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Green Lake Jewelry Works
- Hours:
Mon, Fri-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Tue-Thu 10 am - 8 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
48 reviews for Green Lake Jewelry Works
Review Highlights
"Took my engagement ring in when one the prongs had bent."
(in 13 reviews)
"We got our wedding bands at Green Lake Jewlery Works."
(in 8 reviews)
"Their online design process is fun and very easy to work..."
(in 5 reviews)
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Joshua B.
Lynnwood, WA
2/1/2012
Like most I usually complain about companies online more than I praise them but in this case I need to make an exception.
From start to finish Green Lake Jewelry Works has been fantastic. I was being picky about my wedding band but they were extremely knowledgeable and went through every available option, many that other jewelers never mentioned.
They let me "test drive" band as well before they finished it and even when we made some minor design changes they were more than accommodating. On top of everything they just sent me a link to the photos they shot and posted on their site of my ring.
One of the best customer service experiences of all time. So if you're in the market for any kind of jewelry (especially with V-Day coming up) you have to at least stop in there.
http://www.greenlakeje... -
Review from Darcy H.
Seattle, WA
11/20/2011
Green Lake Jewelry Works is truly a find. My ring is just what I wanted but couldn't locate anywhere else; it's a custom creation, in platinum. Gorgeous... and not fussy or pretentious even with a decent sized gem. Everyone we encountered during the process was sweet and professional. Green Lake's vibe is more about creativity than status and hype (two things that send me running).
If I could change one thing it would be their location (quite inconvenient).
Still, I'd absolutely take Green Lake Jewelers over anyone else. -
Review from Jonathan Y.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got my ring made here. The staff was friendly, however after the initial consultation and discovery process...my jewler suddenly was either let go, or left. I was bounced around jewlers a couple times, but finally settled on one.
I was not happy with the initial ring and design (this was for my wedding ring), but they fixed it and made sure I got what I wanted. I was worried they would try to charge me additional fees for labor, but they took care of it....they consistently said that their only priority was to make me 'love my ring...no matter what.' And they came through.
A bit on the pricey side though, that's for sure. You won't be saving any money coming here as you are paying not only for the materials, but for the custom design + margin that they take on each piece.
Jewely pieces that you can find online from reputable establishments were consistently 20-30% less than GL Jewely works.
They made me a beautiful ring, for a lot of money...but hey, I knew what I was going into.
PS - keep in mind that they work on a weekly cycle, so if you don't give them feedback by the deadline, then you will miss your chance and have to wait an additonal week for their resources to get around to implementing your feedback. Be mindful of this, but also recognize that this isn't out of the ordinary (working in a cyclical model). -
Review from Sean L.
Seattle, WA
1/26/2012
I came to Green Lake Jewelry Works when I started my hunt for an engagement ring for my -- now -- fiance. I was lucky enough to be helped by Melissa as soon as I walked through the door, and she shepherded my clueless self through the whole process; from choosing a stone, to designing the band and setting, her help and advice was indispensable. After choosing a few existing designs I liked, we sat down and I explained what I was hoping to achieve. Melissa sketched out exactly what I wanted, then steered the designers through several iterations of a wax casting until I was sure the band and setting were exactly what I was after. She also worked within my budget to find me a beautiful stone that would suit the band perfectly. The end result was, and is, exactly what I wanted. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Green Lake Jewelry Works -- and Melissa --to anyone on the hunt for a great and easy jewelry buying experience!
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Review from Philip L.
Seattle, WA
9/2/2011
Had a great experience working with Green Lake Jewelry Works!!
I was planning my engagement and had minimal experience with jewelry and many questions. The staff there was outstanding (especially Sophia). I was able to sit down, free of sales pressure, and learn about many of the intricacies of diamonds. They patiently worked with me and fully explained each of the diamonds that I was looking at while also stayed true to work with my budget. I felt very comfortable with the staff and chose a great diamond that I am extremely pleased with.
I would go back to them for all of my jewelry needs and have referred several other friends to their location; all of whom have shared similar great experiences! -
Review from Picabo L.
