Top 10 Jewelry Stores in America

Top 10 Jewelry Stores in America is a trusted, reliable list of the most popular and best-rated jewelry stores in America. We offer reviews, expert insight, and helpful information to help you find the perfect jewelry store for you.

A diamond is a diamond after all, right?

Not if it comes from Tiffany’s.

Along with the gemstone itself, the retail outlet’s brand name and cachet with consumers can carry a heavy premium when it comes to an item’s purchase price and after-market value.

When shopping for jewelry, it might help to know what you’re getting into before you step up to the counter. It’s not that all diamonds aren’t forever, it’s just that some of them might take that long to pay off if you’re not aware of the price differences between pieces at Zale’s versus Tiffany’s.

Latoria Williams, the CEO of 1F Cash Advance, believes that the key to a successful jewelry purchase is understanding the factors that determine its value and quality. According to Latoria, “it’s important to do thorough research and seek out the top brands in the industry to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money. Also, you should compare various financing options before making a jewelry purchase as it can affect the overall cost significantly.”

Yet the price isn’t the only thing that differentiates the top brands from the rest, there’s also reputation, quality of selection, and overall value to consider. With those things in mind, we sought out the best jewelry stores in the USA to help you strategize your next purchasing decision.

Whether you’re Tiffany’s gal or need an engagement ring from Jared’s, this top 10 list should cover the gamut from the extremely high end to the everyday, high-quality pieces most of us can afford.

We also choose top jewelry stores from outside of America but with a longstanding position in the consumer market, such as Bulgari. Though most of these famous jewelry stores tend to offer everyday pieces, some such as Cartier and the aforementioned Bulgari tend towards the more exotic and high-end. In other words, there’s a little bit of something for everyone on this list of most popular jewelry stores.

10. Reeds Jewelers

Founded in 1946 in Wilmington, North Carolina, Reeds Jewelers operates 64 retail stores mainly based in malls on the East Coast of the United States as well as massive brands such as Pandora and Swarovski crystal. Focused primarily on the middle consumer market in the United States, Reeds has also partnered with major companies such as LG to help design their luxury smartwatch.

Focusing on engagement rings, wedding bands, high-end watches, and other jewelry accessories, Reeds is currently listed as the ninth largest jewelry retailer in the United States and is privately owned by the family of founders Bill and Roberta Zimmer after briefly floating on the stock market from 1986 until 2004.

9. Ross-Simons

Opening their first store in Providence, Rhode Island in 1952, Ross-Simons catered to middle American consumer tastes in the New England region with a rapid expansion to three stores and then a catalog in 1981. Known for their quality gems, attention to detail, and superb craftsmanship, Ross-Simons also offers collectibles for the home, tableware, and other accessories. An early pioneer in bringing Ross-Simons jewelry to the consumer wherever she may be, the company continues to maintain a large presence online and is valued for providing beautiful, unique pieces at affordable prices. Why Ross-Simons in Rhode Island? It is because starting a business in Rhode Island is the perfect place to kickstart your journey.

8. Helzberg Diamonds

With a history stretching all the way back to 1915, Helzberg Diamonds is a mainstay in the American consumer jewelry space and is known for providing mainline designs with high-quality execution and superior materials.

Founded by Morris Helzberg, the company has 210 outlets in 32 states and is known for its “Lifetime Care” warranties that provide consumers with easy access to jewelry cleaning and repair services. As far as diamonds are concerned, Helzberg is notable for their experimentation with different colored diamonds as well as in pioneering these variants as exclusive derivatives of the mainline product. Diamonds continue to be a mainstay of the company’s offerings though it has expanded its catalog to include a variety of contemporary, relevant jewelry. 

7. Harry Winston

There are few names so synonymous with fine jewelry as Harry Winston and owning one of this brand’s pieces is on the bucket list of more than a few fashionistas out there. Known as the “King of Diamonds,” Harry Winston is also famous for his ownership of the Hope Diamond which he gifted to the Smithsonian in 1958.

