displays.
When considering the iconic and luxurious Tiffany & Co. engagement rings, there are several practical tips and aspects to be aware of to ensure you make an informed and satisfying purchase. Here are the most crucial ones:
As part of our comprehensive review, we’ve reviewed an extensive dataset of 11,266 customer reviews from across the web to create a Positivity Score for Tiffany & Co. This score represents the percentage of positive reviews for each of Tiffany & Co.’ 34 locations, reflecting the real experiences of shoppers nationwide. We averaged all scores into a Grand Positivity Score. The Grand Positivity Score for the entire chain stands at 75.2%, offering insight into the general customer satisfaction levels at their stores.
To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve compiled a detailed list of each Tiffany & Co. store and its individual score. Explore the rankings below to find out how your local Tiffany & Co. measure up.
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Indiana (IN)
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New York (NY)
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Note:
The insights provided in this review are drawn from publicly available data, customer reviews, and expert analysis. Our goal is to offer a balanced perspective to help buyers make informed decisions.
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tiffany and Co. All information is based on publicly available data and independent evaluations. Logos and trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used for informational purposes only.
Readers are encouraged to verify all details with the retailer directly before making a purchase.