Diamonds of Palo Alto
Ste 320
Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 322-1200
Come into Diamonds of Palo Alto for the perfect gift…
Announced 3 weeks ago
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Garage, Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
29 Reviews for Diamonds of Palo Alto
One of Diamonds of Palo Alto's Favorite Reviews
My parents got me a pair of diamond stud earrings from Diamonds of Palo Alto for my 21st birthday!
I LOVE these earrings!
They are 1 carat total weight and I believe that they got a really good deal on them. The guy there told them that I can bring them in any time to have them cleaned for free...awesome! (although a mixture of half-windex, half-warm water seems to do the trick)
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I'm very happy with my experience at Diamonds of Palo Alto! Israel the owner was super nice and welcoming. Lois was very helpful to my husband and I, being that we didn't really have a definite idea of what we were looking for. She was patient, friendly, and took the time to understand what we wanted. We ended up with two beautiful rings for our 10th anniversary. :)
My fiance had my engagement ring made there. I think Israel does great work and is very professional & caring.
I think the sales help is HORRIBLE. Shera - I can't believe she hasn't been fired yet. She is so insincere, rude and condescending. I don't want to trash the place since they do nice work and have been in business for years, but feel free to contact me if you want my to know more about my experience there and specifically with her. Bottom line, I returned my engagement ring. Not only because it came out different than they said it would , but mostly because I want a jewelry place that I am comfortable walking in and receiving good customer service.
Ruth, the other sales person is very sweet but perhaps could use some sales training. When I walked in there just to get my ring sized, the first thing she said was "do you like it?" When I said 'yes', she said "oh I'm so glad because your fiance didn't like it at first since it isn't exactly what he wanted". DUH, now that was reallllly smart to say, huh?
Well after the entire experience there, I decided that this wasn't the place for me. Fortunately, Israel understood where I was coming from and he agreed to take back the ring. He was very apologetic and gracious. I felt really bad doing this but I was surprised when I called there that Shira still worked there. After the things she said to me, I know that if I were her boss, I would have fired her. Perhaps, she was just having a realllly bad day, but that doesn't excuse her turning what was supposed to be a great and exciting experience into a bit of a disaster.
DISHONEST! BUYER BEWARE!! I have had two separate incidences with them and both times they were dishonest and not upfront.
I first had an engagement ring reset by them. They gave me a written estimate to stone reset and told me it would be a few hours and that I should come back. When I went back, Israel told me that they had to do some "special" work on the setting (come on guys it was the standard six-prong tiffany setting) and that my total was now $100 more over the stated estimate. Isn't it standard practice that when you get an estimate and the provider of service goes over the estimate that they give you a call to have you approve the charges before they do the work? Even the rip-off artists at my local Lexus dealership call me before they bend me over the barrel.
I was annoyed and asked about why I wasn't called. They said it was minor but I still needed to cough up the extra $100.
A few months later, I need to get some diamond stud earrings reset (again a standard setting) and they give me a quote. I come back a few hours later and BAM, guess what? They had to make "special" modifications to the earring settings and I now owe them another $100 over the initial quote. Hmmm...something is fishy! Again, I inquire about why they didn't get pre-approval for the additional "special" work they had to do.
In a nutshell, be VERY careful if you choose to do business with them and don't fall for the "special modification" trick like I did. Man, I can't believe I fell for Israel's tactics twice.
Here's hoping you avoid his schemes.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Great service from very real people, not the usual stuffy atmosphere.
They were able to make a ring more beautiful than I had imagined it to be, then appriased it for more than they were charing me for it. Also, the found some old fashon cuts and antique stones for us.
After going here, I couldn't imagine going any where else.
I just got engaged and my fiance proposed with a ring he had made for me in our home state. It was still too big after being resized, so we decided to go to Diamonds of Palo Alto for some help after all the great reviews we read. Israel was so friendly and offered a few different options. He was really informative and helpful, but not at all pushy. There is no better feeling than the confidence that comes from a trustworthy and knowledgeable jeweler.
We went in and explained the situation on my lunch break, and by the time I was done with work four hours later, my ring was finished. It fits perfectly and looks gorgeous after they cleaned it for free! They also told me I could come in to have a complimentary ring cleaning in a few months.
