Zales Review

Wednesday, December 4th

2024 Engagement Ring Reviews

Zales

• Wide selection of 5,000+ engagement rings for every budget
• Prices range from under $100 to $48,999
• Branded collections like Enchanted Disney and Vera Wang available
• Free consultation online or in-store
• Can design your own engagement ring
• Free expedited shipping on orders of $199+
• 30-day return policy
• Lifetime diamond replacement if lost
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 1924

Zales, who recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary with over 400 stores nationwide, is part of the Signet Jewelers group along with three other brands in our review. Despite its own extensive history, Zales doesn't quite outshine its competitors when it comes to engagement rings. Let's see why.

Affordable rings under $100

If you've got nothing but time on your hands (pun intended!), you could choose to browse all 5,000+ engagement ring options at Zales. Just looking at prices alone, Zales has quite a few options under $100; many of them aren't really traditional engagement rings but rather costume-type jewelry with center stones in peridot and onyx, for example. But, you could get a lab-created white sapphire in sterling silver as either an engagement ring or bridal set for just $63.20, if your love is big but the budget is tiny.

You can spend almost $50K here too

On the other hand, if your love (and your wallet) knows no bounds, Zales comes in hot with several engagement rings in the $20K to $49K bracket. The last time we shopped at Zales' online jewelry store, their highest-end ring was the 2 7/8 ct. tw. Pear-Shaped Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum, and no, you can't buy it in stores because it's an "online exclusive”. (Just another reason to shop for your ring online!)

Filters get you to the right rings quickly

However, cost is probably just one of several factors going into your decision about what engagement ring to buy, and Zales offers plenty of filters you can use to see what they have that fits your quest. "Get It Fast” shows you only the rings that can either be picked up today or delivered same-day (just make sure you have your preferred Zales location set there), or that will ship in 1-3 business days. On the latter, there were just over 100 styles out of Zales' 5,000+ that qualified, but it's still good to know that if you decided last-minute that you're asking your love to marry you, you're not left with something weird like a gum wrapper twisted into a circle (don't laugh, that's a thing!). Of course, you can also use filters like Metal Type/Color, Stone Type/Color/Shape, and Gender (because men wear engagement rings too!).

Where are the ratings from previous buyers?

What's missing? While browsing through Zales' 5,000+ engagement ring options, we found that most of them didn't have any ratings. This overall lack of reviews means you can't rely on other customers' feedback to make your decision.

Designer rings are on point

If you're interested in one of Zales' three designer collections (Vera Wang, Enchanted Disney, and Shahla), it's easiest to browse the selection directly instead of waiting to see what pops up in the matches after you've applied the filters. Our favorite collection is Enchanted Disney, with rings inspired by all of the princesses (and even the villains). What better way to show her that she's "part of your world” than a ring with a seashell motif carefully hidden in the crown, or to emphasize that she's no longer waiting for her prince(ss) to come? We also want to mention that all of those collections give you the ability to customize, if maybe you don't quite want to design a ring from absolute zero (though Zales does offer that).

Help is at the ready

You can take advantage of Zales' free consultations to help you find the perfect ring or create one from scratch. These sessions can be in-store or virtual, and there's also live online chat for quick questions. Regardless of the jewelry store, we always recommend using these no-cost help sessions, just to make sure you really understand what you're buying in the greatest detail possible before you hit that "place order” button.

Discounts pop up from time to time

To save a bit on your first order, watch for the pop-up offering a discount, like $50 off a purchase of $300+. Zales often has promotions similar to its sister brands in the Signet family, such as a 10% military discount and additional discounts on select clearance items at the time of our visit.

No surprises in the returns

Zales' store policies are fairly standard. You have 30 days to return your engagement ring or 60 days to exchange it, but free shipping only kicks in at $199, which isn't as generous as some other jewelers that offer free delivery on lower amounts. (But, let's be real, it's going to cover pretty much every engagement ring you could be thinking about buying!)

Consider extra protection

To protect your engagement ring, you might want to upgrade to a Lifetime Protection Policy. Zales commits to replacing your diamond if it's lost or damaged, but additional coverage for the metal and other parts of your ring might be necessary. These plans are priced out on the item pages, and while manufacturer defects are typically covered for the first year, details are sparse.

Reputation doesn't exactly sparkle

Reputation? Zales has an "A+” rating from the BBB, though nearly 600 complaints have been filed in the past three years. Common issues mentioned there include problems with in-store service, financing misunderstandings, and dissatisfaction with the return policy. Unfortunately, Zales, like other Signet brands, has numerous negative reviews across third-party sites too. Frequent complaints in places like Trustpilot mention poor service, unhonored warranties, and damaged jewelry after repairs, leading to a lot of dissatisfied customers. It's not a good look for one of the most well-known options for buying engagement rings, and it doesn't get any better the more you dig into Zales' ratings and reviews.

Best of the worst?

Zales earns a mediocre rating, sadly. Despite the convenience of its widespread locations and familiar name, the lack of attention to detail, poor post-purchase service, and numerous complaints make it less than appealing for such a major (and emotional!) purchase. We recommend exploring higher-ranked retailers for a better engagement ring shopping experience, because Zales is a let-down overall.