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.
Subpar
Zales recently celebrated its 100-year mark with over 400 stores nationwide. It's now part of the Signet Jewelers group of companies, with many "sister" sites also on our list of jewelry stores. Does Zales outshine its siblings or even other rival jewelers? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but let's see why.
Great selection of both inexpensive and luxury jewelry
Zales carries an inventory of jewelry that's fun to shop. Across the different retailers we evaluated, we usually went to the earrings category to see what's on offer at the lowest and highest ends of the price spectrum, and Zales did really well. We discovered some cute styles for under $30, like the men's ninja star stud earrings in stainless steel with black coating ($19) and some paw print studs in sterling silver (also $19). The opposite end of the price range wasn't quite as extravagant as some of Zales' rivals, with the most expensive options coming in at "just" a dollar short of $25K, and those were all solitaire studs and nothing crazy.
Where are the ratings?
We wanted to know which earrings were the most popular at Zales, and the first item on the list was the certified lab-created diamond curved open hoop earrings in 14K gold. They're lovely, but there were absolutely no shopper reviews for them; that left us wondering how they could be #1 on the "best sellers" list with zero feedback. Most of the 6,000+ earring options here didn't have any ratings either. We thought maybe we'd fare better in a super-popular category like engagement rings. But, even though we loved browsing through the 4,000+ choices (including some surprise entries like Disney Villains styles for Maleficent and Ursula), we only spotted one or two ratings. So, in other words, don't rely on other shoppers' feedback to help you make your decision at Zales.
Get help or design your own jewelry with free consultations
However, you can take advantage of Zales' free consultations, either to help you find an amazing gift or to design something from scratch. These visits can be in-store or virtual via video, and there's also live chat if you've just got a quick question to ask.
You can usually score a discount
To save a little on your first order, watch for the pop-up. At the time we visited Zales, it was a $50 savings on a purchase of $300+, with a few brands (such as Movado and Coach) and items (smart watches, loose stones) on the exclusions list. Zales also had some of the same promotions we had spotted with a few of its sister brands in the Signet family like a 10% military discount and an extra 20% discount on select clearance jewelry items.
Free expedited shipping at $199+
Most of the store policies at Zales are fairly standard. You'll have 30 days to return your purchase (in person or via mail) or 60 days to exchange it (in person only). We also didn't see any free shipping until our order reached $199, and then it was expedited at no extra cost. That's not awesome when you see other jewelers with a $50 threshold for no-cost delivery (or the handful that ship any order worldwide for free).
Consider buying a protection plan
If you want your jewelry to have the most protection, you'll probably want to upgrade to a Lifetime Protection Policy. Zales does commit to replacing your stone if it's lost or damaged (and worth at least $200), but the metal of your rings, the posts on your earrings, and the clasps on your bracelets need the extra coverage to be covered. You'll see those plans priced out on the items you click on; we're pretty sure that Zales covers manufacturer defects within the first year (as most Signet brands do) but they stop short of spelling that out in the places we looked (like the FAQs).
BBB gives the store an "A+" despite complaints
Zales has an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. We weren't super-thrilled to see the nearly 600 complaints registered against Zales with the BBB over the last three years, but it's not out of the ordinary for such a large retailer either. Those complaints tend to center around issues with particular in-store sales reps, misunderstandings with financing, or unhappiness with the return policy.
So many issues
But, like almost every single big-name jeweler in the Signet group that has brick-and-mortar locations, Zales falls on its face everywhere you look reputation-wise. Most third-party sites that allow people to leave comments show many more 1-star reviews than 5-star ones. There are a few common refrains in the complaints, like "they don't honor their lifetime warranty", "the service is beyond bad", and "my jewelry was returned damaged after a repair" are just some of the problems you'll see mentioned time and again by unhappy Zales customers.
Below average jewelry store
Zales gets a mediocre rating from us, just like most of its Signet "siblings" on our list. We just don't feel any enthusiasm for what seems like a lack of attention to detail, poor service after the purchase, and lots of complaints. While you may be tempted by the familiar jewelry store name or the convenience of buying online and using your local Zales for cleaning and inspection afterwards, we'd recommend you look at the higher-ranking jewelry stores on our list instead. Zales is too likely to leave you disappointed.
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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