I really appreciate their service and will definitely return to have my wedding band made here.
Clearly I like, no LOVE diamonds....HUGE diamonds. Seriously, take one look..'gasp". I dont even bother to shop around, nor do I question any aspect of the transaction I KNOW that I am getting quality and I KNOW I am getting an rock bottom price.
Making the sale is really of no consequence to the staff of Diamonds of Palo Alto, it is about developing a life long relationship. I have spent hours in the showroom lunching on the bowls of Hershey's kisses and have left with nothing more than a fully belly and a beautiful pink rose. In our small metropolis reputation is the very foundation of success and longevity and Isreal's reputation is flawless.
For me there is no other choice, DIamonds of Palo Alto should be your life-long jeweler.
I recently had a diamond set for a necklace. Israel and his staff are focused on quality and outstanding communication. Within days my pendant was ready. Their attention to detail was professionalism stood out. If you need a great jeweler please make sure you visit Diamonds of Palo Alto!
Diamonds of Palo Alto is the best! Israel always gives you a hug and gives you the best service.
E.J. Hong
Excellent customer service, we chose to check them out based on several recommendations from our friends that purchased engagement rings/diamond jewelry from them in the past. We got my wife's engagement ring here last year, and we couldn't be happier. Their storefront is very low-key compared to other jewelry stores, but don't let that turn you away. Their loose diamond selection is one of the best, and the price they quoted for the particular diamond quality we wanted (based on our 4 Cs requirement) was several hundred dollars lower than other jewelers (ShaneCo, Bailey Bank & Biddle, Davidson & Licht -- and several thousand dollars cheaper than the "entry level" Tiffany ring). Their prices are competitive, given the quality of the diamond you are getting (but note, this does not translate to dirt cheap--you need to do your homework to determine the "fair" market price of the diamond quality you are seeking, and see what the jewelers are offering you). Israel's staff is down-to-earth, friendly, helpful, and patient...on our second visit, Israel personally showed us several diamonds and was patient enough to sit with us for almost an hour while we tried to decide on which diamond to purchase -- he gave us several choices, each at the different price points and quality, and compared and pointed out the diffferences between them. We had already read up on some diamond information beforehand, but it was still a good and honest educational experience (compared with some of the fluff we heard at Tiffany & Co. from one salesperson who clearly did not know what she was talking about). At no point did my wife and I feel pressured to buy a particular diamond...he stated that in the end, it's a matter of personal preference and what's important is that we are comfortable with the diamond we selected. Another plus is that they separate the diamond and ring setting purchase, meaning that you can purchase just the loose diamond from them and get the setting elsewhere, or bring in a loose diamond from somewhere else and design a custom ring setting, or purchase both ring setting and loose diamond from their store. They also were able to help us order the Ritani ring setting we wanted directly from the manufacturer, and set the diamond onto the ring for us. The total estimated cost of the setting + diamond came within budget, which is a plus, and it never veered away from that price point. They also resized the ring for us later on without extra charge. We definitely recommend them for their quality, service, and competitive prices!
I love Diamonds of Palo Alto! My husband and I got my engagement ring and our wedding bands here. They do custom designs and their service is outstanding. I'm not a jewelry person but I love my rings. Sometimes I just stare at them! Repeat customers will almost certainly get a hug from owner Israel and Shara is so nice and helpful. We've run into her around town and she remembers us and asks us about our rings. They are honest, friendly and knowledgeable. The best!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Great jewelry (at a very high price) but customer service disappears after you make the purchase. My husband bought a wedding band/engagement set, and the owner refused to include an appraisal with the jewelry. I've purchased jewelry before, and it always came with an appraisal.
My husband had jewelry custom made and after agreeing to a ring style and amount, Shera called later and said that she could no longer make the ring for the agreed upon price.
I went in to have them resized and they 'misplaced' the ring, and it wasn't done when they promised. After I got mad, they resized it within an hour. Why couldn't they have resized it that quickly the first time?
Shera (main salesperson) seems very insincere. Go in and say that you have a wedding coming up, and she'll give you some false flattery. Take your business elsewhere, to where there are some genuine and fair people.
