Is it Real? Spotting Fake Tiffany Jewelry
Since it was founded in 1837, Tiffany & Co. jewelry has been the symbol of quality and extraordinary design. The company's jewelry is coveted by many. Unfortunately, this means that there is a lot of replica Tiffany jewelry available in the marketplace. Goodwill receives donations of “Tiffany” jewelry regularly. To ensure we do not misrepresent fake Tiffany jewelry as real, we inspect each piece. Here's what we look for when we're trying to spot fake Tiffany jewelry.
4 tips to spot replica Tiffany jewelry
Look for high quality metals
Tiffany jewelry is made with high quality metal. At Goodwill, we have a metal tester we use to determine if the piece is made from the correct materials as described by Tiffany & Co. When shopping online, look for the following markings:
- Sterling silver will be stamped 925
- 18K gold will be stamped 750
- Platinum will be stamped 950
Remember that just because a piece has the correct markings, it doesn’t mean that the metals are what is stated. If the metal appears discolored or has black markings, it’s likely misrepresented in the listing. To further verify the piece you are admiring could be real Tiffany jewelry, make sure the piece passes these additional tests.
Examine the hallmarks and branding
The jewelry should be stamped with either Tiffany and Co. or T & Co. markings. This stamp is called a hallmark. The placement of the stamp and use of the longer or shorter version of the company name will vary depending on the size of the piece. On earrings, it can be found on the earring back or even on the post itself. When you find this hallmark, inspect it carefully. The letters should align perfectly and have perfect spacing between each letter. Misaligned letters, blurry letters and misspellings are sure signs of a replica.
Look at the links
Any item that is made of links, such as a necklace or bracelet, or that has a tag dangling from the item, will have links with a perfect seamless appearance. Tiffany jewelry is so expertly soldered that you should not be able to see how the links were put together. If you see seams on the links or it looks like a link could be pulled apart, it is likely a fake.
Check the gemstone quality
Although Tiffany is most well-known for beautiful diamonds, the company makes pieces featuring a wide variety of gems. Tiffany uses only the highest quality gemstones in its jewelry. Cloudy or scratched stones are signs of replica Tiffany jewelry. If you find a listing for a Tiffany diamond, be sure to check out our blog explaining how to spot a fake diamond.
If you’re hoping to own a luxury jewelry item, shopping one of Goodwill's online shops is a great place to start! Our inventory varies depending on the generosity of our donors but there’s always something new to discover. Plus, you can feel confident knowing we’ve carefully inspected and tested each piece to ensure we provide accurate descriptions in all our listings.