Every steal begins with Kay?

My fiancé bought my engagement ring from Kay and he specially designed it. Also bought my wrap from there too. I think I’d be able to tell if they ever switched the diamond out for another. I have inspected this thing so much I know what it looks like. We’ve had nothing but excellent service from Kay jewelers.

After working for years at Costco in the jewelry department I learned that anytime I take my ring or anything with a diamond to a jeweler I ask them to diamond test it when they take it in and when I pick it up. I have never been to Kay or Jared, I only buy diamonds or jewelry from Costco.

I honestly will NEVER use Kays again even though my fh bought the warranty. I lost a smoky quartz out of my ring 13 days after he proposed. It then took them NINE WEEKS AND SIX DAYS to replace one stone. On top of that, they sent it back once with a clear stone in it (smoky quartz is grey or brown), never followed up and all around didn't give a hoot. I will never recommend them to anyone and they will never see a dime more of my money.

I don’t know about Kay specifically, but I found their policy about mandatory cleanings suspicious when my fiancé bought me a bracelet from there a few years back. My family goes to a jeweler that’s been working with our family for decades and he always said to only go to a jeweler you trust for this very reason. They won’t give you a fake one, but they’ll replace it with a lesser quality diamond. He said it does happen, so I only get my jewelry cleaned professionally with him or those that he has entrusted his business with (he’s almost 90 now!)

I do not have personal experience but I feel like that could happen anywhere.

I’ve dealt with both a big brand jeweller and a private jeweller because the big brand didn’t go too well.

My rings are from Kay's, and I would never recommend chain stores now after learning about Kay's and jewelry. My H for sure was overcharged for my rings; he could have gotten better quality and better rings at a local jeweler.

Kays, Jareds and Zales are all part of the same company and have all been accused of less than above board business practices. I have a necklace from Zales and the chain broke twice in the first year. They charged us a fortune to "fix it" the first time. My FH refused to give them anymore business and thankfully went to an independent jeweler for my ering. Buzzfeed did a whole story on them in 2016 https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/women-say-kay-swapped-their-diamonds?utm_term=.tsgwX4mbr#.ulaNLJR7a