Seattle, WA
6/8/2011
My good friends had their wedding rings designed and fabricated and were very satisfied with their experience. Based on their recommendation, I came went there 2 occasions; to replace a lost diamond in a pair of earrings and to resize 2 rings.
They used a very low quality, discolored diamond in the earring setting. It appears a dirty yellow and actually looks worse than when I brought it in.
I asked that both rings be resized to the same size but they were slightly off. One is larger than the other but the salesperson insisted they were the same.
Their pricing for repair is reasonable, but I will be using another jeweler in the future with better customer service and quality work. -
Review from Sarah S.
Seattle, WA
6/24/2011
We started working with Amber at GLJW on creating a custom wedding band to match my engagement ring back in the spring, I picked up the final product earlier today and I can't stop staring at it! She did a masterful job creating a piece that is as special as my engagement ring and the two together look like they were always meant to be. She was also totally great about deconstructing some old family earrings to use the diamonds for the ring.
My fiance and I were both overwhelmed at the jewelry buying process (which is why he bought the engagement ring at a company online) and we both loved our GLJW experience - It was great to be able to sit in one spot and enjoy their beautiful atmosphere instead of being lead around an overwhelming show room. The price was on the higher end but was definitely within the original quote we were given on the first day we walked in.
Can't wait to work with Amber and GLJW in the future (beginning in a couple of weeks when we get to work on my fiance's ring.) -
Review from Barb S.
Seattle, WA
7/21/2011
I wanted to have our wedding bands designed, some elegant yet simple. After searching around the web for independent jewelry places, I came across Green Lake Jewelry Works. So many wonderful reviews and stories. Impressed with what I read and hearing from people who knew of them, I decided to contact them through their website. Adrienne was the first designer to respond back to questions I had.
Working with Adrienne in picking the right style for my fiance and I was great. After several email contact, I made an appointment for us to come in. My fiance is an outdoorsy guy and doesn't like flashy things, Adrienne found it easy to work with him and get an idea of what would work - type of metal (since he is a rock climber & hiker).
Our rings look beautiful - simple yet elegant. I had his ring engraved in Farsi - which the engraver took his time to do, after my girlfriend wrote it in calligraphy with a sharpie.
Green Lake Jewelry is wonderful to hold the rings (which they finished in early January) until a few weeks before the wedding (August 12th, 2011). I didn't want my fiance to see the rings or me misplace them.
Thank you Adrienne.
p.s. Adrienne is so wonderful and talented, she referred an independent clothier who makes wedding dresses - Wai-Ching Clothing, who I had make my dress. :-) -
Review from Josh G.
Seattle, WA
12/27/2011
PHENOMENAL. "0" pressure service yet quick to answer any questions or let you sit and think. Never felt like I was wasting their time. Extremely helpful. Completely genuine even sharing stories about life for outside perspective. Lattes and drinks every time you come in to boot. Sophia (my co-designer ;) ) helped me sketch and design exactly the ring I was trying to create with a few samples and my emotive word descriptors. It came out STUNNING. Everywhere my fiancé goes people are complimenting her on her gorgeous ring. The best part of it all, is it exactly fits her personality, body and spirit. The piece is absolutely night and day from the hundreds of on-line "prefab" ones I pored over (some of which I actually held in my hands prior). And not for entirely that much more, but worth every dollar spent. It is a lifetime/heirloom piece. I can't say enough about how they do business. So professional and knowledgeable while completely understanding, mindful and respectful of where you, the client is coming from. Thanks again Sophia, you ROCK! And so does Green Lake Jewelry Works. I am recommending them to all other potential engagement thinking types. And anyone looking for a very special gift.
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Review from Christine M.
Bothell, WA
Updated - 12/21/2011
My ring is finished!!! We're working on paying it off now, but the whole process has been super easy and wonderful. Melissa is the best. I can't believe how perfect everything has been. We couldn't be more happy :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/10/2011
My boyfriend and I have been looking at rings for a while now and I haven't been able to find one… Read more »
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Review from Jeff F.