Synonymous with high fashion and luxury appointments, Harry Winston began in 1926 and is currently owned by Switzerland’s Swatch Group since 2013. One of the pricier brands on this list, Harry Winston caters to the world’s elite and Hollywood’s rich and famous thus making it less accessible than others but no less desirable.

6. Bulgari

Bulgari is the brand for the person who has it all and wants more. Offering everything from traditional pieces to watches and avant-garde jewelry, Bulgari’s Italian flare is often preferred by the jet-setting elite. Worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana, among others, Bulgari’s European cachet is only matched by its willingness to try new things.

The Serpenti watch is an iconic example of the brand’s unique market position and its penchant for big, bright, incandescent gems endears it to the Instagram generation unlike other brands out there. Big and bold, as well as expensive, Bulgari is perfect for someone that wants the cachet of a Harry Winston or Tiffany’s without the often staid air associated with those brands. It is also more of a lifestyle brand than others on this list, offering perfumes, watches, hotel experiences, and other products. 

5. Kay Jewelers

An iconic brand often associated with their “Every kiss begins with Kay” marketing slogan, Kay Jewelers is a massive, mid-range brand owned by the conglomerate Sterling Jewelers and with a focus on consumer-grade engagement rings, wedding rings, repair and cleaning services, and other accessories. A mainstay of the jewelry scene – and for good reason – Kay Jewelers tends to be the go-to outlet for consumers that want both traditional and modern styles at prices that are both affordable and with products that provide consumers with real value for their money.

4. Jared

Another Sterling Jewelers brand, Jared distinguishes itself from Kay in two major ways: It is newer, established in 1993, and it offers a boutique experience akin to Harry Winston or Tiffany’s. These separate stores, while styled like a high-end store, offer a range of styles at price points that most consumers can afford while still maintaining an air of exclusivity.

Traditional, modern, and more exotic styles can be found at Jared when compared with the other brands in the Sterling portfolio though, like sister store Kay Jewelers, Jared is increasingly becoming known for its dominance in the engagement ring and wedding bands market.

3. Cartier

Among the prestigious brands on this list, Cartier tends to the lord above them all if for no other reason than its prestigious history. Termed the “jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers” by King Edward VII of Great Britain, Cartier’s pieces tend towards high-end luxury with many of them being one-off pieces never to be produced again. Even consumer-grade products from Cartier command prices that are out of reach for most consumers with bangles and bracelets, unadorned, costing thousands of dollars alone.

While not immediately accessible to the broadest market cohort, Cartier is the stuff of dreams and a true jewelry fanatics aspirational brand. Whether it is an engagement ring, watch, or art piece, anything from Cartier is likely to hold its value over other brands and, depending on the product, may even increase in value over time thus making this brand perfect for both consumers and collectors. 

2. Zales Jewelers

Zales is another mainstay of the American consumer jewelry scene and is renowned for offering a full catalog of competitively priced offerings as well as a range of after-market services. Traditionally known for their mall-based locations in the United States, Zales has transitioned out of that space since 2017 with a renewed focus on online sales as well as new boutique experiences a la Jared. An excellent choice for consumers seeking value for their money as well as a long-term relationship with a company, Zales provides a great value, huge selection, and a pedigree in style and service to match.

1. Tiffany and Co.

The name brand in American jewelry, Tiffany and Co. is as much a part of American history as it is a world-class jeweler. Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and just recently becoming the latest part of the LVMH empire, Tiffany and Co. have designed every from jewelry to tableware, lamps, and much more. Most Tiffany products tend to be of the traditional format and follow strict rules about craftsmanship, quality, and styling.

Yet, as we alluded to earlier, Tiffany goes well beyond just jewelry and is the house behind none other than the New York Yankees “NY” logo as well as the makers of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, given to the team that wins the Super Bowl. Unlike Cartier and brands like it, Tiffany and Co. maintain an air of exclusivity while still offering products accessible to the average consumer. Both aspirational and quintessential, Tiffany’s blue box is an iconic part of jewelry history that denotes the caliber of the product inside. 

RESOURCES:

• Wikipedia.org
• Ross-Simons
• Sterling Jewelers
• Ringsforwomen.org
• Veranda.com
• Americatop10.com
• Top10.com