Every steal begins with Kay?

I mean it's possible because they aren't as regulated as AGS jewelers but it's so much more work than it's worth to replace a diamond. Honestly, just ask them to diamond test in front of you prior to sending your ring and diamond test in front of you when it's returned.

I don't go to Kay because of my old ring cracking down the center. I hope it works out for you!

I have had nothing but positive experiences with Kay. My FH bought both my e-ring and wedding band there, and the've now been sent out twice for resizing with no problems. Before they send out your ring, it's standard store policy for them to put it under a microscope to show you the "unique" characteristics in your diamond; therefore, you can ensure it is the same one when you return to pick it up.

I don’t have any experience with chain store jewelers but I suppose that could happen anywhere. Unless you have a really big, high quality diamond, I can’t imagine it would be worth it to switch a ring out. I would be more concerned with the quality of jewelry you are getting. Best to stick with a reputable jeweler, perhaps a place you get through a personal recommendation.

I wouldn't use them at all. Between the horror stories of them loosing diamonds, replacing them with lower quality stones, and the terrible customer service its not worth it to me. My FH and I are also huge advocates of supporting local businesses. So we are planning to get our wedding bands from the same local shop he got my engagement ring at.

It's up to you to decide it the risk is worth it. I would definitely get ring insurance, and would maybe take them to be cleaned at a local jewler who does in house cleanings after you buy them,

Oh my! You just gave me a little anxiety. I've had my ring for 6 months (from Kay) and I took it in for the 6 month check. 3 diamonds were loose and a few of the prongs needed to be repaired. They had to send it out to be repaired. I guess when I get it back I will have to take it somewhere else and see what they say just to be sure. I know my fiance will flip if they switched the diamond.

I'd never shop at Kay's or Jared or any of those chain stores. Local/independent jewelers only. You get better quality at a better price. Those chain stores have huge markups and then everyone has the same ring.

My first engagement ring was purchased from a similar store back in 2006 and when I went to have it appraised, the jeweler informed me that the diamond was fake. Yup, you read that right. The company closed and went bankrupt so I had no recourse. Needless to say I will not purchase (nor allow my FH to purchase) any jewelry from a chain store ever again. You are better off taking the ring to a local jeweler.

I don't feel comfortable with any jeweler that sends things out to be repaired. Just the thought of it getting lost in transit is enough for me to stay away.

I don't shop there, but do you honestly think that if this is happening on a mass scale that the chain would still be in business?

My FW got me a little diamond necklace and my engagement ring from Kay. She said that both times she went in her experience was great. They let her look at the diamonds under a microscope, they told her about the different cuts, and explained the insurance policy throughly to her. I have yet to have a problem with either pieces of jewelry and plan to get our wedding bands from Kay

I would never, ever, EVER buy a significant piece of jewelry from a chain store like Kay. They have mass produced, machine cut pieces. Not at all unique or of high quality. I have heard these rumors about switching diamonds before. I don't think the employees have a sense of ownership. They aren't paid well. What do they have to lose? Best to go with a local, family-owned jeweler who allows you to see your diamond lose, hand makes the setting and provides guarantees that your diamond is your diamond. I've also read numerous stories in these forums of chain store rings needing repairs in the first year of ownership. That's just crazy. If it's well made you shouldn't have to have it repaired frequently. Just my opinion. That being said, if your ring is from there you don't need to keep going there. As others have said, find a reputable jeweler and take it there for inspections, cleanings and repais.

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Agreed. My jeweler cleans my ring when I'm standing in the store. I actually cracked my band (I wore it when I went hiking like a moron and cracked it climbing up some rocks) and one of the tiny diamonds on the band was knocked loose and they did the repair in store. I brought it in on a Saturday and I picked it up on a Tuesday (it was ready on Monday but I had class and couldn't pick it up). I can't believe all the posts that say they had to send their rings out for a month to get it resized or worked on.

I don't shop there, not for rings at least. My H purchased my ring from a local jeweler and I have a pretty nice diamond. I went into Kays with my mom to look at a necklace and my ring caught the eye of the guy who was helping us. He then asked if he could clean my ring for me and I told him I didn't buy it there. He was pretty insistent about it and as I was about to finally give him my ring, he told me that putting it into the machine to clean it could possibly make my diamonds loose. Um no thank you. I have heard a lot of people complain about the loose diamonds after a cleaning and that they send them away, but I can't imagine them swapping out the diamond though I wouldn't put that past any jeweler :/

My center diamond has a serial number inscribed on it for safety, but I would never bring it anywhere that doesn't do their work on-site. Mostly because I can't bear to be without it!

We have a friend of a friend who works for Zales. She seems to really know her stuff and care about her customers (she's been there a long time and has lots of repeat customers). That said, we didn't buy my engagement ring from her. There was one or two that I really liked, but once we did more research about the company, we weren't comfortable with the quality of diamond we were getting for the price.

Instead, we got my ring from a local jeweler, who FH has known for 10+ years. I love that it's pretty unique. And, we plan to go to him for our wedding bands too. He tells me to bring my ring in for cleaning whenever I want, and he cleans it right there.

I do have a necklace and set of earrings that FH bought from our friend at Zales. The associate cleans and inspects them while I'm in the store. (Only the necklace has a requirement that I bring it in every 6 months for cleaning/inspection, but they'll clean the earrings while I'm there too.)

My engagement ring and wedding band are both from Kay’s. When FH and I heard of the news we took it to a different jewelry shop (Rogers) and had them tell us if they diamond was real or not. It was all legit. I had my ring taken in about 6 months ago for a repair and the ring has the same diamond in it.

Never heard of the bait and switch with repairs, I can't believe any jeweler could do this for any amount of time and not get caught.

We bought our bands from a chain (Shane in the Twin Cities) and they are simple gold bands. My ring is an antique ring from FH's great grandmother.

I don't like Kay simply because that awful jingle: "Every kiss begins with Kay" - icky icky icky!

We got my ring at Jared and I haven't taken it back for resizing for this reason. They told us 2+ weeks to be resized so I took it to a local jeweler instead...he did it in an hour and a half and cleaned it for me for a FRACTION of what Jared wanted! Getting my band from the local jeweler instead for the peace of mind and the quality!

I can't speak to swapping out stones, though I have heard of this happening, a lot! But, years ago my sister and I bought a mothers ring for our mom and it was the most awful experience. They initially designed the ring with the wrong stones (ok, mistakes happen), and when we took it back they were so incredibly rude! We then picked up the new ring, with the correct stones, and my mother noticed that the mold they used was so worn down that the sections between the stones we all uneven and it looked like something you won out of a machine! Haha. Again, we went back, and dealt with the manager, just nasty and rude. I will never ever again go to Kay's.