Seattle, WA
4/24/2011
Green Lake Jewelry Works = another custom jewelry shop worth scoping
* Fairly large store with a big workshop where the metal workers and sales do their job.
* Engaged sales both via phone and in the store: sales was attentive, but cannot compare to the quality level of others I recommend.
* As for wedding rings: nice variety of styles for the in-store-selection. Some pieces on display are very unique.
* Prices: Sales priced himself out of my quote list for the engagement diamond, quoted bride wedding band was twice as much as I paid elsewhere, quoted groom custom wedding ring was $1k more than I paid elsewhere. (However, elsewhere I negotiated directly with store owner.)
* Local competition: Joseph Jewelry also emphasizes their custom jobs. There are many shops that offer custom jewelry, but GLJW seems to be one of the largest. -
Review from M. L.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
Went here on a friend's recommendation and thought these guys were great. I had a certain type of vintage ring in mind for my wedding band but was having a hard time finding one in good shape. Finally decided to buy a new reproduction and found the perfect ring here. I could have gotten one on the internet for less money, but I like that someone right here in Seattle made the ring and I can go there if I ever need it polished up. My future husband found a nice simple band for himself as well. Everyone was super helpful and we got started a little late in the process and gave them a tight deadline but they actually got our rings to us early! I picked up the bands today and they polished and examined my engagement ring while I was there even though my dude didn't buy it there and it looks like a million bucks. Thanks Steve and everyone else at Green Lake Jewelry Works!
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Review from Jessica B.
Seattle, WA
5/3/2011
I went here to get my wedding ring re-pronged. Based on other reviews was very imtimidated that they wouldn't want to help me because of my limited knowledge of jewelry. We went toward the end of the day and were still helped with a smile. The associate that assisted me told me what my options would be for repairing my ring and was not trying to sell me on the most expensive choice. The store is large with a fireplace and a kids area (which as a parent I was thankful for!). They did the repair quickly and for a lower price than what was quoted.
We'll go back there to have an anniversary ring designed. -
Review from Heidi P.
8/29/2010 1 photo
I had an excellent experience with Green Lake jewelry works. I recently had a custom wedding band made for my husband. They are definitely not inexpensive, but they do quality work, have great customer service, and are very willing to work with your budget. I really appreciated that when I gave her a budget, she made sure we stayed within it, and it ended up being on the lower end of the original quote.
I wanted an antique cushion diamond band for my husband. I worked with Melissa T. to make the ring exactly how I wanted it. I had the option of purchasing a diamond through GLJW, however I found it more affordable to buy a loose diamond through a vendor in NYC that specialized in antique diamonds. GLJW quoted me about $500 more than what I payed for a high quality diamond through the NYC vendor. I was glad that they did not have a problem mounting my own diamond, and only charged a reasonable setting fee.
I emailed with Melissa, about what I wanted. She drew up a design for me and had me come in person to go over our options. After we chose exactly what we wanted, the ring was then created. It took about a month for it to be finished.
The thing that made me want to work with GLJW is that they not only work with platinum and gold, but also with alternative metals, including palladium. We decided we wanted palladium for our ring because it does not need a rhodium dip like white gold, as it is a member of the platinum family and does not have a yellow tinge. While it is not as dense as platinum, it holds up a little stronger than white gold, and it is much more affordable than platinum.
At any rate, they finished our ring very quickly. We only had to put down half of the total amount for the deposit, and when it was finished, Melissa sent professional photographs of our finished ring. The only downside to GLJW is that we had to pay extra for an appraisal, but I think that is probably common with most retail stores. -
Review from Dae Y.
12/18/2010
just to be clear, i am not a patron yet. I went for a special function last night (2010-12-16) and it was my first exposure to them. i got a chance to meet Jim too.
it's a very, very nice store. the huge fireplace is amazing.
they do A LOT of custom jewelry work. the workstations where the designers make the jewelry are visible and look amazing. this is not like any jewelry shop i have ever been in. and they have more computers in there than most start-up software companies. they use a lot of custom software to operate their business - which i find fascinating. and they use the internet a lot too.