Customer service gets 1/2 a star
I gave the rating of 2 stars because I do like my ring
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I bought my fiancee's engagement ring from DOPA a couple of months ago, so I have had a chance to get some perspective on my experience with them. I had decided against writing a Yelp! review until I received a letter from DOPA's proprieter, Israel, which specifically asked to spread the word using sites such as this one.
After reading the glowing 5-star reviews of DOPA on Yelp! I conclude that my experience was an abberation, but it was my experience still the same. Here's what happened.
I ended up buying a center stone over the internet (from tradeshop.com) and got excellent customer service and what I felt was an excellent price on the diamond. My fiancee saw a setting at DOPA that was nearly an exact match to what she had envisioned. We could have had the setting copied at the website, but we elected to have DOPA find matching side stones and cast the ring. Ruth, Israel and Shara were all very nice and we liked giving them business. We placed the order and were told the ring would be done on a certain date. I made my plans to propose around that date, with a two week cushion. I made those plans becaue my fiancee was to fly to visit family after that date and I wanted her to be able to show them the ring and tell them the news of our engagement.
The date arrived, but the ring wasn't ready. There had been a mix-up where the wrong set of side stones had been put on the wax mold. But I was told there was still time for the ring to be done. The day I planned to propose came and went and the ring still wasn't done. The contractor that DOPA used to do the casting had not done it and Israel gave me the bad news the day Elaine was to fly away.
After she returned we found out that the contractor that DOPA used for casting had blown it, not only failing to make the ring, but they also had inexplicably returned the wax to DOPA's Palo Alto shop. DOPA's staff apologized profusely and sent the wax to another contractor on a rush order and I received the ring a week or so later.
In DOPA's defense their contractor screwed up, not them, but they are ultimately responsible for the quality of the contractors they use. Also, they did try to make it up to me - I got a discount on the ring as well as some free stuff (like a jewelry cleaner and a free appraisal). But this is one of those classic instances where it's difficult to put a price tag on missing out on your plans to propose and having your fiancee stressed out about the ring for a couple weeks. Mastercard would probably say those experiences are "priceless."
I agree with the other reviews that the people at DOPA really are great and the ring ended up being more beautiful than I expected. My fiancee loves it, but I overall still don't feel like it was a five star experience.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Diamonds of Palo Alto is by far the BEST place for jewelry in the Bay Area.
For the proposal to my girlfriend this is the place I ended up buying my engagement ring from. Before DPA I had gone to over a dozen of jewelers, but could not find what I was looking for. Then I discovered this place on Yelp and was not disappointed.
Israel, the owner of DPA, was very patient with me in selecting my best choice. Even though there wasn't a diamond in stock with the exact characteristics right away, Israel ordered a number of stones for me to choose from the very next day. I picked exactly what I was looking for - the diamond and the setting.
Thanks Israel and DPA for the great service and value. My now fiancee loves the ring!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
UPDATE: I am upgrading my original 2 star rating. The reason is this:
About 2 days after I posted my original rating, Israel the owner called me to personally apologize. More than the apology, I was moved by his sincerity. He sounded like a man who really cares about his business and about making his customers happy. And they did a very good job on my earrings. Look great. So thanks Israel.
I was excited about going to DPA after reading all the great reviews. Unfortunately, my experience was not nearly as positive as I hoped.
I brought in a pair of pearls to be made into stud earrings. Ruth was the one who helped me initially. She was really friendly and patient and even gave me a rose when I left. She quoted me $90.
When I went to pick up the earrings, the price was over $170. That's almost double what Ruth quoted me. Naturally I questioned it. Ruth then went and checked with Shara. Maybe she was having a bad day, but Shara behaved like a total snob with me. She shouted from her office at me that the components that were used for the earrings are the 'cheapest" ones and any other choice would be more money. She said all this without even so much as making eye contact with me.
What's more, even with the higher price, Shara miscalculated the amount and overcharged me by more than $10. I was able to work out a better price with Ruth. But the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe if I was buying a diamond or some expensive jewelry, Shara would be nicer.
I don't think I will go back. I was hoping to get several brooches made of cameos I got as a Christmas present. I guess I will have to find another jeweler.
