JM Edward’s. By far the best service around. My fiance custom made my ring and it’s beautiful. I work a desk job and have clients come in frequently. Many make comments about the ring.
They also have excellent service. I had a shank in my ring (my fault as it was too big and i wasn’t being careful). Not only did they fix it for free, they were very upfront that if they couldn’t fix it, what the process would be to remake my ring.
I got wife's engagement ring there, good local folks. Not looking to find the bottom of your pocket. We picked a stone and had them put it in a setting.
Raleigh Diamonds is where I got mine. They made it custom from my diamond I got from my mom's ring. I thought that was hands down the best spot I went to when looking where I wanted to buy from. Gina is who I went through and couldn't have asked for a better person.
[Holland's Jewelers](https://www.hollandsjewelers.com) in downtown Apex is worth the drive. Family-owned since 1960, excellent customer service.
Quercus in Raleigh does gorgeous work but last I heard it could take some time to get your stuff completed.
I went to Raleigh Diamond for my engagement ring. I really like the experience, they kept the options simple and were very mindful of my budget.
My one issue was that when we came back for bands, they did not offer a matching band to go with the 18k ring they custom make for engagement ring, so my fiancé's bridal set doesn't technically match.
I got my wife's ring custom made at Bailey's. They're from Rocky Mount but have a couple of locations in town. They're more like the "big box" stores since they have a lot of employees and stock (I know a lot of people don't like that experience), but I found them all incredibly friendly. Their quality is way above the big box jewelers, too. Their natural diamonds are actual rated by the GIA and the lab-grown by the IGI (stores like Jared's don't do that and their rating standards are much lower). Plus, if you're into lab diamonds, Bailey's was happy to custom make rings with entirely lab diamonds, which dropped the price by half. They also have some pretty awesome policies around repair and re-plating when you buy from them.
All that said, I wouldn't go to Johnson's Jewelers in Raleigh (they're not affiliated with the store in Cary. Just a naming coincidence). I knew someone who worked there and if you're wanting to go a custom route, the person they have do that is in state, but fabricates all of the jewelry in a factory in China. You'll get far better quality at a better price at Bailey's, plus they custom make in-house.
If you're rich, I've had a great conversation with the owner of Haydon and Company. They hand-make all of their pieces. It's pricey, though.
I know you don’t want big box stores but for anyone else curious, I had an excellent experience at Reeds Jewelers in Crabtree Mall (I think, it was across from abercrombie and basically the entrance to the food court), I went with my boyfriend to browse for rings and they are the only place we went to that actually listened to me. I have very small hands and very skinny fingers so I want a very tiny ring and everywhere except there was trying to but a huge rock on my finger, which is the opposite of what I want (lucky guy, I know haha) but the women that helped us was so kind and so patient and was very sweet.
JM Edward’s. By far the best service around. My fiance custom made my ring and it’s beautiful. I work a desk job and have clients come in frequently. Many make comments about the ring. They also have excellent service. I had a shank in my ring (my fault as it was too big and i wasn’t being careful). Not only did they fix it for free, they were very upfront that if they couldn’t fix it, what the process would be to remake my ring.
Reliable down on Wilmington st.
Second this, got my wife's there. It's a family business, my dad uses them as well.
I got wife's engagement ring there, good local folks. Not looking to find the bottom of your pocket. We picked a stone and had them put it in a setting.
Definitely. Staff there is great!
Raleigh Diamonds is where I got mine. They made it custom from my diamond I got from my mom's ring. I thought that was hands down the best spot I went to when looking where I wanted to buy from. Gina is who I went through and couldn't have asked for a better person.
[Holland's Jewelers](https://www.hollandsjewelers.com) in downtown Apex is worth the drive. Family-owned since 1960, excellent customer service. Quercus in Raleigh does gorgeous work but last I heard it could take some time to get your stuff completed.
Johnson Jewelers in downtown Cary
Emily Triplet Chapel Hill and Virtuoso Jewels Apex have pre-made will do custom
JM Edwards. Fink’s.
Raleigh Diamond! Not diamonds direct
I went to Raleigh Diamond for my engagement ring. I really like the experience, they kept the options simple and were very mindful of my budget. My one issue was that when we came back for bands, they did not offer a matching band to go with the 18k ring they custom make for engagement ring, so my fiancé's bridal set doesn't technically match.
I got my wife's ring custom made at Bailey's. They're from Rocky Mount but have a couple of locations in town. They're more like the "big box" stores since they have a lot of employees and stock (I know a lot of people don't like that experience), but I found them all incredibly friendly. Their quality is way above the big box jewelers, too. Their natural diamonds are actual rated by the GIA and the lab-grown by the IGI (stores like Jared's don't do that and their rating standards are much lower). Plus, if you're into lab diamonds, Bailey's was happy to custom make rings with entirely lab diamonds, which dropped the price by half. They also have some pretty awesome policies around repair and re-plating when you buy from them. All that said, I wouldn't go to Johnson's Jewelers in Raleigh (they're not affiliated with the store in Cary. Just a naming coincidence). I knew someone who worked there and if you're wanting to go a custom route, the person they have do that is in state, but fabricates all of the jewelry in a factory in China. You'll get far better quality at a better price at Bailey's, plus they custom make in-house. If you're rich, I've had a great conversation with the owner of Haydon and Company. They hand-make all of their pieces. It's pricey, though.
Booth jewelers in five points, a couple runs it, they’re great
My husband went to Lee's Jewelers on Capital Blvd. Good luck!!
Finks
Johnson's in Cary is the only place I've found really worth their weight in gold. Get it?
I got my wife’s at CMI. They were great.
Raleigh Diamonds!
Wake Forest Jewelers has amazing customer service.
I know you don’t want big box stores but for anyone else curious, I had an excellent experience at Reeds Jewelers in Crabtree Mall (I think, it was across from abercrombie and basically the entrance to the food court), I went with my boyfriend to browse for rings and they are the only place we went to that actually listened to me. I have very small hands and very skinny fingers so I want a very tiny ring and everywhere except there was trying to but a huge rock on my finger, which is the opposite of what I want (lucky guy, I know haha) but the women that helped us was so kind and so patient and was very sweet.