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Tuesday, March 19th
Zales first opened as a one-location jewelry store in Texas back in 1924. Nearly 100 years later, the jeweler has retail locations throughout North America and Puerto Rico. And, as part of the Signet Jewelers family, Zales has a "sister" relationship with Jared and Kay.
A little like a treasure hunt
It's not very easy to find what you're looking for at Zales, at least when it comes to charm bracelets. While you can see all 70 charm bracelets on a single page, the charms themselves are harder to find. Search for "charms" and you'll get jewelry that's obviously meant to be worn on a necklace, plus a bunch of smart watch add-ons that won't work with charm bracelets either. Zales carries over 500 charms suitable for bracelets or necklaces in the Rembrandt brand; the easiest way to see what's available is to type "charms" in the search box and wait for the Rembrandt option to come up.
Mostly silver, some enamel
Once you get to that page, there are categories you can select: Family, Heart, Travel, Animal, Hobby and Religious. But, as we browsed all available charms, we wondered which categories some of them would fall under. A corkscrew? A gavel? A skull? Still, there's a decent selection of sterling silver charms here: maybe not many of the more whimsical, colorful enamel styles we've spotted with some jewelers, but plenty of options if silver is your thing. There are a few other charm brands on offer here; the quickest way to see them is to look in the "Also Viewed" section of the page of any charm that catches your attention.
More info, please?
We wish Zales would go a little bit further to provide shoppers with information about each charm: most noticeably missing is any kind of size or dimensions. With limited images of the charms and no measurements, that dangly martini glass or sweet little pineapple could be much more diminutive than you pictured. And, while customers are welcome to leave reviews, it was hard to find many charms that had any.
Generous policies, good reputation
On a more positive note, Zales was offering free shipping with no minimum purchase on all charms and bracelets at the time of this review. Also, Zales gives you 60 days to return your purchase by mail or to a retail location near you; unlike many stores, Zales doesn't insist that your bracelet be unused/unworn to qualify, just that it's still in "good" condition. Finally, the Better Business Bureau gives Zales its highest recommendation: an "A+" rating and accreditation too.
Upscale options here
Another advantage that Zales has over many of its rivals is higher-end jewelry. Not every store offers options in 14k yellow or white gold, but this one does. If you're looking for a charm bracelet that's more elegant than eclectic, Zales has some beautiful choices. Our favorites were the locket charm bracelets that would be ideal to honor or remember loved ones in a classic, upscale way.
Solid option for charm bracelets
If you've got the patience to sift through the Zales online store until you find the bracelet and charms you want, it could be well worth it. We love this store's customer-friendly return policy and free shipping, and it's nice to see higher-end choices that go beyond the cute and kitschy. You can trust Zales as a good jeweler when deciding where to buy a charm bracelet.
There's no better way to commemorate an important achievement like a college graduation, celebrate a special occasion, or keep reminders of treasured memories close at hand. From cute costume jewelry with dangly trinkets to elegant adornments in 14k gold, there's a charm bracelet to suit every style and budget.
When designing this one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, your first consideration should probably be the bracelet style. Bangles are solid, sometimes with an opening on the side, and the corresponding charms have a hole in the middle that you slide on and off by unscrewing the fixed charm in the middle or on one of the ends.
Snake chains are similar in the way the beads slide on, but the bracelet itself is more flexible. Or, if you prefer the kinds of charms that attach with a jump ring or a clasp, you'd choose a more traditional chain bracelet.
Once you've chosen the bracelet style, it's time to have some fun and create something new! What are you commemorating and who will be wearing this unique creation? It's hard to imagine a charm that isn't available somewhere: you won't just see classic graduation years, travel mementoes like miniature Eiffel Towers and palm trees, but also choices that might be considered somewhat... odd. How about a gold bandage or a beaver on skis? You do you!
Now that you have an idea of how your charm bracelet will look, where should you buy it? There are lots of online stores to choose from, so how can you tell where to start? Here are some factors that can help you narrow it down:
To help you find the perfect bracelets and charms, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular stores. We're sure this information will enable you to create an amazing themed charm bracelet - or add cute new charms to one you already have!
Select any 2 Charm Bracelet Stores to compare them head to head