Shocking Zales Truths: What They’re Not Telling You About Their Rings!

Jump to…

• Introduction to Zales: A Legacy in Love
• The Heart of Zales: Engagement Ring Collections
• Diamond Decoded: Zales Engagement Ring Quality
• Investment Insights: Understanding Pricing
• Personalization and Customization: Making It Yours
• Conclusion
• JewelerAI Buying Guide
• FAQ

Introduction to Zales: A Legacy in Love

We’ve all heard of Zales. Even if it’s been a hot minute since you last stepped foot inside the mall, there’s a strong possibility that within a few seconds of hearing the word ‘jewelry store’, the name Zales pops into your head. It’s a big brand and, as far as American jewelry stores go, it’s a pretty old brand, too. Sure, it’s best associated with the heyday of the mall, but its sheer size and longstanding reputation means that most of us haven’t forgotten about it entirely just yet.

Plus, in more recent years, Zales has expanded online, so it’s far from fading into history.

Zales was always a crowd favorite for getting jewelry at a reasonable price. A little like Pandora, the brand offered a pretty handy middle ground between downright cheap, and jewelry that was way out of budget. You could stop in there for a Valentine’s Day gift, or something for an upcoming anniversary, Mother’s Day, or holiday, and walk out feeling pretty confident that you’d made a solid choice.

Obviously, picking out an engagement ring – and feeling sure about its ability to sweep your partner off their feet – necessitates a little more than a ‘solid choice’. It’s got to be perfect, in every sense of the word, and fit your budget comfortably without being too safe.

So, is Zales the right port of call for you? Here’s what we think.

The Heritage of Zales Jewelers

Zales was founded way back in 1924, by brothers Morris and William Zale and their business partner, Ben Lipshy, in Wichita Falls, Texas. At the time, one of the most significant draws for Zales was the decision to introduce a credit policy to shoppers. By making an initial deposit of just a penny, and agreeing a monthly repayment fee of a dollar, shoppers who would have been unable to afford the pieces sold at Zales could take advantage of a whole new opportunity – one that proved far more affordable.

Zales grew across Texas and Oklahoma throughout the thirties and forties and, in the fifties, opened its first mall location. The history of the brand offers a fascinating glimpse into the remarkable changes that were occurring in America’s retail sector throughout the twentieth century, as disposable income became far more prevalent – and, accordingly, the opportunities to spend it.

Zales has been involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions – most notably, when it was purchased by Signet Jewelers – the largest jewelry retailer in the world – in the winter of 2014. If the name sounds familiar, that’s probably down to the fact that Signet Jewelers also operates Kay Jewelers and Jared Jewelers. In other words, it’s the brains behind some of the country’s biggest jewelry brands, with hundreds of locations spread across almost every major city and town.

To this day, Zales remain a popular choice for those looking to find good jewelry that won’t run up a massive credit card debt. Their selection varies from fashion jewelry – for instance, Zales stocks collections like Enchanted by Disney – to more upmarket pieces from designers like Vera Wang

Of course, the brand also stocks a large number of engagement rings – both from their own collection and from third-party designers.

Understanding the Zales Difference

Zales is a big store with a lot of locations across the country – more than 780, and that’s not including their outlet stores, which would push the total up to more than 900 – and, as you can imagine, that does lead to a pretty generic vibe across their stores. It’s not totally unintentional, since a brand with the size and reputation of Zales has to have worked on some rigid standards for the layout, décor, customer service and all-around experience a shopper will find. 

That’s what most of us like about chains, whether we’re talking restaurants or retail chains: they’re consistent and, whether you’re shopping from your hometown or running in for emergency supplies on vacation, you pretty much know exactly what you’re going to find when you pass the threshold.

This is where stores like Zales thrive.

Yes, the stores are generic. They tend to capture that vibe and style of décor that goes hand in hand with the mall: safe, neutral, and halfway between ‘special’ and ‘ordinary’. That’s not a criticism – it simply comes with the territory for a store that sets the tone for mall-based jewelers everywhere.

The Heart of Zales: Engagement Ring Collections

First off, the selection. As you would expect, a big brand like Zales has got something for everyone, from glitzy double halos and high CTW clusters to the more traditional solitaires. From the selection we saw, the majority were pretty heavy on the accent stones, and there weren’t all that many unique or contemporary styles to look at – a fact which can make the selection feel a little dated, in light of current trends in favor of shape and classic minimalism.

Nevertheless, there’s something for everybody, and halos aren’t going to go out of style completely any time soon.

As we mentioned earlier on, Zales stocks a number of collections. Vera Wang’s Love collection, which we’ve reviewed here, likely represents a big draw for the company, although we’re not totally sold on Vera Wang’s ring designs. While Zales do offer a custom Vera Wang service, the options struck us as pretty pedestrian (for such a revolutionary bridalwear designer, anyway), and we can’t see any benefit to paying a premium for this brand.

