To tell real Tiffany from fake, check for crisp, precise hallmarks like "Tiffany & Co." and "925" or "Sterling," examine high-quality craftsmanship with securely set stones and smooth finishes, feel for substantial weight, and avoid pieces with plating that shows base metal or faux materials, as Tiffany uses solid precious metals and genuine gems. Key indicators of fakes are sloppy stamps, blurry text, misaligned joins, cheap materials (like faux pearls/CZ), or light, easily tarnished silver.
Look for a “Sterling” stamp. Tiffany's sterling items are among the most counterfeited. True sterling features the mark “925” or “Sterling”. If you don't see either of these stamps then your piece is a fake.
Tiffany has never used faux pearls or cubic zirconia. Beginning in 2004, Tiffany began laser-engraving serial numbers on the underside of its diamonds, which will be clearly visible under magnification with a jeweler's loupe.
To tell if jewelry is real, check for hallmarks (like "925" for silver or "14K" for gold), use a strong magnet (real gold/silver aren't magnetic), observe weight (real metals are heavier), look for skin discoloration (fakes often turn skin green), and perform simple tests like the water (sinks) or scratch (gold leaves gold streak on ceramic) tests; for absolute certainty, consult a professional jeweler.
Tiffany first introduced their own diamond certificate in the 1990s, to inform consumers and to help authenticate the quality of their diamonds. These certificates provided descriptions of the diamond's attributes, helping customers understanding the specific characteristics of their diamond purchase.
The most authoritative way to verify a diamond's authenticity is with a diamond certificate from a reputable gemological laboratory like GIA (Gemological Institute of America). These certificates provide detailed information about the diamond's characteristics and, most importantly, its authenticity.
The number “925” on jewelry means that the metal is sterling silver. The number refers to the percentage of pure sterling silver, which is 92.5%. The remaining 7.5% can be composed of various metals to increase the durability or strength of the piece.
The 2-1-1 jewelry rule is a styling guideline for balanced accessories, generally meaning two pieces on the hands/wrists, one piece on the neck, and one piece on the ears, or variations focusing on visual weight distribution like two subtle pieces, one medium, and one statement for a cohesive look without clutter. It helps create intentional, effortless style by balancing different accessory types and placement, preventing the "Christmas Tree effect" (too much in one spot).
All Tiffany & Co. jewelry pieces should be marked with the brand name, designer signature (if applicable), purity marks, country of manufacture, and sometimes a serial number.
Tiffany & Co. does not offer appraisals. However, any reputable auction house can appraise Tiffany merchandise, usually for a fee.
The serial number can be used to identify the specific piece of jewelry, as well as to track its production, sales, and ownership history.
Tiffany & Co. sued Costco for trademark infringement, alleging that Costco's sale of six-prong diamond rings with tags and signs using the name "Tiffany" (or "Tiffany-style") misled customers into thinking they were buying genuine Tiffany products. Tiffany & Co. argued the rings were counterfeits, while Costco claimed "Tiffany" referred to the generic six-prong setting style. The nearly decade-long legal battle ended in a settlement in 2021, after courts had mixed rulings on the "generic" term issue.
Tiffany doesn't mess around with gold-plated stuff when it comes to classic gold pieces. They use solid gold alloys—mainly 18k and 14k gold, not cheaper metals with a thin gold layer.
Return to Tiffany®
New York” phrase. The key tags were assigned a unique registration number, ensuring that if the owner and their keys were separated, they would be reunited at the legendary Tiffany Fifth Avenue flagship store.
Common Signs of Fake Jewelry
Vinegar is very destructive, so when you apply the vinegar to a fake piece of gold, the vinegar will cause the jewelry to tarnish. Gold is a non-reactive metal, so real pieces of gold will not react to vinegar.
Magnet. This is a fast, non-desctructive test that works surprisingly well. Gold isn't magnetic, so if your piece is attracted by the magnet, you know it's fake. Like all tests, it won't catch every fake, but it's a really fast and effective test you can do at home.
One reliable method is to look for hallmarks or jewelry stamps on the piece, which typically indicate purity levels, such as “925” for sterling silver. Another method is the magnet test; genuine silver is not magnetic, so if a magnet sticks to the item, it's likely not real silver.
Therefore, if nickel is part of the alloy, the 14k gold piece may exhibit slight magnetic attraction. However, if the alloy consists solely of non-magnetic metals like copper and silver, the jewelry will not be attracted to a magnet.
Lift the cap and look for a grey metal ring. The original Tiffany lamps were made with a heavy ring made from lead inside a hollow bronze (or sometimes enameled or mosaic) base. Reproduction lamps tend to use brass, zinc, white metal, wood or even plastic bases instead.
To guarantee the highest quality for their clients, Tiffany adopted the English standard for sterling silver—925 parts per 1,000 parts silver—well before it became the official sterling standard in the United States.
Yes, 925 gold is pawnable, but you won't get nearly as much as you would from solid gold.