Zales Review

Wednesday, January 22nd

2025 Class Ring Company Reviews

Zales

• Priced from $103 to $2,040
• 110 ring styles in stock
• Men's and women's rings
• High school and college rings
• 6- to 8-week turnaround on average
• Warranties available for purchase
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Zales got its start in 1924 when Morris Zale, William Zale, and Ben Lipshy launched the first Zales Jewelers in Wichita Falls, Texas. They aimed to make top-notch products more affordable, introducing an innovative credit plan of "a penny down and a dollar a week.”

Over a century of growth

This strategy proved successful, leading to the expansion of 12 stores across Texas and Oklahoma by 1941. Fast forward nearly a century, and Zales has become one of the largest fine jewelers in the US. The company has over 422 physical locations and is well-known in the wedding ring industry. But its offerings don't stop at wedding styles, necklaces, or expensive watches. Zales also has a competitive variety of class rings to choose from.

Comparison tool is a standout feature

Finding the class ring section on Zales is a breeze. You just have to select "rings” from the top navigation menu and find class rings in the dropdown. From there, you can conveniently sort the selection with filters like gender, price, personalization options, stone type, color, shape, metal type, metal color, and customer ratings. Our favorite part is Zales' compare tool, so you can select multiple rings you like and compare them side by side if you have several favorites.

110 styles available

Zales offers a competitive range of 110 different class rings. There are a variety of styles, some of which are exclusive to Zales. Others are created by companies like ArtCarved. 80 of the ring styles are made for women while the remaining 30 styles are designed for men. Further, there are options for both high school rings and collegiate styles.

Complete design features

In the designer, you can find a school selection tool with options to add your high school, technical college, and some 4-year universities (but not all). You can also expect metals like siladium, argentium, and 10K-18K white or yellow gold. There are antique or natural finishes, 16 stone colors to choose from, and an impressive number of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees for side engravings. Plus, you can see an active preview of your ring while you update items. Only a few things like the inside rail text don't change when you add them.

Prices from $103 to $2,040

We checked out the price ranges for women's rings and men's rings, so you can get an idea of where the starting costs are. We also designed the least and most expensive ring from Zales to get an idea of what the total will be after customizations. Here's what we found:

• Women's rings: $103 to $508
• Men's rings: $229 to $632
• Least expensive ring: Simulated Birthstone and Cubic Zirconia Bypass Class Ring (Sterling Silver) for $103
• Most expensive ring: Men's Oval Simulated Birthstone College Class Ring by ArtCarved (18K White Gold) for $2,040

Free in-store pickup

For your delivery time, you can see the estimated delivery date on the item listing page. The timeframe is typically around 2 months or 8 weeks, though some options will come sooner if there are fewer customizations. For orders of $199 or more (like almost all class rings), you can benefit from free expedited shipping directly to your doorstep. Zales also offers the convenience of free in-store pickup if your ring doesn't meet the standard free shipping threshold.

Limited returns and protection is extra

At Zales, you'll find a customer-friendly return and exchange policy allowing you to return items within 30 days from the date of shipment and exchange them within 60 days. However, this policy doesn't apply to class rings or other customized jewelry. Unfortunately, these items are not eligible for refunds or exchanges. You can purchase a protection plan, but the details on how to do so are limited on the website. The warranty page suggests talking to their customer service team to add the protection plan to your purchase.

Mixed reviews raise questions about the quality

Zales holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. But from third-party review sites, there are an increasing number of complaints. According to reviews on Sitejabber, Zales holds a mid-level 3.1-star average out of 5. Many reviews in recent years include complaints about customer service issues and reviews noting stones falling out of settings or poor craftsmanship. Given these concerns, Zales falls down the ratings a bit. You want to get a class ring that will last (especially if Zales doesn't offer a warranty option during purchase).

Room to improve on customer service

Considering that class rings are not their primary focus, Zales offers a competitive selection, incorporating styles from ArtCarved, a highly-rated class ring retailer. However, while the site is user-friendly, there is a rising number of complaints from customers about quality issues and complications in dealing with customer service. Considering that Zales doesn't include a warranty with your class ring purchase, it may be safer to check some other companies first. Zales still comes recommended for its impressive selection and custom options, but it doesn't beat out sites with better customer service and quality assurance.