Zales’ own collections offer a pretty solid choice but, again, a large number of their rings are set with diamonds that are not certified by the GIA, or dragged down by a poor grade for clarity. If you head into their store and ask to see nothing but their GIA diamonds, you are likely to find that your options narrow down drastically and that what initially seemed like a great selection is actually pretty restrictive.

Diamond Decoded: Zales Engagement Ring Quality

First things first, Zales do stock a wide variety of GIA graded diamonds. However, they also stock a number of diamonds that are either certified by the IGI – a lab that is far less reliable, and far less consistent than the GIA – or not certified at all. Zales own diamond collection, Love’s Destiny, is marked as ‘certified’ but no details of the lab, or of an accompanying diamond report, are given.

A lab like the IGI is a poor substitute for GIA or AGS. They grade a lot of diamonds a lot faster than the GIA, making them a convenient choice for big chain stores like Zales. That, coupled with the fact that they’re not only cheaper but also tend to grade diamonds higher than more stringent labs, means that the vendors can get a higher return on their stock than they would have if the GIA had given a more accurate grade.

What is worrying is the fact that so many of the IGI diamonds (and diamonds certified by an unknown entity) have poor clarity in common. Many of the diamonds we saw were I1 or I2 in clarity – and, according to their website, all of the Love’s Destiny diamonds were I1. If you consider the fact that the GIA often grades one or two grades lower than a lab like the IGI, it’s pretty worrying to consider how low quality these diamonds must be.

It’s not ideal, since plenty of shoppers will head into Zales, not understanding the importance of GIA certification, and trusting that what’s in the case in front of them is of a good enough quality.

Very few stores we’ve reviewed offered prices as far-ranging as Zales. Some of the engagement rings we viewed fell below the $500 mark (reduced from $800). As can only be expected, these rings certainly reflected their price and featured a lot of beading and thick metalwork to compensate for smaller diamonds.

The most expensive ring we encountered had been reduced from over $60,000 and, shockingly, we couldn’t find any mention of who certified the diamond. While Zales is likely using cheaper labs or in-house grading to save costs on its smaller diamonds, it’s very surprising that they refrain from providing that vital (or, more accurately, pivotal) piece of information to shoppers with tens of thousands of dollars.

Then again, whether your budget is $5,000 or $50,000, knowing who certified your diamond is of the same level of importance.

Investment Insights: Understanding Pricing

It’s tough to judge Zales’ pricing accurately since it’s impossible to do a like-for-like comparison between a GIA diamond and an IGI diamond – and particularly between a GIA diamond, an IGI diamond, and an uncertified diamond. Naturally, this leads to a certain amount of variance in pricing for rings that, on the surface, look relatively similar, and we can imagine this being a little confusing to a shopper with no detailed knowledge of diamond certification or value.

When it came to their GIA graded diamond rings, prices seemed to reflect quality and carat weight pretty closely. Unfortunately, their website shows a pretty limited selection of GIA diamonds, so we can’t speak for the choice you’ll find in your local store.

Zales are pretty well known for running plenty of promotional events throughout the year. At the time of writing, a number of pieces were marked down in the approach to Valentine’s Day, but none of the options we saw seemed worth investigating further, simply because they weren’t listed as being GIA certified.

Aftercare and Warranty: Protecting Your Precious

Zales’ aftercare policies are pretty strong. They offer the usual, in-store services like free cleanings and inspections at any Zales store, but also lifetime Diamond Breakdown Coverage included with the cost of the ring, meaning you can have your diamond replaced if the setting ever fails, or the diamond becomes chipped.

We typically recommend you take your ring in for an inspection and clean once every six months, and that’s a lot easier if you can head into your local Zales whenever you’re already out running errands.

They also offer trade-in value for bridal sets and solitaires. Since lab grown diamonds do not retain value like natural diamonds, this service is only extended to buyers of natural diamond rings.

Personalization and Customization: Making It Yours

Zales does offer a from-scratch personalization option for shoppers. These custom design services are a nice touch, and give you the opportunity to see the wing carved in wax before it is made in order to ensure the perfect fit and silhouette. 

The biggest downside? Once again, it’s the diamond selection on offer to shoppers. From low clarity to IGI certification, you’re really assigning yourself a difficult task – and it’s unlikely that the savings will be worth it. 

Conclusion

While Zales represents one of the biggest and most prevalent jewelry stores in the country, it doesn’t rank anywhere near the top of our list of recommendations. Then again, it’s nowhere near the bottom, either. We’ve got some positives to say, but it’s not a long list.

For a brand that has named itself the store for diamonds, we were left pretty disappointed by the selection. Before we whittled it down to their GIA certified diamonds, we found a lot of questionable options that were severely lacking in terms of clarity – although, in some strange trade-off, many had color grades near the very top of the scale.

It’s a shame that a retailer as big and reputable as Zales relies so heavily on a lab like the IGI, since doing so really offers no advantages to their customers – and, in many ways, can pose some serious disadvantages. Sure, these diamonds are often a little cheaper, but they can also easily be worth less than their lab reports would suggest.

