Brownlee Jewelers In-Depth Review (are they trustworthy?)

Sharif Khan
Sharif Khan
Last Updated    EST 
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Brownlee Jewelers are one of the oldest jewelers in the United States. The company's history starts over 80 years ago, founded in 1936 in the Carolinas.

Since then, they have grown to include eight South and North Carolina stores. Brownlee Jewelers is still family-run, with the third generation leading the company now.

 Compare Brownlee Jewelers with James Allen.

Unfortunately, the bottom-line recommendation would be to compare Brownlee Jewelers with other vendors before making a final decision. While they claim to have built trust through their 3-generation history, buyers can find better engagement rings or jewelry shopping deals. Visit James Allen or Blue Nile to ensure you are given amazing customer service, beautiful products, and the best value for your money.

Brownlee
  • 3.4 out of 5
    Product Quality
  • 3.3 out of 5
    Product Diversity
  • 3.8 out of 5
    Customer Service
  • 4 out of 5
    Sustainability
  • 3 out of 5
    Price
  • 4 out of 5
    Website Use

      What Brownlee Jewelers Offer

      The Brownlee Jewelers stores offer little in the way of experience. The stores must hold up to the luxury experience you expect when purchasing a high-value piece. Instead, they rely only on boards and advertisements, exponentially dulling the experience.

      The staff in-store is friendly, and though it is always a feature to look for in a store, they need to offer their customers more diamond education and assistance when deciding on a diamond or setting.

      Diamonds at Brownlee Jewelers are sold with EGL certificates, which do not cement the stones' actual qualities. The EGL does not hold strictly to the grading of diamond properties, but it still is better than nothing.

      The quality of the diamonds, store settings, and lack of information offered by sales staff do not draw customers back.

      What Makes Brownlee Jewelers Stand Out?

      History: What Brownlee Jewelers do have going for them is that they have remained a family-owned business for over 80 years. Each of their eight stores is locally owned and operated, building trust within the local community.

      Settings: Putting the diamonds aside, the settings sold at Brownlee Jewelers are nice. They have all the standard shapes and styles available; all crafted beautifully.

      Sales: Many retailers do not offer substantial sales on their jewelry, but Brownlee Jewelers do. Their online site always shows the current sales, and you can often pick up 50% off on an engagement ring setting of your choice.

      Kimberley Process: Brownlee Jewelers adhere to the Kimberley Process to ensure their diamonds are conflict-free and ethically sourced, a huge selling point for many customers.

      Brownlee Jewelers Pricing

      There is no way around the fact that the diamonds at Brownlee Jewelers are overpriced. What makes matters worse for them is that the diamonds could be of better quality. Hence, you may quickly find a better diamond at the same or lower price at James Allen.

      The diamonds at Brownlee Jewelers can cost up to 40% more than their counterparts at James Allen. Ironically, as contended before, the high price increase is not justified given their diamonds' quality. This implies you will only get something special for the extra money spent.

      Some stores offer a unique experience, or brand name, to justify their diamond prices, but Brownlee Jewelers do not. Their service is possibly lower than other retailers, and the diamond quality is another story.

      Custom Orders

      Brownlee Jewelers allow customers to design their engagement ring or jewelry piece from scratch. The custom design department works closely with the clients to create a unique piece using CAD/CAM. A team of designers works to perfect the initial idea, while the artisans work to build up the engagement ring to these specifications.

      Website Ease of Use

      Brownlee Jewelers do excel when it comes to their online site. It is clean, pleasant, and full of simple, effective coloring and imaging.

      Unlike many other physical retailers, the online store has been built to suit the needs of online clients. The filtering options for searching engagement rings are beneficial, with many filtering options to narrow your search.

      There are great photos of the ring you choose to view and quite a vast amount of information to digest to help you decide. The ring will also show the EGL grading card to help understand the qualities and values.

      The purchasing process on the site is easy enough. Besides, there is a pop-up chat button to access customer care should you need it easily.

      Customer Service

      Brownlee Jewelers do claim to offer superb customer service. However, this may not be observed in-store, not necessarily due to the enthusiasm of the sales assistant lacking but to the information and education offered to clients. Online is a reasonably different story, with many resources available to help the client along the purchasing process.

      Returns: If customers need to return their purchase, they can do so in 30 days for a full refund, exchange, or in-store credit.

      Shipping: Free shipping is offered for purchases over $250, with priority shipping exceeding $1,000.

      Free Nationwide Warranty: The Free Nationwide Warranty covers re-tipping prongs, inspections of channels and settings, re-sizing, tightening stones, refinishing, and polishing.

      Brownlee Jewelers Financing Options

      The purchase can be financed through the Synchrony Financial Luxury Card at Brownlee Jewelers, which features a simple credit application process, low monthly payments, and special financing. Moreover, the card does not tie up other credit lines.

      It also allows customers to purchase their dream items with financing options suited to their needs and budget.

      Why You Should Choose Brownlee Jewelers

      • Beautiful settings
      • Adherence to the Kimberley Process
      • Family-run business for over 80 Years

      Brownlee Jewelers - Save Your Money Online

      Nobody should feel the need to purchase their engagement ring from Brownlee Jewelers. The customer service could be more exceptional, and the in-store experience is common. You will find much better diamonds at a lower price online at James Allen or Blue Nile.

      Some physical retailers retain their customers through higher prices with a personalized, luxury experience, but Brownlee Jewelers still need to. Therefore, you must take your budget online to extend it further and get value for your money and time.