Where's the Best Place to Shop for Jewelry Online? Jewelry has captivated humans for centuries, not just as shiny adornments but as meaningful symbols of love, status, and personal style. From ancient Egyptian pharaohs who wore gold and gemstones to symbolize their divine status, to the protective amulets of medieval Europe, jewelry has always been much more than mere decoration.
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James Allen is an online jewelry retailer founded in 2006 by Oded Edelman, James Schultz, Michele Sigler, and Dean Lederman. The company revolutionized the diamond and engagement ring industry by providing a vast online selection of high-quality diamonds and 360° HD images to allow customers to view their stones in detail before purchasing.
Primarily online
Unlike traditional jewelers, James Allen operates primarily online and does not have a large number of retail locations. They do have a few physical showrooms in major cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C., where customers can view a curated selection of their inventory and consult with jewelry experts in person. In 2017, the company was acquired by Signet Jewelers, the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry and the owner of several stores in our review. Want to know why, among that brand family, James Allen is nearly at the top of our list while its "sister" brands are at the bottom? We'll tell you.
No cheap jewelry here
The first thing we'll share about James Allen is that it tends to be higher-end than many of the stores on our list. We used earrings as a comparison category across jewelers, and the selection of just over 700 pairs at James Allen had only one set priced under $100: the 14K Yellow Gold Ball Posts for $90. There were only another handful of designs in the $200-and-under range, so don't be expecting anything cheap here.
Doesn't specialize in extremely costly jewelry either
But, at least with respect to earrings, James Allen isn't overly extravagant either. The most expensive pair at the time of our review were the 18K White Gold South Sea Cultured Pearl and Whirling Diamond Earrings, priced at $6,920. Given that some rival jewelers have earrings in the $20K to $40K+ range, James Allen's inventory tends to land right in the middle.
Some jewelry has hundreds of reviews
Not every piece of jewelry here has customer reviews, but sometimes they can be a good source of information. Once again in the earrings category, one of James Allen's best sellers is the pair of 14K White Gold Four Prong Round Brilliant Earrings, with over 700 customer ratings during our most recent visit. Scroll through the reviews and you'll see who recommends the jewelry and who doesn't, and you might even see photos of how the jewelry looked on real people (and not just the models in the photos and videos posted by James Allen, though those are useful too). Our favorite comment on those diamond studs: "I'm a 22 year old man and loved how the 2ct ones looked on me. Got lots of compliments from the girls in my class and they fit great." You go, Glen Coco!
Lots of options + free shipping worldwide
Those earrings are also a great example of how James Allen gives you options for most items they carry and especially for jewelry with diamonds. The studs we described could be purchased in white gold, yellow gold, or platinum, in total carat weights from 0.25 to 6, and with three options for stone origin (two earth-created and one lab-created). The product page tells you exactly when you could expect your jewelry to ship (the studs would hit the mail the same day we placed the order), and James Allen covers the cost of delivery worldwide.
Plenty of customer-friendly perks
A big plus for James Allen is the lifetime warranty offered on each and every piece of jewelry. This protects you against any manufacturer defects, and it also includes free prong tightening, re-polishing, rhodium plating, and cleaning services. You can also get your ring resized once within the first year of ownership, at no cost.
Free returns within 30 days
You've got 30 days to decide if you want a refund on any jewelry you buy from this store, and James Allen will cover the costs of sending your items back. It has to be in original, unworn condition, but you can choose between a refund or an exchange with no questions asked.
Round-the-clock customer support
Got questions? Even if you're shopping in the middle of the night for that birthday gift you almost forgot, James Allen will be there to help with 24/7 customer service. We had a little bit of a miscommunication with the live chat reps on a recent purchase (we asked if it was possible to get a ring box with two slots in it instead of one ; the first rep told us yes, but when we went to make the purchase on a different day and asked in the live chat how to add that upgrade to the order, we were told that our only option was to buy two ring boxes), but overall you can expect good things when working with James Allen.
