Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Review 2023 (are they expansive?)

Lee Michaels offers customers the chance to experience a luxurious jewelry store setting without visiting a higher-end store like Tiffany & Co. The stores are quite beautiful and fit well into the upscale shopping centers that they are set in.

The issue with the experience comes in when with the sales assistants. The in-store service does not match the luxurious interior, leaving their customers to want. It is a big downfall for physical retailers since they must compete with online retailers with always available full-time helpful customer support.

To their credit, some of the diamonds sold at Lee Michaels come with a GIA certificate, and while this is a great advantage, the diamonds are on the lower end of the quality, carrying extremely high price tags.

Store settings: The setting of the stores is the biggest show-off the company has. They are wonderfully elegant, and the ambiance in-store, ignoring the sales assistants, is worth spending time in.

Settings: There are some beautiful settings available at Lee Michaels. The grounds themselves are stunning, and, barring the subpar diamonds, you can find a beautiful ring at Lee Michaels, either in-store or online.

Trained jewelry professionals: Every Lee Michaels consultant team member has been educated through the GIA and carries an Accredited Jewelry Professional certification. A number of the consultants have obtained the title of Registered Jeweler and Graduate Gemologists, giving them the ability to provide expert advice on all jewelry and diamonds.

The diamonds at Lee Michaels are overpriced; there is no way around this. Besides the poorly cut diamonds and not excellent quality, the prices are unjustifiable. The only benefit of purchasing a diamond at Lee Michaels is to experience the store's interior, but that quickly fades when you leave the store with an overpriced, low-quality diamond.

Physical retailers have to deal with increased overheads compared to online retailers, though many manage to keep this to a minimum when pricing their diamonds. Lee Michaels, however, does not do this.

When comparing diamonds between Lee Michaels and an online retailer such as James Allen, you can expect a price increase of around 30%.

Lee Michaels has a range of exceptional jewelry, customizable for unique gifts, whether for a gift or an anniversary. The furthest you can have an engagement ring customized is by choosing a setting and then a diamond for it.

The Lee Michaels website is a good representation of their stores. It is elegant and clean and gives off a high-class appeal.

The front page advertises various collections, other jewelry on sale, and brief company history.

There is little option for sorting the rings; the only way you can do so is by price, which does not help you choose between cut, setting, and style.

When viewing a ring, you will come across a picture you can zoom in and out, though it is limited to how well you can see the actual design. There is a small amount of information on rings and the diamonds they are set with. Besides, there is an option to make an appointment to view a ring in-store, which can be incredibly limiting for those needing access to a nearby store.

Other information is easily accessible on the site, with different options for contacting customer support.

While Lee Michaels prides itself on customer service, it varies between stores. Online, you will find a more helpful customer care line and additional information about Lee Michaels' services.

Returns: There is a 30-day return policy for items purchased from Lee Michaels. The items can be returned for a refund, store credit, or exchange.

Appraisals: Lee Michaels offers assessments for their jewelry by one of their staff, who is a member of the American Gem Society. It is a complimentary service offered for purchases over $2,500.

Repairs: The service facilities at Lee Michael include the latest diagnostic and testing equipment, leading to a repair by an expert staff factory-trained technician.

Lee Michaels offers qualifying clients a credit card sourced from Synchrony Financial.

It involves a quick application process that provides instant credit when applied in-store. Account maintenance can be done by low minimum payments, with special payment options available.

• Luxury settings in-store.
• Affiliated with the GIA.
• Staff members trained by the GIA.

If you want to waste some money on a low-quality diamond and not-so-great service, you can visit Lee Michaels. Initially, the store is wonderfully inviting, but that is how far the experience will take you.

For the sake of your budget and to know that you are wearing a diamond engagement ring worthy of your love and money, you should shop at James Allen or Blue Nile. You will be treated like a valued customer and receive an engagement ring fitting nicely into your budget.