Mall jewlery store? I need your input!

[blueyes157]

I had stopped into Freeman Jewlers a local family owned business here in PA. On the first visit I saw a beautiful setting. From that day on I have looked every where online to find a setting like it, and have had no such luck. Yesterday (a month since the first trip) the future DF and I took another look at that setting to see if it is still what I want, and IT IS!

For some reason (why I do not know) I cannot get over the fact of having a ring from a mall jewlery store or telling people that it is from Freeman Jewlers (it is known around here, bad or good I am not sure). I don''t know why but it is bugging me. It is a channel setting with round diamonds .5 ct in total, G in color. It looks gorgeous. I am sure this is the setting I will end up with, I am in LOVE with it.

Would something like this bother you too? Or would you think someone''s ring is cheap if it came from a mall store. It is not a store quite like Kay Jewlers, but similar.

 

[oldminer]

Freeman is in a Mall, but it is much more a family owned business than a large chain of stores. I don''t think you should feel badly about it at all. At least, you have found something you are sure you like a lot. That is the very most important element.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Do YOU like the ring? If so then buy it. My ring came from the mall and I love it and wouldn''t change it or trade it, even if fellow board members think it''s cheap, tacky, un-equal, whatever. My husband put a lot of thought into my ring and didn''t know too much about diamonds when it was purchased. The point is is that he picked out something that he knew that I would like and that''s all that matters to me.

Most people you run into in day-to-day life could care less if your diamond is H&A, ideal, super ideal, super-duper ideal, GIA, AGS, IGI, EGL, etc. And most probably won''t notice if it were. My husband got me a LEO diamond and while others may notice the sparkle they don''t know it''s a LEO unless I say something.

If we could do it over would I get a better diamond from some place other than the mall? Yes. But the fact is that that''s not what happened so I''m not going to start worrying about it now. If you love the ring then buy it. If not then search some more. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Catmom]

BlueEyes,

My local jeweler, Rollands, is family owned. They have gorgeous jewelry. They have a bench jeweler onsite that does fantastic work. I have bought several pieces from them and am currently having them do a custom setting for an aquamarine pendant. I use them for all of my repairs, cleanings, etc. Oh yeah, they happen to be located in a mall. I do not consider them to be what you would think of when you hear "mall jewelers". The mall is just the location they chose to put thier store. They would be the same store where ever they were located. If you love the setting and like the jewelers, then I see no issues.

 

[gwendolyn]

If you go for another ring because you don''t want to tell your friends where you got the one you love, then you''ll probably end up regretting that because you say you know that THIS ring is the one. So who cares about telling people where it came from? The ring is to make you happy, not to impress other people, right? You don''t rank impressing them over being happy with the ring yourself, do you? I hope not! Be happy you found your perfect ring, and ENJOY IT!!

 

[Harleigh]

blueeyes,

I say go for it...if that ring "sings" to you, then it is "the ONE" and don''t let anyone else''s opinion deter you.

I agree with others that no one would think twice about where you got it from...if it''s beautiful and YOU love it, that''s what they''ll see, and that''s really all that matters.

Be sure to post pictures when you get it!!!

 

[WTNLVR]

If you love it, get it. Very few people will ask you where you got the ring, and only in the beginning of your engagement. Most people don''t know about mall stores like we do here and have no thoughts about their quality or lack thereof. I searched for months for my new set and found it in a small chain that is in a mall. The stones are beautiful and I have not been asked where it came from. If it bothers you that much, you can always say you got it from an on-line vendor.

 

[denverappraiser]

Lots of jewelry stores and other merchants set up shop in malls despite the high rents, mandatory long hours, draconian lease terms, deteriorating reputation and other downsides. They don’t do this because they’re fools, it’s because they want to be convenient for their customers. The small independents have mostly been driven out of the mall environment because of the economies of scale associated with the big chains. This includes things like TV advertising, shared management between several stores, even printing and photography for the brochures and flyers that are used in the stores. The malls themselves encourage this by giving the best locations in the best malls to stores that will also agree to rent more marginal spaces in less popular malls. The result is that the malls have a lot of stores where their strengths are in those areas and the standalone type locations tend to attract stores that are selling on the basis of individual craftsmen and talent by sales people, buyers and managers. It’s not really the choice of location that makes the ‘mall’ stores such a homogenous seeming group, it’s the whole way the mall system works and it applies to clothing stores, gift stores and even the food court. That said, any store can rent a space pretty much wherever they want. Around here, Tiffany and Cartier are mall stores for example. It’s not the location that makes one store better than another, it’s the character of the people behind the counter/keyboard that you should be watching for.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[wonka27]

Hi Blueyes -

I wanted to chime in here, because I am from Whitehall, PA and live approximately 1 minute from a Freeman''s store.

