Is it real? How to Spot a Fake Tiffany:Tips & Tricks to Find the Real Deal
There’s no denying it – when considering the best and most renowned brands in the world of luxury jewelry, Tiffany & Co. is always top of mind. First founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young, this iconic luxury house has catapulted to success and retained its position as one of the leading designer houses for over 185 years. Renowned for their impeccable taste and exceptional designs, each piece adored with its signature ‘Tiffany blue’ box, represents a harmonious blend of the past and the future of luxury jewelry.
Yet, with the fame and allure of Tiffany & Co. comes the unfortunate proliferation of counterfeit or fake products. The desire to own a piece of this legendary brand has led to an influx of fake items and deceptive sellers. To navigate this space to find the real deal can be a challenge. Luckily for us, there are a few key methods to determine if you’re looking at the real deal or dealing with a fake.
To help you determine whether you’ve found a real pre-owned Tiffany & Co. jewelry item or if it’s a counterfeit production, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks to narrow things down. Keep reading to discover how to tell if you have a real Tiffany & Co. piece on your hands or something that’s not quite authentic. Here’s how to spot a fake Tiffany.
How to Spot a Fake Tiffany: Take a Look at the Materials
One of the hallmarks of the Tiffany & Co. brand is the exceptional materials that go into each and every piece that they produce. From the finest metals to diamonds with the highest clarity, each item of jewelry is truly a wonder to behold.
The first aspect to look at is the metals used to produce the pieces. All 18K gold pieces will be carefully stamped with ‘750’ to indicate purity. Sterling silver pieces will instead feature ‘925’ to symbolize purity and platinum pieces will be stamped with ‘950.’ This is often overlooked in fake pieces and is a quick and easy way to determine authenticity.
In addition to the metals, taking a closer look at the diamonds within pieces can tell you if the Tiffany & Co. jewelry itself is indeed authentic. All Tiffany & Co. pieces use diamonds with the highest clarity that are carefully selected to look indistinguishable from one another within a piece of jewelry. If the diamonds look cloudy, irregularly shaped, or mismatched, this is a sign that the piece is not authentic.
Find the Iconic Signature
After examining the quality of the precious metals and diamonds used to produce the supposed Tiffany & Co. jewelry, it’s time to take a look at their iconic signature. All pieces that come from this luxury jewelry house are stamped with either the classic ‘Tiffany & Co.’ or ‘T & Co’ signature. This is often placed on the clasps of bracelets and necklaces and the posts or interiors of earrings. The font will feature a larger T and C within the brand name. If the name is all one size, there’s a strong likelihood that the piece is not genuine.
Additionally, some Tiffany & Co. jewelry collections that are designed in partnership with other designers will also feature their signature, such as the Collections by Elsa Peretti, Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso, and Jean Schlumberger. These signatures will appear near the brand signature in a unique font.
Peek at the Details
Another hallmark of Tiffany & Co. jewelry is their exceptional attention to detail throughout each piece. Many iconic Tiffany jewelry designs include intricate motifs or details that are only visible when viewing the piece up close. Many counterfeit products do not maintain this intricate attention to detail as they are cheaply produced, making it an easy way to determine if you are, in fact, looking at a fake.
Look for Crisp, Clean Lines
An easy way to determine if you’re looking at a fake or real Tiffany & Co. jewelry piece is to keep an eye out for crisp, clean lines in the designs themselves. Many fakes and knock-offs won’t take the time to pay attention to the details. These details are characteristic of true Tiffany & Co. pieces with their team of expert craftsmen that work on each and every design.
Take a closer look at the placement of logos and branding throughout the piece – are they evenly placed and well-balanced? If so, it’s likely the real deal. If the design features links or chains, look closely at them – is the soldering even with no breaks? This is the sign of true craftsmanship and a true Tiffany’s piece.
Shop at Reputable Retailer
While it might be tempting to spring for an amazing deal on a used Tiffany ring or a steal on a pre-owned Tiffany necklace, it’s important to take a look at where you’re purchasing from. Opting to buy from a well-established and trusted retailer like Gray & Sons who meticulously verifies the authenticity of their items, provides you with peace of mind that you’re acquiring a genuine piece.
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to spot a fake Tiffany. Always remember, it’s important to make sure that you’re buying the real deal when purchasing a pre-owned Tiffany & Co. jewelry piece. Take a closer look at the materials used to go into the piece, find the iconic signature, closely examine the detail and keep an eye out for general sloppiness in design. And if you’re still stuck, always make sure to buy from a reputable retailer, like Gray & Sons, to assure authenticity.
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