Jim said he could engrave anything. and i think i will have to try that out some day. i've always like custom engraved shtuff...another review will follow when i finally become a patron. -
Review from Stacy C.
Seattle, WA
8/27/2011
If you're looking for a customized, unique ring, Green Lake Jewelry Works is one of the best places in the Seattle area. What struck me the most was the artistic detail and creativity in each design.
One tip- Take a look at the Green Lake Jewelry Works website to set design/style/timing expectations before making an in-store trip. It helps to know the available styles and what you're going for.
My fiancé purchased my engagement ring from Sophia. She guided him throughout the process (great choice!) and when we both talked with her about our wedding rings/bands, she was able to direct us to rings within our budget. Sophia was friendly and helpful- especially when explaining the differences between rings. It was a great experience overall, and I would recommend it to others as well. -
Review from Munya S.
9/30/2011
My mom and I came here to have a bracelet made smaller as they were they only jeweler that could handle the job. Walking in, I wasn't sure whether I was in a Starbuck's, a restaurant, or a hotel lobby as there is a huge fish tank, a coffee counter with an espresso machine, and a cozy fireplace with chairs. Nope- they just kept the decor of the previous restaurant and are now the coolest jewelry store in Seattle. The staff is really helpful and willing to help you through the whole process. They did a great job resizing the bracelet, and when we wanted another difficult charm bracelet with mother of pearl resized, they told us it would be too difficult and expensive without severely compromising the design but offered the suggestion of ordering a new bracelet, soldering it to the right size, and hooking on the charms for a very reasonable price. I will definitely come back here for my jewelry needs. I also see that they offer "conflict-free" Canadian diamonds which is awesome.
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Review from Shannon L.
Bothell, WA
7/11/2011
I can't say enough about the awesome experience we had designing our rings with Green Lake Jewelry Works. Our designer was outstanding and worked with the nebulous idea we gave her to create unique and beautiful rings right at the price that we wanted. They were careful to include us in every step to make sure that we were satisfied. I highly recommend GLJW, and anyone planning on using them should make an appointment with Shelly!
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Review from Sarah B.
Bothell, WA
8/6/2011
I really love the jewelry here!
They had just the unique designs we were looking for! The personal attention was also amazing.
Thank you! -
Review from Angelina L.
Lynnwood, WA
3/12/2010
Been here a couple of times for some simple jewelry repair / alterations.
The first was because the sapphire from my ring that I bought in the Bahamas had fallen out, luckily found it, and the setting just needed to be reinforced to keep it in.
The second time was just recently when I needed to have the ring I bought in Kauai sized to fit my pinky ring instead of my ring finger.
Both times that I have gone, they were pleasant, explained how they would do what they were going to do, the price estimate for each was given ahead of time, the quality of work was good and the work was completed way before the time they had proposed it would be done.
I have never had something designed here and had a piece made out of existing stones, but when I do (which I have a couple of pieces which I am planning on doing this with that are my grandmother's) this is one place I will consider doing it at.Listed in: Northgate
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Review from Helen W.
Seattle, WA
11/14/2008 ROTD 11/28/2008
When I told 3 of my guy friends that my boyfriend and I are shopping for engagement rings, they all said 'Don't you want to be surprised?' HELLO, do you not know me? Being surprised is nice, but I want to give input!!! I wanted something that was special to us and reflected my personal style.
It was wonderful working with Steve at Green Lake Jewelry. We came in with various pictures and he was able to incorporate them into one beautiful design. He showed us other rings in the store so we could get an idea of the end result. He also showed us various loose diamonds so we could determine the shape. The total process took about 4 weeks and it was so worth the wait.
The ring is more beautiful than I had ever imagined and I'm still staring at it in shock. -
Review from Denice M.
Seattle, WA
1/29/2008
If you are in the market for a custom piece of jewelry (and who isn't?), I found that GLJW came highly recommended by co-workers and some on Yelp. We had a loose stone, and I wanted an antique setting. That's about all I knew. At first, it was a little overwhelming in trying to figure out what I wanted. The sales people were very nice, and told me they could make anything I wanted, and I could even draw out what I wanted. Clearly, she had never met me before. I think the expression on my face must have conveyed to her that all I could muster up was a stick figure object that resembled Mickey Mouse's silhouette more than a symbol of love.
