Kay Jewelers – A Review

Our Rating 3.1 out of 5.

Compare Kay Diamond Jewelry with James Allen.

Summarizing a review of Kay Jewelers in one sentence is not difficult: you should not purchase a diamond or engagement ring from them.

It might seem slightly hard on the company, but one does not have many options since its benefits are far from enough. Besides, purchasing an engagement ring from this jewelry store always implies spending a premium, often for a low-quality ring.

To ease your mind further, compare a ring from Kay Jewelers to one from James Allen. You will immediately notice (even if you are not a diamond expert) that the ring from James Allen will not only be of better quality but will most likely have a lower price tag.

Below is a review of Kay Jewelers and an analysis of whether you should spend any time contemplating purchasing a ring from the store.

A Brief History

Founded by Edmund and Soul Kaufman, the Kay Jewelers story began in 1916 with a small retail spot in the corner of a furniture store owned by their father in Pennsylvania. They are the second-largest mall-based jewelry retail chain in the USA, coming in second to Zales.

Sterling Jewelers, owned by Signet Corporation, heads up Kay Jewelers, a sibling company to Jared Galleria of Jewelry that too does not offer the most outstanding quality.

In 1997, Kay Jewelers adopted the tagline "every kiss begins with Kay" and have stuck with it since.

What Kay Jewelers Offer

Kay Jewelers operate primarily as a chain mall-based jewelry store. This fact makes it more difficult for them to compete price-wise with an online-based store, pushing prices up and leaving room for criticism of staff in-store. Being mall-based, it offers easy access to customers who would like to browse their display.

When it comes to the quality of the diamonds and engagement rings sold by Kay Jewelers, they do not meet the mark of online jewelers and many other brick-and-mortar jewelry stores. For those who do not know much about diamond quality and value, it might be easy to be fooled by the sales representatives in Kay Jewelers who push specific rings. Therefore, it is critical to read on diamond education and take someone along with you who is clued-up on diamond quality.

What Makes Kay Jewelers Stand Out?

Expansive inventory: Given that they have many stores across the county, there is a fairly wide range to choose from at Kay Jewelers. However, it does not mean that their collection necessarily comprises good quality diamond engagement rings.

Reliable site: While the quality is in question, the Kay Jewelers site is pretty reliable. It is a vast company that many Americans trust, which translates towards the safety that comes with shopping on their site.

Certification: Though this is where Kay Jewelers lack, it needs to be mentioned to potential buyers. Diamonds from Kay Jewelers do not come with a reliable certification, such as a certificate from GIA or AGS. It should seriously be considered since it could mean that the quality is lower than claimed by the store.

Kay Jewelers Pricing

Kay Jewelers make their diamonds seem more affordable by advertising them as 1.0-carat when, in fact, they sit at around 0.95 carats. Most would know that a 0.95-carat diamond will have a smaller price tag than a diamond weighing 1.0 carat. Therefore, it is unfair to compare a 1.0-carat diamond from James Allen with a supposed 1.0-carat diamond from Kay Jewelers.

When you consider the carat weight, color, clarity, and cut of the diamonds offered by Kay Jewelers, you will find that their prices are over-inflated and that you will be paying way more for a below-average diamond than you should. The diamond will also lose value by not having the correct certificate, which could come back to haunt you in the future when you try to sell your diamond.

Custom Orders

The commercialism of Kay Jewelers is shown through their custom-designed ring options on their site. They offer a wide range of custom design jewelry, but it mainly covers birthstone rings, sports rings, and class rings. Thus, it may not be something you ideally would be looking for when creating an engagement ring. You can visit a Kay Jewelers store to request a custom design, but with staff lacking in relevant knowledge, it can be challenging to achieve the ring of your dreams.

Moreover, creating your engagement ring with Kay Jewelers is not only impossible but also inadvisable. It is so because you will not receive the expert craftsmanship that you would expect from a jeweler such as Blue Nile.

Website Ease of Use

Kay Jewelers' website, which is quickly expanding due to the online market's demands, is pretty and colorful. There are many different jewelry options to choose from, all of which are reasonably easy to find.

There are often sales on the website, with a clearance page dedicated to markdown products. When viewing an engagement ring on the site, you do receive some vital detail. However, it is largely ineffective due to the lack of a recognized and worthwhile certification.

Customer Service

Because it is a chain store, you can expect the customer service to be somewhat below par. With many mall-based stores, it would not be easy to find an expanse of staff with reliable knowledge about diamonds and jewelry.

Return Policy: Purchases can be returned to Kay Jewelers within 60 days as long as the merchandise adheres to the strict return policy.

Warranties: The jewelers offer a few guarantees and warranties, such as a Gemstone Guarantee, Brand Warranties, and Upgrades and Trade-Ins.

Kay Jewelers Financing Options

Kay Jewelers offer to finance a once-off purchase for items over $500. The LONG LIVE LOVE credit card requires a 20% down payment before the purchase is made—this is for a 12-month special financing option.

The store also offers a 36-month special financing option for in-store bridal purchases of $3,000 or more, with zero down payments.

Why You Should Choose Kay Jewelers

• Stores found across the USA
• Brick-and-mortar store to view jewelry firsthand

Kay Jewelers – Take Your Money Elsewhere

Kay Jewelers is a good option for those browsing around the shopping mall and looking for a gimmicky Mother’s Day gift or a sweet pendant for an anniversary. When it comes to a more significant purchase, such as a diamond engagement ring, you need to be confident that the product you buy is a great quality item. Unfortunately, you will not receive this assurance from Kay Jewelers.

Take your business and budget to James Allen or Blue Nile, where your money will be well spent, and you will receive the engagement ring of your dreams.