Jewelry Stores

From nationwide chain stores such as Zales to upscale boutiques from the likes of Cartier and Harry Winston, jewelry retail operations come in all shapes and sizes and cater to every type of consumer.

On the hunt for an affordable engagement ring and looking for a wide selection of styles to choose from? Your best bet might be the local mall, where your region's biggest jewelry retailers are likely to have a location.

Unlike chain or department store jewelers, independent jewelry stores, many of them still owned by the same family that founded them, offer an intimate setting where you're more likely to get personalized service. These jewelry stores, or salons, as some prefer to be called, tend to have a wider selection of designer jewelry and higher-end merchandise. Some are known as guild stores because they belong to the American Gem Society (AGS), an organization that ensures its members adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards.

The most luxurious jewelry stores belong to the iconic names in the jewelry business: Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, to name just a few. While they sell all kinds of jewelry, from necklaces to charm bracelets, they only sell pieces made in their own workshops. These items are well-made and status-worthy, but they're also priced at a premium.

Shoppers in search of a bargain are more likely to find good deals at either the chain jewelers or a big-box retailer such as Costco, which has grown into a powerful jewelry retailer in its own right.

In addition to brick-and-mortar jewelry stores, most jewelry retailers have added an online component to their businesses, creating a vast category of virtual jewelry stores that makes the process of buying jewelry safe, simple and secure.

Or, of course, you can shop right here at Jewelry.com - where you can find a huge selection of fine jewelry at incredible prices - right at your fingertips. Not to mention a 30-day no-hassle return policy, free shipping, and much more!