I have bought my wife a few things from Freemans, and her parents are very long time shoppers there. For my wife I bought a couple of estate pieces (the best feature of Freemans IMHO) that were in great shape and have held up really well. Also, when I bought her engagement diamond for her, Freeman''s set the stone. I actually asked at three different places, and Freeman''s was the only one who didn''t treat me like an idiot for bringing in a loose stone not from them. Her parents have bought several items of significant value (> $1,000) since I have been in their lives. They love Freemans. My MIL actually had a channel set band where the diamonds came loose after about 3 years. They were able to get the manufacturer to replace the band and make good on it.

What I''m trying to say is this. I believe Freeman''s is looking more like a mall jewelery store than not these days. However, looks can be deceiving. I believe Freeman''s is a good place to shop. I''d still be educated, etc., etc. about potential purchases, but I have and will choose them over a Zales, Littman''s, Gordon''s, etc.

If you see something you like, I recommend you go in and get it. If it is new opposed to estate, don''t hesitate to get a product number...they can order if the in stock item is gone. Also, I have had a preference of the South Mall (even though I live next to the Lehigh Valley Mall)- I feel the sales staff there are much less pushy and more helpful, but I''m sure you will be happy anywhere!

 

[blueyes157]

Thank you all for your input and comments. I didn''t know if diamond jewlery carried stigmas like knock off purses or shoes... if its not designer or if it is from a mall store it is not seen as good.

I understand that I am the only that needs to be happy with it and if people think any less of my ring because of where it is from, than that is there loss. We got a great deal on a beautiful setting and it is exactly what I have been looking for.

I will follow up with pics, but I think the proposal will not be until November or December.

 

[Modified Brilliant]

Date: 8/6/2007 1:44:27 PM
Author: blueyes157
Thank you all for your input and comments. I didn''t know if diamond jewlery carried stigmas like knock off purses or shoes... if its not designer or if it is from a mall store it is not seen as good.

I understand that I am the only that needs to be happy with it and if people think any less of my ring because of where it is from, than that is there loss. We got a great deal on a beautiful setting and it is exactly what I have been looking for.

I will follow up with pics, but I think the proposal will not be until November or December.

Blueyes,

and THAT is what''s most important!

Jeff Averbook, G.G. Graduate Gemologist (since 1986)

www.metrojewelryappraisers.com

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/6/2007 1:44:27 PM
Author: blueyes157
Thank you all for your input and comments. I didn''t know if diamond jewlery carried stigmas like knock off purses or shoes... if its not designer or if it is from a mall store it is not seen as good.


I understand that I am the only that needs to be happy with it and if people think any less of my ring because of where it is from, than that is there loss. We got a great deal on a beautiful setting and it is exactly what I have been looking for.


I will follow up with pics, but I think the proposal will not be until November or December.

Honestly, hon, if you love the ring and are on cloud 9 with the proposal, I think that''s all most people will care about when the time comes to show off the ring. They''ll see how it''s your perfect ring and how incredibly happy you are, and if they ask, it''s probably just to do research of their own on where to find another beautiful piece like it! I know the couple of times I''ve asked my friends about their rings it was because I was highly impressed with what I saw.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Date: 8/6/2007 1:44:27 PM
Author: blueyes157
Thank you all for your input and comments. I didn''t know if diamond jewlery carried stigmas like knock off purses or shoes... if its not designer or if it is from a mall store it is not seen as good.

I understand that I am the only that needs to be happy with it and if people think any less of my ring because of where it is from, than that is there loss. We got a great deal on a beautiful setting and it is exactly what I have been looking for.

I will follow up with pics, but I think the proposal will not be until November or December.

and none of their business! but people do ask.

my best friend''s ring came from costco. it''s gorgeous, and she has no problem telling people where it was bought (when they ask!) she''s proud of the fact that her savvy hubby got a good deal on it.

 

[poshpepper]

Date: 8/6/2007 11:53:44 AM
Author: Catmom
BlueEyes,

The mall is just the location they chose to put thier store. They would be the same store where ever they were located.

The jeweler that I got my Ering from is the same thing. He just set up in the mall in addition to his other location to get more customers. Worked out good for me

BlueEyes --- I say what everyone here has said: If you love it, just get it and dont worry about where you are getting it from.

Technically my Ering came from a Maul store too...

 

[onedrop]

In my small world, I think buying over the Internet is questioned much more than buying from a mall jewelry store. Everytime I mention that my husband and I designed and ordered my ring and wedding band over the Internet, I get blank stares and/or scolding about getting *taken.* However, I am sure if I said Zales or Kay or something similar I'd receive more positive feedback. I don't really care what people say either way really. We were much more concerned with the fact that in the end we got great quality, a good deal and the design that we wanted. Since it seems like you can get exactly what you want from a jeweler that happens to be located in the mall...who cares what other people think? Enjoy your engagement ring!!!

 

[marcy]

Blueeyes, it sounds like you love the ring and it''s exactly what you want. That is more than enough reason to buy it from your neighborhood jewelry store. The plus side is you have easy access to cleaning, checking and any repairs or resizing you''ll ever need. I don''t think I''d be comfortable sending my ering through the mail to get it reparied or resized. I say get the ring that excites you and wear it proudly. I can''t wait to see it.