BBB gives this jewelry store an "A"
James Allen has an "A" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. We're not sure why the BBB dinged this jeweler ever-so-slightly (not an "A+"); their stated reasons for the rating are the 51 complaints filed over the most recent three-year period, but with many rivals having at least double that amount, it doesn't seem entirely fair of the BBB. We also noticed that more than 300 shoppers took the time to leave favorable reviews on the BBB site, which is a great sign.
Thousands of 5-star reviews from happy customers
Beyond the BBB, shoppers show a lot of love for the overall James Allen jewelry experience. Across more than 2,600 reviews, 89% give this retailer a flawless 5-star rating. Comments left within just a few days of our review said things like "I've bought fine jewelry [here] multiple times, and I've never been disappointed" and "It looked even better in person". We're not gonna lie, that's a huge relief after seeing how the other Signet Jewelers' brands fared with respect to customer (dis)satisfaction!
One of our favorite jewelry stores
So, now you know why we'd go with James Allen out of all of the Signet Jewelers' brands - and also over the majority of the jewelry stores on our list. It's one of the easiest-to-shop retailers we've found, and there are so many customer-centric perks that you won't necessarily find with other jewelers. James Allen continues to earn an excellent rating and our strong recommendation for your next online jewelry shopping trip.
Continued from above...
Jewelry has captivated humans for centuries, not just as shiny adornments but as meaningful symbols of love, status, and personal style. From ancient Egyptian pharaohs who wore gold and gemstones to symbolize their divine status, to the protective amulets of medieval Europe, jewelry has always been much more than mere decoration.
Today, people buy jewelry for various reasons: to celebrate milestones, express personal style, or even as investments. Whether it's a sparkling engagement ring or a simple bracelet that matches your favorite outfit, jewelry holds a special place in our lives.
One big change in the world of jewelry is the ability to shop online. Have you ever gone to a brick-and-mortar jewelry store and felt pressured by a hovering salesperson? We have! It's not an enjoyable experience, but fortunately it's one that's easily avoided now. You can get access to the widest range of bracelets, earrings, watches, rings, necklaces, and any other kind of jewelry imaginable through online stores. Even the big-name jewelers' best selection is typically online.
Does the idea of buying your jewelry over the internet make you a little nervous? That's understandable, but the good news is that there are plenty of customer-centric policies and processes offered by online jewelers that should set your mind at ease. Some stores let you do a real-time inspection via video call, so you can see what you're buying from every angle.
Others let you ship your jewelry to a local store or an in-person partner location so you can see it up close and personal before you decide to commit to the purchase. And, the best online jewelry stores have generous return and exchange policies, often with free return shipping (or in-store returns if they have retail locations near you).
When diving into the world of online jewelry shopping, it's important to navigate with a bit of savvy to ensure you're getting something truly special. Here are a few criteria that can help you out as you decide where to shop:
To help you find the perfect piece of jewelry that not only looks fantastic but also stands the test of time, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched and ranked some of today's most popular online jewelry stores. Take this information and let it guide your shopping the next time you need an amazing gift (maybe even for yourself!).
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What You Should Look For When Buying a Diamond
A lot of people have this question. Buying a diamond is a commitment, so it's understandable that you'd want to educate yourself thoroughly before taking the plunge. Even so, this goes beyond picking the right jewelry store or knowing what kind of setting you'd like. What you should look for when buying a diamond directly relates to the four C's.
What Are the Four C's?
The four C's stands for carat, color, clarity, and cut. These are the main principles on which you should base your diamond purchasing decision. These attributes and their grading scales were developed by the Gemological Institute of America.
Other Factors
When determining what you should look for when buying a diamond, of course you need to pay attention to the four C's. Still, you also need to think about the shape of diamond you would want. They come in several styles with Round Brilliant being the most common. Other shapes include Princess, Emerald, and Oval.
Also consider where you're buying the diamond from. Not just any jewelry store will do. They are all unique and it's very easy to get ripped off if you don't know what you're looking for. A jewelry store should be GIA certified and it should have a good reputation with the BBB. Remember to look into these things because diamonds are expensive. Do your due diligence, just as you would with any other major purchase.
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