Buying Guide: Practical Tips for Buying Zales Engagement Rings

When embarking on the journey to purchase a Zales engagement ring, being well-informed and attentive can significantly enhance your shopping experience and ensure you make a choice that brings joy for years to come. Here are essential tips to keep in mind:

 Understanding Diamond Quality

Before stepping into a Zales store or browsing online, familiarize yourself with the basics of diamond quality. The 4Cs—Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight—are pivotal. Zales offers a variety of diamonds, including those with GIA certification. Paying attention to these factors can help you select a diamond that meets your standards and budget.

Reviewing Certification and Grading

Always check the diamond’s certification and grading report when available. Zales provides diamonds graded by reputable labs such as GIA, but also by other labs. Understanding the differences between these certifications can help you make a more informed decision and ensure the quality of your purchase.

Inspecting the Setting and Craftsmanship

The setting of an engagement ring not only affects its appearance but also the security of the diamond. Examine the craftsmanship of Zales engagement rings closely. Look for smooth finishes, secure prongs, and overall design quality. This ensures the ring’s durability and the safety of your investment.

Considering Style and Personal Preferences

Zales offers a wide range of engagement ring styles. From classic solitaires to modern halos, it’s essential to consider your or your partner’s personal taste and lifestyle. Think about daily wearability and how the ring complements personal style. Zales’ selection can cater to diverse preferences, ensuring you find a ring that resonates.

Exploring Warranty and Aftercare Services

Zales’ aftercare services and warranty policies are robust, covering diamond breakdowns and offering trade-in options. Before making a purchase, understand what these warranties cover and any actions you need to maintain the warranty. This knowledge can save future stress and potential costs.

Anticipating Future Needs

Consider future needs such as resizing, maintenance, or the addition of wedding bands. Zales provides services that can address these future requirements, ensuring your engagement ring adapts to life’s changes. It’s wise to discuss these aspects upfront to understand the full scope of services and support available to you.

Analyzing Customer Feedback

While Zales generally receives positive feedback, it’s beneficial to research specific store experiences and online purchase reviews. Customer feedback can provide insights into the quality of service, product satisfaction, and any areas of concern. This research can guide you to make a purchase that aligns with your expectations.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can navigate the selection of Zales engagement rings with confidence, ensuring you make a choice that’s both beautiful and informed.

Frequently Asked Questions about Zales Engagement Rings

• What types of engagement rings does Zales offer?
  Zales offers a wide range of engagement ring styles, including solitaire, halo, three-stone, vintage-inspired, and bridal sets. They also feature collections from notable designers and their exclusive lines.
  
• Are Zales diamonds certified?
  Yes, Zales offers diamonds that are certified by reputable grading labs such as the GIA. However, they also sell diamonds graded by other labs, so it’s essential to check the certification details for each specific diamond.
  
• Can I customize an engagement ring at Zales?
  Yes, Zales provides a customization service that allows you to choose the setting, metal, diamond shape, and specific diamond for your engagement ring, ensuring a personalized and unique design.
  
• Does Zales offer a warranty on engagement rings?
  Zales provides a comprehensive warranty and protection plan that covers diamond breakage, repairs, and routine maintenance. Specific terms and conditions apply, so it’s advisable to review these details when making your purchase.
  
• Can I return or exchange an engagement ring purchased from Zales?
  Yes, Zales has a return and exchange policy. Typically, you can return or exchange an item within a specific period, provided it’s in its original condition. Always check the current policy details, as terms may vary.
  
• How does Zales’ aftercare service work?
  Zales offers various aftercare services, including free cleaning and inspections at their stores. They also provide repair services under their warranty or protection plans. It’s recommended to inquire about these services at the time of purchase.
  
• Does Zales offer financing options for engagement ring purchases?
  Yes, Zales provides financing options through their credit card services. These options may include special financing deals that can help make your engagement ring purchase more manageable. Always review the terms and conditions of these financing offers.

By familiarizing yourself with these FAQs, you can ensure a smoother and more informed engagement ring shopping experience at Zales.

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List of Zales Jewelers stores by state:

AK – Alaska

AL – Alabama

AR – Arkansas

AZ – Arizona

CA – California

CO – Colorado

CT – Connecticut

DE – Delaware

FL – Florida

GA – Georgia

HI – Hawaii

IA – Iowa

ID – Idaho

IL – Illinois

IN – Indiana

KS – Kansas

KY – Kentucky

LA – Louisiana

MA – Massachusetts

MD – Maryland

ME – Maine

Zales Jewelers – Bangor Mall Bangor ME

MI – Michigan

MN – Minnesota

MO – Missouri

MS – Mississippi

MT – Montana

NC – North Carolina

ND – North Dakota

NE – Nebraska

NH – New Hampshire

NJ – New Jersey

NM – New Mexico

NV – Nevada

NY – New York

OH – Ohio

OK – Oklahoma

OR – Oregon

PA – Pennsylvania

PR – Porto Rico

RI – Rhode Island

SC – South Carolina

SD – South Dakota

TN – Tennessee

TX – Texas

UT – Utah

VA – Virginia

VT – Vermont

WA – Washington

WI – Wisconsin

WV – West Virginia

WY – Wyoming