Bitta Design Sample Sale Review (12/14)

Walking into the Bitta Design Group sample sale is enough to make even the most composed among us feel a bit like a magpie. Everywhere you look, something’s sparkling: here a case full of diamond and ruby rings that would work equally well on the left or right hand (which is to say as engagement rings or just regular jewelry), there a 120 inch chain of rough cut black and clear diamonds.

Designer Bitta Fouladi, who, along with her mom and sister, runs Bitta Design Group, summarizes the company’s aesthetic as “very trendy and up to date. We like to start with the natural stones – that’s really important to us.” Fouladi’s care shines through on stunners like a black and white diamond cuff: a piece that would work equally well with a black tie gown or jeans, a tank, and some killer heels. The cuff retails for $180,000, but you can pick it up at the sample sale for a cool $33,000. Discounts, in general, run from 70-80% off retail prices, but this being high-end jewelry, you can still expect to drop a good deal of cash.

If you have the means, it’s worth it. Bitta is known for its work with colors and this sale is no exception. “Of course we offer good quality traditional diamonds,” says Fouladi, “but we also like to work with colored diamonds: green, orange, blue, red. Something you think is a ruby or sapphire might actually be a diamond.” Every piece is certified. Bitta’s colored offerings don’t disappoint: an amethyst and diamond cuff with stars exploding above Italian enamel-overlaid 18 karat gold is $15,000 and stunning. A knockout cuff in shades of yellow and amber combines spinel, yellow sapphires, imperial topaz and black diamonds to brilliant effect. True, it’s $85,000, but we’d be hard-pressed to think of a better investment piece. Well, maybe the insane (in the best possible way) diamond drop necklace, which contains 35 carats, including 4.5 in the center stone alone. $150,000 marked down from $1.5 million is a pretty good deal if you can swing it. Similarly, an 8 carat brilliant round diamond engagement ring is the rare case of am $80,000 steal.

If you’re not looking to drop that kind of money, there are bargains available at all price points. A 2.13 carat natural sapphire engagement ring surrounded by 35 tiny diamonds is like a more demure version of the one worn by Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, for just $800. This would literally be a bargain at twice the price. Memo to the marriage-minded: engagement rings, in general, are priced very well at this sale. What appears to be a round diamond ring is, in fact, nothing short of genius. The 2 carat stunner is actually several tiny pear shaped diamonds set to resemble a round ring. This is a lot of wow for a mere $3000!

Fouladi, her mother, and her sister are on hand to answer any and all questions. The atmosphere is warm, despite the formidable ice surrounding the sale: both outside and in the cases.

WHEN: 12/14 – 12/16, T (noon-7), W-Th (10-7)

WHERE: The Peninsula Hotel. 700 Fifth Avenue (55 Street)
866.373.3436

Leila Cohan-Miccio  

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Posted by Bindra at 04:07 PM
bargain news , Sample Sale Reviews |