This is a long overdue review of Diamonds of Palo Alto and I wanted to say that everything about the people that work here are great. They did a great job of designing my custom wedding band last year and were very patient even though I wasn't sure at first what I wanted the design to be like. Shara was very friendly and super helpful. My husband and I are very very happy customers!
Service: excellent
Attitude of salesperson: excellent
Response to your needs: excellent
Atmosphere of location: good
Quality of product: good
Price compared to other stores: good
Israel has provided personal and professional service to me for years. He has helped make birthdays, holidays and an engagement special, along with providing wedding rings made to order.
Service with a smile and a staff that cares. Do yourself a favor and seek out this hard to find location for great buys and you'll find your one and only "jeweler for life".
Amazing place. I am relatively poor and just out of college and was looking for an engagement ring for the girlfriend. I heard good things on yelp about this place and it is amazing. Close to home and really good friendly staff.
They give advice when you want it, and let you make up your own mind, zero pressure here.
Everyone from the owner to the people answering the phones are incredibly nice. I will never go to another jeweler.
These people are the best, just go here if you're anywhere in the area.
DOPA is dope!
I bought an engagement ring for my girlfriend (now fiancee) there and the process was much easier than I had expected. At first, I was going to buy a Canadian diamond online and have it set here (my fiancee didn't want any chance of African children being harmed in the mining ...but a little Canadian blood spilled is no biggie), but Israel got me a Canadian diamond for a much better price than I could find anywhere on the web. As everyone else here has noted, Israel was very patient, nice and knowledgeable throughout the process. He helped me choose the setting and assuaged all my concerns about making this big step - but not in a sleazy, salesman sort of way.
The proposal (in a rap song) was a huge success. You can watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com...
My fiancee mentions DOPA in the second half of the video and shows off her beautiful ring.
Good luck with your decision!
Robby
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Funny (2)
My fiance got me a nice engagement ring and we needed to have it size smaller. We searched online to see if there is any jeweler good in the bay area. We were so lucky that we found DIAMONDS OF PALO ALTO on yelp.
We went there and took a while to find the store. The store is not big but everybody there is super nice.
We talked to Ruth and she gave us a quote. she quoted me $118 + $30 for tighting the diamond coz I sized 7 to 4.5.
The next day Shara called let me know that the ring was ready to pick up. My fiance went there and pick up he was told that they did not have to do the tighting so they would not charge that $30. How honest jeweler they are! It's not just the money but the service!
I am so glad that we found them. Definitely we will go back to get our wedding band!
One more thing....They do all custom rings! We were thinking about Tiffany before, but we changed our mind :)
We need to resize the engagement ring he bought from Costco and we went to Diamonds of Palo Alto. They delivered an excellent service - one hour wait; fixed the loose stone; no trace of being altered/resized. And the price is very reasonable too.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Isreal and his staff are so friendly and great to work with. He stuck within our budget. Seriously. We told him how much and he worked backward.
He ended up showing us diamonds that would put us, at most, $100 over the budget. When examining two diamonds he said, "If you can't tell the difference, go for the cheaper one." When have you ever heard a jeweler say that? NEVER! He gained my trust almost immediately, and yes he did hug us.
Co-captain wanted to shop around so we did. After meeting with other "jewelers" he realized how different Isreal's ethos is and (wisely) refused to buy from someone else.
They did a custom design for my engagement ring and never made me feel bad about all the models we went through (3... 4?). In fact Shara encouraged me to make changes until I was certain that I was happy.
They're around sparkly carbon all the time but handling them makes me nervous and giddy. Yet they never made me feel foolish, in fact they shared in our excitement.
I can hardly wait to go back and create my wedding ring.
THANK YOU ISREAL and DPA!!!
If you say the word "budget" around Boots, you better be prepared to duck. Unless it's prefixed with the adjective "unlimited", of course.
Me: You mean that wedding rings are not part of the wedding budget?
Her: No, they are separate.
Me: But they are part of the wedding, no?
Her: No.
Me: Hmm... That's curious.
Her: No, not curious. Separate.
Luckily, my friend J., mister shopper (he shops so much he never buys anything. He's always looking for a better deal...) turned me on to Diamonds of Palo Alto, which was, at the time, at the top of his list of jewelry stores.
