The Jewelry Exchange – A Review

Our Rating 3.9 out of 5.

Compare The Jewelry Exchange with James Allen.

Before online jewelry stores rose to fame, many people would shop for engagement rings at stores like The Jewelry Exchange. These stores allowed people to walk into a friendly and familiar store and leave with what they believed was a good quality diamond.

However, as time passed and more people became aware of the importance of diamond quality, The Jewelry Exchange began losing popularity. The question remains as to why you would pay a higher price for a store-bought diamond instead of paying a lower price for a better quality diamond online?

A Brief History

Bill Doddridge founded The Jewelry Exchange and Jewelry Factory after gaining experience working in his stepfather’s pawnshop. During this time there, he began to design jewelry, and in the early ’90s, he decided to close his pawnshop and open up a jewelry store.

Bill managed to undercut the competition by going directly to overseas manufacturing companies, giving him a much-needed edge in the industry at the time.

The Jewelry Exchange, also known as Jewelry Factory, can be found in 15 locations across the USA.

What The Jewelry Exchange Offer

The selling point of The Jewelry Exchange is that they are a physical store committed to selling jewelry. It allows customers to come in and view the engagement ring firsthand, which is a bonus compared to shopping online, where you cannot view the engagement ring and diamond until it is purchased and arrives at your door.

The Jewelry Exchange also sells GIA-certified diamonds. Although some only have an EGL certification, customers can still buy a diamond with GIA certification should they want one.

You can also speak to a customer service staff member in the store who will guide you towards an engagement ring or a diamond best suited to you. Many people prefer this hands-on experience rather than speaking to someone online.

What Makes The Jewelry Exchange Stand Out?

Expansive inventory: Having 15 shops around the country means that The Jewelry Exchange has a relatively wide range of jewelry on offer. The stores hold a decent selection of engagement rings, diamonds, and other jewelry pieces.

Engagement rings: You can purchase a ready-set engagement ring from The Jewelry Exchange. Many people prefer to do so rather than sifting through styles, settings, and center diamonds online without the finished product shown clearly.

Helpful staff: The Jewelry Exchange staff are pretty knowledgeable and accommodating when assisting customers. Knowing their inventory well, they will guide you to the perfect ring suited to your tastes.

The Jewelry Exchange Pricing

The problem with purchasing an engagement ring from The Jewelry Exchange comes in with pricing. With their diamonds, you will most likely find a cheaper option online at James Allen, which will more than likely be of a better quality as well.

For those having little experience with diamonds, finding inclusions and flaws in a diamond might be difficult. However, if you notice any, you would be better off comparing it with a similar diamond from James Allen and Blue Nile to make an informed decision.

Custom Orders

Another pitfall with The Jewelry Exchange is that they do not offer custom orders for clients.

The Jewelry Exchange state on their website that they have a large selection of specially made jewelry and one-of-a-kind items that can suit almost every taste, which is why they do not offer custom-made jewelry.

It limits customers who have a certain ring in mind that they are hoping to have custom made, and so they are left with no option but to head to James Allen or Blue Nile. However, you can choose a setting and match a diamond on their site that they will craft together and send to you.

Website Ease of Use

For an older store, the website of The Jewelry Exchange is pretty good. While it might appear slightly cluttered at first, there are easy navigation options that allow you to filter down preferences to find the right diamond or engagement ring. They also have a wide range of other jewelry items on their site.

The images of the rings online are clear but are stock photos. Most of the information needed for the diamond, such as clarity, color, shape, setting, and carat, is available and easy to digest. There is a reasonably large inventory online, though not as much as other leading online jewelry retailers.

Customer Service

Customer service at The Jewelry Exchange can be broken down into two categories: in-store help and online service. In-store, staff members will help you find the right engagement ring and offer all the information needed before deciding. Online, the same service is on offer for you.

Return Policy: The Jewelry Exchange will refund or exchange your items within 15 days of your purchase.

1 Year Warranty: The Jewelry Exchange offers a 1-year limited warranty on defects and manufacturing defaults.

In-Store Viewing: If you view an engagement ring online that you want to purchase, you can request the ring to be sent to a store nearby for actual viewing before purchasing.

Insured Shipping: All shipped jewelry from The Jewelry Exchange is insured for shipping.

The Jewelry Exchange Financing Options

The Jewelry Exchange offers a six-month layaway program with a 25% down payment. If no payment is made after 90 days, the layaway falls away, and the payments received are returned as store credit.

Customers can also pay with most of the major credit cards and money orders, cashier’s checks, wire transfers, and cash payments.

Why You Should Choose The Jewelry Exchange

• In-store viewing of engagement rings and diamonds
• A large variety of other jewelry
• Insured shipping
• Layaway option for customers

The Jewelry Exchange – Overtaken By Online Retailers

The sad truth about brick-and-mortar jewelry stores is that they are being pushed aside to make way for the new online retailers that offer a vast range of certified diamonds and engagement rings at a very competitive price. However, if you are looking for the proper jewelry experience, visiting a jewelry store, and picking a ring, then a visit to The Jewelry Exchange is rather justified.