So the next suggestion was to look at a ton of examples on their website, and pick elements of different rings that I liked. The result was wonderful--great attention to the detailed engraving, filigree, the whole ciabatta. And a turn around time of about 4 weeks. It made a difference I think that they have people on staff that only do engraving, setting, filigree work, etc.
So go get yourself something sparkly! -
Review from Katie T.
2/4/2009 1 photo
I ended up ordering my wedding band through Green Lake Jewelry Works mostly because Ellie, who I worked with through their online custom design process, was so dang nice.
After spending a mere $250 on my vintage engagement ring, I had a hard time finding a wedding band that matched and didn't seem insanely expensive in comparison. I considered just wearing my engagement ring, since I am picky and didn't want to wear a band I didn't like for eternity, but gave into pressure to get a band. So after a long search for a vintage ring was entirely unfruitful, I found Green Lake Jewelry.
Their online design process is fun and very easy to work with. You show them what you like, your designer draws you a sketch, and you talk about what works and what doesn't. They give you a quote, you give them a deposit, and a few weeks later you get a custom ring in the mail. I like the internet and designing things, so it was right up my alley. It also meant that I didn't have to look for a ring anymore.
The obvious downside to this is that you don't exactly know what you are going to get, and since it's custom, you're stuck with it once it's made. I love the design on my ring, but the ring itself is very thick and cumbersome to wear.
Also, I had a few diamonds built into the top of the ring to match my e-ring and while it was hard to tell over the internet how large they would be, they are so tiny that I now realize it probably wasn't worth it to have them put in.
I think that Green Lake is a great idea, and they were very nice, but if I had to do it over I probably would have taken a deep breath, stuck to my guns, and not splurged on a band until I found something (already made) that I loved.Listed in: Becoming Wed
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Review from Shannon D.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2009
I had an unusual pearl that I got from a Pearl farm in Fiji that I had made into a pendant at Green Lake Jewelry Works. I had a good idea of what I wanted for the pendant--just something simple that would showcase the natural beauty of the pearl. Since the pearl was plucked from the sea, it needed to be evaluated and drilled to be set as a pendant.
The designer we met with expained how that process works, took my ideas and made a design that was even better! Once it was finished (about 2-3 weeks) I was delighted when I saw it. It's perfect. When I wear it I get lots of compliments about the pearl and also how it is set. They are very knowledgable, experienced, and the quote they gave me on the work and materials for drilling the pearl and custom-making the pendant was pretty close to what the final cost was. I would definitely recommend this place for custom jewelry. -
Review from A R.
Seattle, WA
7/10/2008
My fiance and I knew we wanted my ring to be truly unique, and we were really disappointed with what we found when looking around -- until we found Green Lake Jewelry Works! Several friends recommended it, and we were so pleased when we went in to check it out that we decided to go for it. Now I have an elegant ring truly unique to me that I love!
When we started the design process, I was not sure what I wanted, but Sophia walked us through the whole process and presented us with lots of drawings and ideas. The best part was that I got to create a large part of the design myself, and then see it come alive. Sophia was patient and helped us know what was realistic (and in budget) each step of the way. Though it took a long time, the entire experience was positive and I would do it again.
However, it is not for everyone -- the process of creating a ring takes a long time and a lot of patience. From sketches, to choosing stones, to seeing wax moldings and computer renderings - it is a very involved process and keep in mind you will have to come back for EVERY step so you can approve it. That means you will have to go there once a week or every other week for a couple, or in our case, several, months. If you need a piece of jewelry quickly, this is not the place for you. but the jewelry you get will be worth the wait!!
As far as price goes, we did not find it to be expensive for the quality we were getting. In fact, the price was really reasonable and no different than what you would find in any other store, except you get the HUGE perk of designing it yourself and having a piece of artwork at Green Lake Jewelry Works. They were very upfront about the cost from the beginning, and they stuck to their word and there were no surprises - it cost just as they estimated in the beginning. I could tell it is a very honest, well run, organized (and fun and friendly!) store.
