How to Tell If a Tiffany Is Counterfeit
Tiffany and Co. is a name that is synonymous with style, elegance and glamour. The company was started in 1837 by two brothers and originally sold stationary and costume jewelry. Today, Tiffany and Co. is one of the finest purveyors of fine jewelry, time pieces, china, silverware, stationary, fragrances and accessories. The items purchased through this establishment are also generally quite expensive, and often copied. It is important to have the knowledge required to spot an authentic piece of Tiffany's ware, instead of a well manufactured fake. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Look at the links on a piece of jewelry. These links should never be pinched together. Instead a genuine piece of Tiffany's will have links that are always soldered together and there should be no distinction between where one link ends and another begins.
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2
Check out the clasp on the jewelry. It should be well crafted and not look cheap; there should be a 925 stamped at the bottom of the clasp as well.
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3
Feel the weight of your piece. All Tiffany and Co. products are produced from the highest quality materials, such as sterling silver; therefore they will feel heavier. If the piece feels light and flimsy, it could be fake.
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4
Watch for a metal mark on jewelry. The mark should read either "Tiffany and Co. 925", or "T & Co 925", if the piece is marked. Many Tiffany's pieces are also stamped with the date that the piece was produced.
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5
Look at the pouch or bag that holds the Tiffany and Co. piece. This pouch should be crafted of the finest materials and the color of the bag should be the same on the inside and the outside. Many times fakes come in pouches that bear the Tiffany and Co. name, but the inside of the bag is white, while the outside is a different color. The name on this pouch will also be stamped on instead of finely printed or embroidered on.
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Watch for a "return to Tiffany" on many of the jewelry pieces, including the signature Tiffany and Co. heart toggle necklace. The wording should be easy to read and finely engraved, never stamped on or misspelled.
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Feel the weight of the cardstock if you purchased stationery adorned with the Tiffany and Co. signature. There should be some weight to the stationery. If it feels flimsy and poorly manufactured, then it is not authentic.
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Read the price tag on the piece. Tiffany and Co. pieces are expensive. If you purchase a piece and it is significantly less expensive than a similar piece on the Tiffany and Co. website or one of its stores, the piece is probably a fake.
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References
- Photo Credit diamonds 5 image by Renato Francia from Fotolia.com
