What's A Private Jeweler & What's The Difference?

Private jewelers have long been the low key, best kept secret in jewelry buying for years. They’re of a type of jewelry maker and designer that does not have a brick-and-mortar store. Instead, they operate out of a private studio and/or an online marketplace.

Whether it is a custom engagement ring, wedding ring or heirloom piece, private jewelers offer unparalleled attention to detail when helping a customer with their needs. They tend to have better knowledge of artisan methods and techniques for crafting one-of-a-kind pieces. 

With the help of a private jeweler, customers know they are: 

· taking a customer’s requests at top priority

· getting individualized customer service with greater convenience

· access to higher quality products/materials

· expert knowledge of methods required of custom pieces

Making for an unbeatable personal and personable experience when looking for that special piece of jewelry that big corporate stores simply cannot match.

There are several types of jewelers available, each offering their own advantages and disadvantages:

Retail jewelry stores are the most widely available type of shop, where you can purchase pieces made by larger companies and sometimes smaller, independent artisans. 

Corporate jewelers tend to offer more mass-produced pieces that are often lower in quality than other options. 

Meanwhile, family-owned jewelry stores may offer a more personalized experience with access to hard-to-find pieces as well as custom services. 

Although buying from retail, corporate and family-owned jewelry stores can be convenient and offer more choices ready to take home immediately, there are certain limitations. 

The quality of the product may not be of quality justifying its price. The prices may be higher due to convenience fees, employee commissions, overhead, etc. and customers may not have access to customizations and special requests. 

This is where a private jeweler comes in to fill in the gaps, providing an all-encompassing concierge level experience without the added costs to cover a brick-and-mortar’s expenses.