How to Spot Fake Tiffany & Co Jewelry
Tiffany & Co. is a brilliant designer that makes some of the most sought after jewelry in the world. Unfortunately, this has led many to create fake or counterfeit Tiffany pieces and then try to sell them as originals. In this short video we’ll go over some of the ways you can tell if a piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry is genuine or not.
- Look at any solder joints on the piece. Tiffany’s jewelers are excellent craftsman and you should not be able to readily see a seam or crack at the solder joints.
- For jewelry claiming to be silver (stamped sterling silver or 925), check that the piece is actually sterling silver. Tiffany uses high quality silver while many of the knock-offs are actually plated brass.
- Check the stamp. Make sure it’s there, it’s spelled correctly, and there aren’t any obvious errors (like it being off center).
At Arden Jewelers, we don’t like fake jewelry. We have a great collection of genuine Tiffany & Co. available for sale in our shop, and we check every piece to make sure it’s the real thing. When we find one that isn’t… well, you can watch the video to see what we do with it. 🙂
Loved the video. I may need that blow torch. I recently purchased some “Please Return to Tiffany” stud earrings from Mercari. When they arrive the “Please Return to Tiffany” was printed on both sides of the earrings. Looks face to me. What are your thought?
Thank you!
Hi Teresa, I’m glad you enjoyed the video. That is a tough one. I asked around the office, and we have not seen one stamped like that. Of course, that alone doesn’t mean it’s fake, but I would definitely be suspicious of it.
I found a “Please return to Tiffany & Co Pendant” it’s round and marked New York with the serial 000995. The lettering is perfectly center also it tests sterling silver. The only thing is there’s not a 925 hallmark for metal purity. I’m assuming it’s a fake because I believe Tiffany always marks their precious metals with the purity mark. Have you come across fakes made of sterling silver? It looks good besides lacking the purity mark. Thank you for your time and response.
John
Hi John, thanks for reaching out. That’s a tricky one. Yes, Tiffany always stamps their pieces to indicate the metal composition (925, 18k, etc.). So, if it’s missing a quality stamp, that’s a big red flag. That said, it’s possible that the stamp has worn off over time. If you are in the Sacramento area, feel free to bring the piece by our shop. One of our buyers can take a look at it and give you our professional opinion.
Good day
I have just swapped 2 pairs of earrings for 2 solid silver bracelets. They were both very tarnished and i tried to clean them up with a bit of bicarb and vinegar and then rinsed them off with luke warm water and dried them. They have a few scratches but as they were just lying around like a pile of junk. I would like to know if you are possible able to assist with the value if any. The out side of the bracelet is stamped 925 T & CO 1837 and on the inside it has 1997 Tiffany & Co 925. The one bracelet is slightly smaller, but also a bit thicker than the other.
Any feedback will be highly appreciated
Regards
Miranda
Hi Miranda, thanks for commenting. It’s always difficult to give an accurate value without seeing the piece in person. One of the best ways I have found to determine the current market is to find similar pieces that have sold recently on eBay or other online marketplaces. If that doesn’t help, feel free to email us some good pictures and we can do our best to give you a ballpark value.
Hello . I bought a Return to Tiffany and Co
New York 925 vintage 16” chocker off eBay . One week and it’s tarnishing . All my other silver I’ve had on at least 8 months is not tarnishing yet . I’m wondering if the 925 of claw clasp is a counterfeit punch ? I’ve never had any silver tarnish in a week after the seller said just cleaned . Thank you
Hi Nancy, that’s a tricky one. The fast tarnishing is definitely a bit concerning. I would recommending bringing the piece in to a local jeweler to have them test it.
Very informative video with good humour at the end. I have been gifted a triple sterling silver bracelet. It has hallmarks inside each bracelet with a date 1997. The bracelets are also stamped on the outside . The bracelets look perfect you cannot see any joins. Do you think it’s authentic and was it possibly made in 1997?
Hi Andrea, thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you liked the video. Without seeing the bracelet, it’s difficult to say for sure, but it doesn’t sound like an obvious fake from your description. If you need to be sure, your best bet would probably be to bring it in to a local jeweler with expertise on Tiffany and Co jewelry.
Do all vintage Tiffany and Co Heart studs have the Tiffany & Co hallmark stamped on the posts?
Hi Deanna, that’s a good question. I don’t know the exact rules for Tiffany & Co stamps on earring posts, but I will say that genuine Tiffany & Co jewelry will be stamped somewhere on the piece. If there’s no stamp on the earrings themselves, the posts are the next best place. That said, keep in mind that earring posts can be replaced. It doesn’t seem likely, but it is possible for legitimate posts to be put on a fake piece. Unfortunately, without seeing the earrings in person, we couldn’t really give you a good determination on whether they are genuine or not.
I think your video is great ! Not only is it educational its entertaining . The humor used at the end of the video as you showed what you do with the impostors nailed it ! The lighthearted segment made me feel comfortable and confident that your business is open and approachable with questions I may not have answers to.
Thank you .
Hi Vera, thanks for the kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video.
Thank you very much for the valuable information. As a Tiffany & Co. lover I feel very grateful for the video. Zema Nina.
You are welcome! We’re glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Hi Angelo,
I recently came into a silver necklace from Tiffany and Company. The Hallmark of T& Co. has a very undistinguished T, and I was wondering if it is a fake? The other hallmarks of 925 and Italy look okay to me.
Hi Adri, thanks for reaching out. That is definitely a red flag. Tiffany is fussy about getting their stamp right. It’s possible that it has simply worn over time, but I would be concerned about the pieces authenticity.
take it to clean for free in any tiffany and co store. if is fake they will refuse to clean it. even though the stamps suppose to last for a long time, i have friends that had vintage pieces n one of of their pieces stamp in a few letters started to look faded, she took it to the store and they clean it and restamp it.
seem or crack should be spelled SEAM or crack…just mentioning…
Thanks for catching that. It’s fixed now. 🙂
My diamond ring has an LF stamp on it. Can you tell me what it means please?
Hi Mary, thanks for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, that stamp doesn’t have any special significance that we are aware of. It is most likely a manufacturer’s mark indicating who made the ring, but I’m not sure which company or individual it would refer to. Sorry we couldn’t be more helpful on this one.
Hi Angelo—
Very clever! When I come in to look at your totally gorgeous diamonds I always enjoy looking at your Tiffany jewelry — as you know I have even purchased some for gifts—
Who knows – at some point I may buy a piece of Tiffany as a gift to me! It can cuddle up with the diamonds in the jewelry box—
Nancy
Hi Nancy, thanks for kind words. I’m glad you liked it! 🙂