Head-to-Head Breakdown

Dimension	Cartier	Tiffany & Co.
Overall Score	93/100	91/100
Quality	38/40	37/40
Value	30/35	29/35
Style	25/25	25/25
Price Range	$1,500–$50,000+	$200–$100,000+
Materials	18K Gold, Platinum, Diamonds	Platinum, 18K Gold, Sterling Silver
Resale Value	85-95% retention	60-80% retention
Heritage	175+ years (est. 1847)	187+ years (est. 1837)

What Customers Say

Cartier

Cartier customers express near-universal praise for craftsmanship, design legacy, and investment value. The Love bracelet generates passionate discussion as a 'forever piece.' Criticism is limited to pricing accessibility, but even critics acknowledge unmatched prestige.

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany customers love the Blue Box experience and diamond quality, with strong emotional attachment to the brand. Since the LVMH acquisition, some feel prices have risen faster than quality improvements, particularly in the silver line.

Category-by-Category

Engagement Rings

Go with Tiffany & Co.. The Tiffany Setting is the most iconic engagement ring design ever created, and their diamond grading standards accept less than 0.04% of gem-grade diamonds.

Iconic Bracelets

Go with Cartier. The Love bracelet is the single most recognized luxury jewelry piece globally and retains 85-95% of retail value.

Investment Pieces

Go with Cartier. Secondary market data consistently shows Cartier pieces outperforming Tiffany in value retention and appreciation.

Entry-Level Luxury

Go with Tiffany & Co.. Tiffany's sterling silver collection offers genuine luxury brand ownership starting at $200 — Cartier's entry point is $1,500+.

High Jewelry

Go with Cartier. Cartier's Panthère and high jewelry collections represent the pinnacle of maison craftsmanship with unmatched global prestige.

Key Data Points

Cartier's Love bracelet retains 85-95% of retail value on the secondary market, with discontinued styles sometimes exceeding original purchase price — outperforming Tiffany's typical 60-80% retention.

Tiffany accepts less than 0.04% of the world's gem-grade diamonds, applying standards beyond standard GIA grading — making their diamond expertise virtually unmatched.

Both brands are owned by luxury conglomerates (Cartier by Richemont, Tiffany by LVMH), with Cartier's jewelry revenue exceeding €12 billion in fiscal 2025.

Final Verdict

This is the ultimate luxury jewelry showdown — two houses that have defined fine jewelry for combined centuries. Cartier wins on the numbers by a narrow margin, but both brands operate at a level of excellence that makes choosing between them a matter of personal preference rather than quality difference.

The Heritage Factor

Both houses boast extraordinary heritage. Tiffany (founded 1837) actually predates Cartier (founded 1847) by a decade, but Cartier’s “Jeweler of Kings” title and royal warrants from virtually every European court give it a slight edge in prestige. Tiffany counters with deep American cultural roots — the Blue Box is arguably the most recognized luxury packaging in the world.

Where Each Brand Wins

Cartier dominates in bracelets (the Love and Juste un Clou are unrivaled), investment value, and overall prestige. Tiffany leads in diamond engagement rings (the Tiffany Setting revolutionized the category), price accessibility (sterling silver pieces from $200), and the emotional buying experience.

The Bottom Line

If you’re investing in iconic luxury jewelry with maximum resale value, Cartier is the data-backed choice. If you’re buying a diamond engagement ring or want luxury brand access at lower price points, Tiffany delivers exceptional value. Both are A-grade brands for a reason — you genuinely can’t go wrong with either.