Engagement ring much MUCH too small

[OmicronPersei7]

Perhaps this belongs in Style and Beauty, I don’t know? I’m a bit stuck.

My new engagement ring is a 40 year old solitaire sapphire Tiffany ring in platinum. Flanked by 2 diamonds in the shank. RRP: insane.

It is size L. And my fat fingers are a whopping P by comparison.

I’m not in love with the idea of sending it away for resizing due to the value. So, I’m going to have to organise something in a few weeks.

I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that it will not be able to be resized by the required 4 sizes. What jeweller would even attempt it when they could damage something so expensive?

Just wondering if anyone else has any experience in this ball park?

Obviously, I have stopped eating, in case this helps the situation.

I’m so happy to be engaged and the ring is just ridiculously beautiful but all I can do is look at the box. I’m worried I’ll never be able to wear it.

I'm surprised at anyone selling a Tiffany ring on eBay. They surely didn't post it via courier?

As you purchased the ring second hand, not direct from Tiffany they may not wish to assist. They can probably look at it and verify if it is Tiffany for a few imagine, fake hallmarks are easy to spot for the experts but they’d have to see it in person. (I’m a jeweller, I work in a prestigious Piccadilly jewellers).

Any competent workshop jeweller can resize that ring. The rings that can’t be sized are those that are set with diamonds all around the band. A simply band such as that it very easy and should cost around £75-£100 I imagine.

You can post insured delivery next day with Royal Mail, insured to £2500. If it’s more than that I’d hold off and take it to a jewellers and when lockdown ends.

@Teddy1970

Bentley & Skinner the Queens jewellers?

... she never buys jewellery there, only silver frames. It’s just a name over the door and they’re the priciest place you could go for a resizing job. #insiderknowlege

Oh and to anyone saying resizing the ring will devalue it - you’re very very misinformed, the value is in the stones not the band (that it just scrap value really). The value in this piece is that it is signed. It is not unusual to find signed items on ebay, I know many legitimate dealers that sell on there and you’ll get it for a 1/3 of the majorly overhyped Tiffany price so it’s a smart move.

I had my Tiffany ring resized down, they did it for free. Not sure what it would be like with covid but I took it into the store. They did offer a courier option too

Gorgeous ring. Congratulations

As you purchased the ring second hand, not direct from Tiffany they may not wish to assist.
They will 'wish to assist'. Their customer service is excellent.

I would imagine Tiffany could and would resize it, but not for free as not bought directly from them. I would guess they would be more expensive than a (more anonymous) jeweller, but not neccessarily "better".

I said I would never get married again, but after seeing that beauty I think I just might OP

It is really really beautiful.

I wouldn’t expect them to do it for free! I’d happily pay for it.

But I’d want it done by Tiffany, for sure. You don’t mess with a Tiffany ring or you’ll wipe out most of its value, since it’s the name that makes it.

You can call Tiffany and they can arrange a repair over the phone.

You can then send it to them to resize.

They will resize their rings to any size. This is a total non-issue, just call Tiffany (they are working on the phones through covid)
It can all be done by courier.

The box you have it in there suggests its been away to Tiffany for repair or polish (as that is the style of box they return jewellery in from repair).

My tiffany ring went away for replating (18k white gold & diamond T ring - not engagement!) And came back in a blue tiffany bag and box, plus the suede box, looking brand new.

They dont care where it was bought from etc...

God thats gorgeous - congrats on your engagement!

@OmicronPersei7

Thank you all for your responses. I actually feel much better now. I hadn’t even considered that the entire setting could be placed on a new band. I’ve just been fretting about the ring being out of my reach forever.

I am so impatient to wear it, it’s driving me mad!

I can only imagine. It's not even my ring and I have come back to the picture to look at it (more than once).

There is just something about it, isn't there.

Lucky lady

@OmicronPersei7 That is gorgeous!

It was the Jewellery Quarter that I went to - and who fixed it when it snapped. There are some lovely places there! Quite a few seem to have closed during the lockdown, I'm hoping they reopen and survive.

Anyway, it sounds like Tiffany's direct is the better route for you, best of luck. I bet you can't wait to wear it!

@ScoobyBlues do you work for Tiffany’s? The previous poster is a jeweller who probably knows Tiffany’s. I personally have found their customer service no better or worse than any other well known brand.

Don’t get me wrong, they are a quality brand and they make quality jewellery but I honestly do not understand the hype on here. You can get just as good gems etc for much less than Tiffany charges, as with any brand you are mostly paying for a name.

@Viviennemary

Size L is tiny. Please don't attempt to slim down into it. If it's worth a lot resizing by 4 sizes could devalue it as could making a new band. Its something you will have to discuss with your partner. I agree with taking it to Tiffanys and see what they suggest.

Size L isn’t particularly small I wouldn’t say! I’m a J 1/2, my mum is an H😂

Beautiful ring OP. Really stunning, I love a sapphire. I had the stones from my mums engagement ring reset. Tiffany might do it for you?

@Exhausteddog

I would imagine Tiffany could and would resize it, but not for free as not bought directly from them. I would guess they would be more expensive than a (more anonymous) jeweller, but not neccessarily "better".

It could have been inherited from someone .....

I had to have my engagement ring sized down. I'm an H 1/2 it was the worst thing I ever did. The moving of the shank dislodged some diamonds. Chose a very good jeweler with good feedback.

Remember to size it with a wedding ring in situ - I didn't know to do that and it does make a difference

The ring was bought off ebay, you can find the cached listing if you google :) £6999 if youre all still wondering.

Its an antique handmade tiffany.

Send it to Tiffany. They can add platinum to the band to resize it to any size you need.

I wont repeat this advice again, and unlike all the other chirpers, im a Tiffany expert, own many pieces - secondhand and new - and use them to polish / repair / resize regularly. Youll experience no problem with them, youll also get a lifetime warranty on the repair.

my friend had a bracelet from tiffany which she was given as a gift. Less than a year later, it broke. she went to them to get it repaired and they quoted an extortionate amount to do it...which is why I think they would charge to resize a ring which you have no provenance for.

The reason Tiffany (and other high end jewellery) is expensive is not neccessarily because they use better diamonds or jewels than anyone else (diamonds are directly comparable by certificate details) its because you're paying for individual attention, in a luxuriously furnished shop in an expensive location, loads of advertising and an ongoing service (cleaning, valuation etc) as well as your piece of jewellery.

@Exhausteddog true - my engagement ring would cost nearly 30k in Tiffany and we paid far far far less.

BUT the op’s ring is gorgeous, it’s vintage (which I think is even more special then a new one from the shop) it has a history and there’s something very romantic about a vintage Tiffany ring. Her future DH did an amazing job and most importantly - she adores it!

Than *

I saw a ring in a Tiffany whilst abroad. It was £27k.

Came back, had my fave jewellery quarter jeweller make one in platinum with a better quality stone and the same setting for just under £8k. It’s insured for £15k.

[quote jomeow1]@Exhausteddog true - my engagement ring would cost nearly 30k in Tiffany and we paid far far far less.

BUT the op’s ring is gorgeous, it’s vintage (which I think is even more special then a new one from the shop) it has a history and there’s something very romantic about a vintage Tiffany ring. Her future DH did an amazing job and most importantly - she adores it![/quote]
Oh God, do I adore this ring.

That is gorgeous! Congratulations op