The place doesn't look like much, it's on the third floor of a business building in downtown Palo Alto. When you walk in, there are just a couple of glass cases, lots of catalogs and magazines for inspiration (they do custom jewelry). There are several offices around the waiting area and a workshop in the back.
What they lack in atmosphere they make up in service.
I went there with a picture of the ring Boots wanted and showed it to them. I explained she wanted it slightly larger, with square diamonds going all around, instead of round, half way. They contacted the designer of the ring down in L.A., discussed the design with him and negotiated on the price on our behalf. It was exactly what Boots wanted at a price that was about 25% lower than other jeweler's quotes and within our budget. The service was excellent and friendly, too, and I avoided yet another one of these conversations:
Look at her fingers, they are tiny. Tiny means less diamonds, less platinum, no? Less means cheaper, True?
Sir, for the last time, it doesn't work that way.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
Israel (the owner) will likely hug you before you leave. They treat you like family, not a potential sell. I brought in a diamond I bought online (on amazon.com) to have them take a look at it. Israel examined it for free, showed me some of his diamonds for comparison and made me feel more comfortable about my online purchase. I had it set and was very pleased with the work. The price seemed more than fair. When my fiance and I came back to look at wedding bands, none of them really matched the original engagement ring. So, they swapped it out for a new setting and only charged me the difference in original cost ($30)!!
I HIGHLY recommend Diamonds of Palo Alto. You will not feel any pressure. They will treat you like family. They are happy to help educate you so you can make an informed decision. They say they want to be your jeweler for life, and their service reflects that goal.
I first found Diamonds of Palo Alto on the internet, while I was going through an exhaustive search for the engagement ring I really wanted. (My heart was set on an emerald cut diamond.) Israel took our specs, found a range of stones for us to choose from and created a ring I am still in love with 5 years later. Can't even tell you how much fun it was sorting through stones on the velvet cushions! We also bought our wedding rings there.
This January I had a "milestone" birthday (we won't go into details here!) and Israel's shop was the first place I thought of. The service is still as personal and friendly as it was 5 years ago. Now I have a gorgeous blue sapphire in platinum that makes me smile every time I look at it. His whole staff was knowledgeable and helpful on which stones work best with which metals, and I know that I walked out of there with the best quality for the best price. And a happy experience to boot!
I will always have the most implicit trust in Israel and his staff and will get all my best jewelry from Diamonds of Palo Alto!
Even though I didn't buy anything the customer service was excellent. They gave me a rough estimate for the worth of a couple of rings that I had and wished me the best of luck!
I used to go to Timothy Fidge Jewelers in Menlo Park who were always very good but since they are now going out of business I had to find a new jeweler. According to Yelp Diamonds of Palo Alto is the no. 1 place in the area so I took a little stroll down there this morning to get my wedding band sized down a little and was not disappointed.
After a little searching I found them tucked away on the third floor above the University Art Center. They were more than friendly and sized my ring in just over an hour (all the other jewelers I called wanted to take at least several days). The only reason I am not giving them a full five stars is because instead of the $40 they quoted over the phone for the sizing they charged me $100. They probably just inadvertently quoted me for sizing gold instead of platinum, either way what they charged was still reasonable, the service was great, and the work was perfect so I will definitely be a return customer.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Diamonds of Palo Alto is THE place to get a good deal. The staff is very helpful and supportive, the selection is unique, and the no-pressure attitude is such a nice change from other jewelry stores. Of course, this isn't a Tiffany & Co. or a Shreve & Co -- they aren't trying to "wow' you with their retail space (it's on the third floor of an office building), but they pass their savings on to you, and it's worth it! One of the gemologists, Shara, is especially patient, helpful, and kind. She really goes the extra mile to make sure you are satisfied and comfortable with your purchase. I have purchased three rings through this store in the last year, and after one horrible experience elsewhere, I won't be going anywhere else again! Please visit DoPA for all your jewelry needs. You WON'T be disappointed!
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Hot and New
- Red Lantern
115 reviews
Redwood City, CA
- Fu Lam Mum
17 reviews
Mountain View, CA
- Kaygetsu
121 reviews
Menlo Park, CA
- World Centric
3 reviews
Palo Alto, CA
- Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden
6 reviews
Palo Alto, CA