Try it out! :-) -
Review from Christine S.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2007
I'm very hesitant to give them just two stars, but if my husband were writing the review he'd give none, so I think it's balanced. After hearing tons and tons and TONS of good things, we went here to get our wedding bands for our wedding. They were EXTREMELY friendly, helpful and knowledgeable from the moment we walked in the door. We had no idea what we wanted, and the woman we worked with was awesome at deciphering what we said versus what was possible.
The reason I gave it two stars was because of all the problems that plagued us in getting our rings - and in getting them right. I truly think it was a fluke for them, and I've never heard of anyone else having the problems we had. My ring was made the wrong size. (Not fit size, but width wise/diamond wise.) My husband's first ring was both too big and ruined by the jeweler getting the rings confused and drilling holes in his for diamonds that were to go in mine. Then the next ring didn't fit him either...the 3rd one did. We ended up going back a total of six or seven times to get the correct rings, and neither of us had our correct rings for our wedding.
Everybody makes mistakes. Had only one of these things happened, it wouldn't have been a big deal. I think the weirdest thing was that things KEPT going wrong with our rings...it was truly bizarre. I don't think this is at all normal for them, and they were continually apologetic and as helpful as could be - they loaned us a ring for my husband for the honeymoon, and even shipped his second ring to us (this one didn't fit though, so we had to order #3). They sure did try - I can't fault them that. It was the quantity of mistakes that had us wondering.
All in all, I wouldn't go there again, but I wouldn't say "don't ever go there" to someone else. WITH THE CAVEAT of be clear you know what you're getting, and give yourselves plenty of time to get things fixed/changed if necessary you might be just fine. The price was great, and in the end, we are very happy with our rings. And if the worst thing that happened with the wedding is that the rings needed to be fixed I think we did pretty good! -
Review from eric n.
Seattle, WA
10/27/2009
I couldn't be happier about my experience at Green Lake. I worked with Susan on a custom engagement ring that came out beautifully. I had heard wonderful things about their service and they lived up to my expectations. Their showroom is amazing and they are very accommodating to a jewelry novice such as myself. When I presented the ring, it turned out to be a little large and we were able to bring it back and have it re-sized on the spot; they even gave us a credit for the gold they removed to make it fit.
Green Lake Jewelry Works combines good customer service with expert quality and we will definitely be back for our wedding bands. -
Review from Em V.
Seattle, WA
3/1/2011
Had a fabulous experience with Green Lakes Jewelry Works from beginning to end. I designed a ring with Aaron. Even though my budget was probably peanuts compared to what some folks spend on jewelry, he spent a ton of time, was incredibly patient and never was pushy or tried to pressure me into anything I didn't want. I love this place, and I'll be back!
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Review from Niki D.
Seattle, WA
2/25/2011
My husband and I came here for both my engagement ring and both of our wedding bands. We worked with Kurt and he did a great job guiding us through the process and getting us just what we wanted! Highly recommend them.
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Review from A M.
Honolulu, HI
7/31/2010
Took my engagement ring in when one the prongs had bent. Was greeted by friendly staff, who got one of the repair guys right away. He fixed it within a few minutes and cleaned it for me all for no charge. Was offered a free latte while I waited. The atmosphere is certainly different than the jewelry stores I've ever been in, it seems as if the building itself used to be a full-serve restaurant, but the decor is quite welcoming now...never bought jewelry here before but might consider anniversary bands or something when the time comes because the service was awesome, and who doesn't like getting things fixed for free, especially when you don't have the tools/know-how to do it yourself?
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Review from Madison M.
Seattle, WA
6/26/2010
I have never had a ring made here, but went in today in hopes of getting my favorite watch a new battery.
