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Tuesday, May 30th
Szul was founded in 1999 and is an exclusively online jewelry store. Their offices are located in the Diamond District of Manhattan.
Limited inventory but easy shopping experience
You won't be blown away by the selection at Szul: it's decent but doesn't compare with our higher-ranked jewelers. The Men's category only has rings, for example, and there were just around 100 choices in the Bracelets section. The good news is that this online store is easy to shop: choose what kind of jewelry you're looking for using the links at the top of the site, use the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down the options by metal or gemstone type, price, and so forth.
Detailed jewelry information
There's also ample information on each item's page, including detailed specifications about the size, setting, and any other applicable criteria. Some of the jewelry has customer reviews, but even on Szul's most popular items, we often found only one or two ratings (which were often six years old or more).
From budget-friendly to luxury
Another plus is that there's something for every budget here. Looking at diamond stud earrings for comparison, we found 2 carat round diamond solitaires in 14k white gold for a sale price of $5,449 and 10-point diamond stud earrings filled with yellow gold for just $51. If you're a bargain hunter, don't miss the Deals tab: you'll find daily specials, the "luxury deal of the week" and a clearance section, along with any Szul new arrivals.
Buyer beware
Wondering why this jewelry store is almost at the bottom of our list? Szul's reputation leaves a lot to be desired. Starting with their "C+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and continuing on to customer feedback elsewhere, you won't see much that inspires confidence in this retailer. Some shoppers have gotten things here that they love - enough that they've ordered multiple times - but the number of reviews we found that specifically mentioned diamonds falling out of settings was alarming.
Disappointing customer support
Others said that the jewelry looked much different from the photos, both in the color of the gemstones and in the overall quality. And, it's no surprise that the response from Szul's customer service department is described as "disappointing" or even "non-existent" . The only positive we can point to is that Szul doesn't filter the reviews on their site, so you can see all of the complaints in their full glory.
Pick a different jeweler who won't leave you disappointed
You'll want to like Szul: reasonably good selection, seemingly solid customer policies, and a simple-to-shop website. We don't recommend it. You're too likely to wind up disappointed, and there's no reason to buy jewelry here when there are many other options that won't let you down.
You might be wondering if you should buy your next piece on the internet. Is it safe? Will I get something that's not good quality? Can I trust buying jewelry online? Rest assured - not only is it safe - it's actually a great idea to buy your jewelry from an online store! In fact, it's one of the most common purchases that shoppers are making, while they transition from brick-and-mortar retailers to digital storefronts.
Why the big increase in popularity? It's for all the reasons you would expect. First, there's no local jeweler who can compete with the inventory of an internet retailer: you'll simply have more options online, and that makes it more likely you'll find exactly what you're looking for. Plus, your neighborhood jewelry store has overhead costs that get passed along to you in higher markups, while an online-only retailer can often give you significant savings. That's a win!
Another obvious reason is convenience. Do you have time to visit several jewelry stores on your days off from work, driving from one to another in the hopes you'll spot something you love? We don't either. Like every other thing we all shop for online, jewelry is faster and more fun to buy whenever we feel like it, in our jammies at home or on-the-go between errands. Why not?
There are a lot of possibilities for getting jewelry online. Where should you start? Your primary consideration may be whether or not it's important to you to have a physical store nearby: maybe you want to have your fiance's engagement ring shipped there for safekeeping and not to your home (where she might spoil the surprise), or you feel more comfortable buying online with the backup of in-person returns if needed. If those aren't a factor for you, don't hesitate to buy your jewelry from an online-only retailer - as long as the business has an established, positive reputation, of course.
What other criteria can guide your decision as you buy jewelry? Here are some things to keep in mind:
To help you find all of the earrings, watches, bracelets and other jewelry you're looking for, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and rated today's most popular online stores. We're confident that this information will make it fun and easy to add to your collection or choose a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special!
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