Jewelers Row-Chicago

[akw94]

Hi,
I am headed to Jewelers row tomorrow in Chicago to look around. Does anyone know of particular stores there? Any tips when looking there? I don''t see the purchase being made there but I want to get a feel for different styles and thought that might have a wide range of choices. Does anyone know if this is true or not?
I''ve only tried on rings once and only a couple, a simple solitaire and an eternity ring. I really liked the eternity ring but I also like antique styles so wanted to see if I could find that and see how I feel once it''s on my finger.

Thanks for the tips!!

 

[Emeraldfan]

The one store I would recommend down there is Dimend Scaasi which is at 5 S. Wabash on the 17th Floor. If you''re just looking then there is a jewelry mall with all different vendors in each booth in one large room. They have a lot of different styles to look at. In my opinion I would definitely stay away from Wabash Diamond. I was going to buy my diamond there until I saw the exact same diamond (GIA cert # & all) on an online site for over $3000 less than they wanted to sell it to me for. When I told him I wouldn''t buy that diamond I never heard from him again. I guess I was just a little too educated by Pricescope for him.

If you are looking for a great B&M in Chicago to actually buy your ring I would suggest Steve Quick''s near Clark & Fullerton. They have a great selection and can get or custom make anything you want. They also have the Lucere and they are the only ones in Chicago to carry the Original Radiant Cut. Ask for Nicholas, he is great and very knowledgeable and won''t jerk you around on price. He used to work for VanCleef and knows his jewelry.

Hope this helps and good luck down there.

 

[akw94]

Thanks Emerald!
I appreciate the store recommendations and will definitely stop by tomorrow.

Do you need appt.''s for any of these stores? I am just planning on going after work and walking around various stores to get a feel for settings. I don''t think i''ll look at stones, or maybe just a couple to get an idea on color and what the imperfections look like. I know that my bf plans on doing the shopping w/o me so I just want to give him an idea of what I like. It''s hard to say for sure I like something when i''ve only seen it on paper, but he is taking that as me saying it''s what I like. So i''m taking a friend and hoping that I see a wide variety.
Are there a lot of different settings at the stores? I think what I like is pretty simple but i''d like to see many choices to see if I have a preference.

Thanks again!

 

[mrssalvo]

don''t know DT chicago well, but I think it''s totally worth the couple hour drive to Pearlmans if you can make the trip. he''s got more settings in his display''s than any jewelry store I''ve ever been in and the customer service couldn''t be better.

 

[akw94]

Thanks for the suggestions. Where is Pearlmans?

 

[mrssalvo]

He''s in Battle Creek Michigan. www.pearlmansjewelers.com

 

[Dee*Jay]

The Jeweler's Mall at 5 South Wabash has a lot of vendors with tons of settings to look at. This is at street level; there are also vendors on the upper floors but for your purposes this is probably good because you can just walk through and browse the settings and ask to try on anything that catches your eye.

Absolutely agree with Mrs. Salvo though if you could somehow fit in a trip to Pearlman's.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I''d also like to recommend Dimend Scaasi. Most of their settings are designed by the owners, so they will not be just like all the other jewelry stores. I think their quality is excellent.

 

[Small]

Date: 6/14/2006 5:08:34 PM
Author: mrssalvo
He's in Battle Creek Michigan. www.pearlmansjewelers.com

That would be a haul from Chicago for sure! I lived in Indiana bordering Michigan all my life and battle creek was definitely a couple of hours from there so from downtown that would be at least 3-4 hours

Look online at Pearlmans though...that would give you some ideas. As for downtown...I've never been to jewelers row but alot of people here praise Dimend Scacci...I wish I would have known they were that close I'd have gone to look in person there...still might when I can get my husband to take me to the row

Good luck...let us know how it goes!

ETA...driving directions from downtown says 2.5 hours to battlecreek. That wouldn't be so bad if you knew what you wanted and that Pearlmans had it. But don't forget the dreaded 94 construction...that traffic would probably add you another hour

 

[akw94]

Thanks everyone! I found out that the 5 S. Wabash bldg closes at 5 so that cancels the plan to go after work today. Now, I''m thinking tomorrow around lunchtime.
I plan to visit the Dimend Scaasi store. I went to their website and I like a lot of the styles. They have some fairly simple stuff which I like and some pieces w/engraving. I''ve never tried on anything w/an antique sort of style and hope to do that.

I am excited! Any idea of how long one generally spends browsing through the stores? I''d like to look mainly at settings but I kind of want to compare diamonds a bit and see the color differences and clarity differences. I don''t know if my bf will find that too much information but I think it''s important to know, rather than totally depending on a jeweler.

Thanks again. I wish it were tomorrow already!

 

[akw94]

Well, I visited Jewelers Row and really appreciate the tip on the Dimend Scaasi store. The sales associate was great, very patient, informative and nice. I tried on a ton of settings and really got a feel for what I like, which was what i''ve liked all along, the eternity style setting. I didn''t try on any diamonds due to time but I really wanted to go for the settings.

I wasn''t impressed w/the other stores in the main bldg. I stopped in a couple but they had a pawn shop feel to me and some that were antique stores couldn''t answer specifics abt the rings. I also stopped in a couple stand alone stores but at that point, I really felt like I saw what I liked already so didn''t spend too much time. My problem now is that I feel pretty particular abt the one style and am trying not to put any expectations on it b/c I really don''t know what he''ll choose or where he''ll go. But I did send an email w/the specifics, including the store location, sales rep., etc...

Thanks again!