Saturday, September 30th
2023 Engagement Ring Reviews
Szul
- Almost 800 engagement rings to choose from
- 60-day return policy
- Free ground shipping in the US
Founded in 1999, Szul is an online-only jewelry store with offices in Manhattan's Diamond District. Your first visit to the site may even come with a spin-to-win discount from 5-10% or a free gift with your purchase. Is it enough to get you to buy an engagement ring from Szul? Read on and decide for yourself.
Decent selection and easy shopping experience
Szul has a good-but-not-amazing selection of engagement rings, with just under 800 in their inventory. It's a good idea to use the filters to narrow down the options by metal, stone shape, setting or price range; that's the first hint you'll get that Szul doesn't have as much to choose from as their rivals, though. For example, the only metals available are white, yellow, and rose gold (no platinum or other non-gold metals), and there aren't any loose stones to design your own piece. But, there's lots of detail on each engagement ring Szul has, and some items have customer ratings you can consult to guide your decision. Unfortunately, most rings have only a few ratings - and they're often several years old.
Engagement rings for every budget
If you're looking for something affordable, Szul has more than two dozen solitaires for under $300. There are almost as many engagement rings in the $3,000-$4,000 range, including several AGS-certified styles. You won't find anything extremely extravagant here, but the selection is reasonable. Szul offers financing through Affirm; at the time of this review, their interest rates were around 15%. You'll also save money with free ground shipping in the USA, and Szul's 60-day return policy is double what most jewelers offer.
Caveat emptor
It all sounds pretty good so far, right? Unfortunately, that's where the positive aspects of buying an engagement ring from Szul stop. This jeweler has a "C+" from the Better Business Bureau, and for good reason. While some shoppers love what they buy here, even enough to shop this store more than once, too many customers have big complaints about the experience. We're really disturbed by the number of reviews that specifically reference diamonds falling out of their settings.
Disappointing customer service
Some shoppers say that what they saw on the Szul website was a far cry from the ring they actually received. Worst of all, Szul's customer service team gets described as "disappointing" or "impossible to reach" by people who've tried to get problems resolved. Szul's single redeeming factor is that they don't filter the shopper reviews left on their site, letting you see exactly what downward trend the company is currently on.
Better choices elsewhere
We wish we could recommend Szul. They offer, in theory anyway, a much longer return window than most retailers selling engagement rings, and their selection is full of pieces that sparkle. However, the reality as reported by their disappointed customers is that Szul doesn't deliver on their promises. Please entrust this important purchase to a company that has earned a good reputation instead.
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Where's the Best Place to Get an Engagement Ring Online?
That's not a question anyone would have asked twenty years ago, but it's a really smart one to ask now! Sure, many ring shoppers still buy their rings from a local jeweler - often at the first place they visit - but they're missing out on a lot.
Starting your search for the perfect "Will you marry me?" bling on the internet puts the world's best selection within reach. This is a piece of jewelry that could be handed down in your new family for generations, and you want it to be as unique and beautiful as your relationship. Whether your intended has already dreamed up exactly what she wants to see on her finger or you're going by the hope that you'll know it when you see it, online engagement ring retailers have you covered.
Engagement Ring FAQ
Continued from above...
The other big reason to buy the ring online is price. Local jewelry stores have to pass on their overhead costs to you, but internet stores aren't spending money on rent, face-to-face salespeople, or utilities at brick-and-mortar locations. You could save as much as 50% for an engagement ring of the same quality, carat weight and clarity - or better!
Best of all, there's no pressure to buy it right now when you use an online jeweler: you get all the time you need to compare different styles, design your own one-of-a-kind piece, or maybe even send some contenders to your future fiancee to see if you're on the right track! (And, ladies, that works in reverse too: why not drop a few hints with links to the rings you love and make it easier on your beloved?)
Afraid that it might not be safe to have your ring delivered? Fear not. If you choose an online jewelry store that does have a location near you, it's easy to order the engagement ring online and have it shipped there. It's a clever way to keep it out of the hands of porch pirates - and to keep it a surprise until you're ready to pop the question! Most stores will hold it for up to 30 days. For online-only jewelers, rest assured that they'll send your ring with plenty of insurance in the event of loss or damage during transit.
And, you've got nothing to worry about with sizing or returns either. 30 days is the standard window for sending back your purchase for a refund or exchange, and many jewelers offer complimentary resizing - often for up to a full year. Plus, if your engagement ring comes from a retailer with a brick-and-mortar presence, you've got the convenience of in-store returns and resizing on top of that.
Ready to begin your search? You might feel a little overwhelmed: this is a big deal, after all, and you want to get it right the first time. As you consider which jewelry store should earn your business, here are some criteria that can help you judge for yourself:
- Selection. More styles, settings, and even loose diamonds to choose from will translate into a better shopping experience and a higher likelihood that you'll find an engagement ring (or several!) that will be the perfect centerpiece for your proposal.
- Value. Whether your budget is $600 or $60,000, you want a high-quality ring that's worth what you're spending. Check to see if there are customer ratings for any jewelry you're considering, to see how it looks in reality vs. the stock photos displayed online.
- Financing. Not everyone has a big chunk of cash on the ready. Does the jeweler offer payment plans with reasonable terms?
- Return Policy. Most online jewelry stores give you 30 days to send back your items as long as they're in the original condition. Some stores extend that to 60 days, and you may find longer-than-average timeframes for engagement rings purchased during the holidays.
- Reputation. None of the previous factors matter if you buy your ring from an unreliable retailer. Make sure that a store has a strong history of customer satisfaction before you commit to your purchase: a good grade from the Better Business Bureau and lots of five-star customer ratings are both signs of a trustworthy jeweler.
You need an engagement ring that really stands out, and we can help! TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's best options for buying a ring online, and we hope this information makes your shopping effortless and your proposal a moment to remember forever!
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