Detailed guide to buying a pre-owned Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring
Buying a pre-owned Tiffany & Co. engagement ring can be the best thing you ever do!
Diamonds and platinum are two of the most durable substances known to man. Diamonds are already around 4 billion years old when mined - so what's another 5 or 10 years on top of that?
A second hand ring can look as good as new and save you upwards of 25% of the original price.
If you are considering buying a pre-owned Tiffany & Co. engagement ring here is a simple guide as to what you should look for.
1. Good photography. Without good quality, detailed and clear photographs, how will you know what you're looking at?!
2. No to collection only! Do you really want to pick something up from someone's house, who you don't know, with a wad of cash in your pocket? The answer is a definite 'no'!
3. Stamps and hallmarks. Every ring should be stamped Tiffany & Co. Pt950 or Tiffany & Co. 750 Pt 950. Occasionally a very old ring might be stamped Tiffany & Co Pt900 IRID or just T & Co. The signature might be worn and depending on the age the letters might look slightly different. This Tiffany & Co Pt 950 ring has an older version of the signature. Notice how the font is slightly different to the newer Tiffany & Co. Pt950 ?
4. Serial numbers. In around 2000 Tiffany & Co. started placing serial numbers on their rings. In the early days they began with a letter, later on an eight digit number began to be used.
5. Hallmarks. If a ring was purchased in the UK it will feature UK hallmarks. These are very small embossed stamps which help authenticate the piece. The Assay Office who carry out all UK hallmarking, will only stamp items with the Tiffany & Co. Maker's Mark if they actually come from Tiffany & Co. In the UK, there are four Assay Offices, in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh.
6. Laser inscribed diamond. Since the end of November 2004 Tiffany & Co. has been laser inscribing their diamonds often on a crown facet. These inscriptions are tiny! They are only viewable by a skilled professional with a 10 x magnifying loupe. If any doubt, ask a professional jeweller to have a look for you. Please remember that pre 2004 rings will not feature laser inscribed diamonds. Have a look at our Tiffany & Co Diamond Guarantee page for more information on laser inscriptions.
7. Certificates. Certificates are often available with pre-owned or second hand Tiffany & Co. engagement rings. The certificate will either come in a Tiffany blue paper wallet or a black, leather-look wallet. The newest rings, from around June 2019, are in a hard back blue wallet. The certificate itself used to be laminated but now is not. The certificate details the principal diamond/s in the ring. It contains all the information about the cut, colour and clarity as well as precise measurements which basically amount to a diamond passport. No two diamonds in the world are the same and no two diamond certificates are either. Whether an older version, or a newer one, the certificate should have a raised stamp. The newer (blue wallet) certificates feature a watermark in the centre of the page.
Good luck, and happy buying!