When I walked in, there were 5 people behind the desk, but only one person came and assisted me, though it took a few minutes of standing there looking stupid. I told him I wanted a new battery, handed him the watch, and he just walked away.... Not even a speedy walk, he ambled. I watched him mosey to the back, and when he finally came back he said his watch guy wasn't there. "Do you want to leave it here?" "Not particularly." Awkward pause.... I asked him when his person would be back and how long it would take to put in the new battery and he looked at me like I was an alien. "Do you want to leave it here?" "No, I want to know when your guy will be back and how long it would take him to replace the battery." "Well, you could leave it here for like, a half an hour..." At that point, I just left.
The jewlry they display looks nice, but customer service is severely lacking. It seems that if you aren't dripping with money, the staff here want nothing to do with you. -
Review from Shay S.
Redding, CA
6/30/2011
I was really amazed when I walked into this place and saw so many different ideas, it all seemed so original, which I believe it was. And don't get me wrong, there probably many pieces that are wonderful and no doubt live up to their name- but when I received my new wedding ring which was explained to me as a great ring that will last forever, I was a bit...surprised to see that the brushed finish on my ring only lasted a few DAYS!!! Not what I was told or expected- it would take a lot for me to return to this store with any confidence-
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Review from Tim F.
Saint Paul, MN
11/2/2008
So you want to get engaged and enter the machine that is the wedding industry? Many jewelry stores sell beautiful engagement rings that a woman would be delighted to receive. This store lets you create a custom ring in every way tailored to the preferences of our loved one. The process takes time and will be slightly more expensive, but the fiancee will end up with a ring completely unique and (if you have good taste) beautiful. Highly recommended.
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Review from jon M.
King, WA
11/15/2009
I was really disappointed in this place. Granted I didn't have 10G to drop on a ring so that probably my overall experience and the service I received but it still doesn't excuse it.
I had some pearls that I had purchased in southeast Asia and wanted to get the turned into some earrings for my girlfriend. I walk into the place thinking that this is a custom show full of artists who will know exactly what I can do within my budget. The girl helping me was nice enough but after explaining to her what I wanted to try to do - rather then suggesting solutions busted out a parts catalog of jewelry stuff. Not knowing what anything was or how it might go together it was all a foreign language to me - how was I supposed to know what pieces to put together? I instead looked around at the samples in the store until I saw something simple I liked. She showed me the pieces that were used and I could see that they only costed about $10 total and asked her to let me know how much the whole thing would cost and that I would be right back. She said to ask for a different person when I came back cuz she was leaving. Upon retuning I asked for the girl, Claudia, but apparently she was too busy but another girl came with a hand written quote that she couldn't even read. When I asked a question she would have to go back and ask Claudia... In the end she wanted to charge me $100 to drill a hole in the pearls and then $40 for the $10 post that you slide through it. it was going to be close to $200 when it was all said & done. And it would have looked totally ordinary. I almost went for it but decided to try another Jeweler - Guess what? The other Jeweler. $30 and that included customizing a pair of vintage silver earrings so that I would have a pair that were truly unique.
Like I said if i was dropping 10G's I'm sure things wouls have been different -
Review from Mellicia F.
Seattle, WA
2/11/2008
Several people recommended GLJW to us, so we thought we'd give it a try. My fiance proposed with his grandmother's wedding ring and I had my grandmother's wedding ring. Our idea was to combine the two. Although, we really didn't know what we wanted. Emily was FANTASTIC. The three of us brainstormed and finally came up with the perfect engagement ring using all the stones from the two rings and the setting from my grandmother's ring. Now, we have a completely unique ring that represents both of our families. I can't imagine that we could have accomplished this anywhere else. Emily was very patient and gave great suggestions. We never felt pressured to go with an idea or to quicken our pace. We ended up ordering all of our rings from GLJW and we highly recommend them to every person who comments on the ring.
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Review from Nina F.
Shoreline, WA
9/14/2008
Absolutely beautiful custom work. My husband designed my engagement ring with one of the artists here, and we worked together on our wedding bands. The design process is great, very open and collaborative; the result is gorgeous, one of a kind, so very special.
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Review from Julie F.
Seattle, WA
7/28/2007 1 photo
I visited this place because it has a great reputation. I heard nothing but good things about them. When I went in, I was impressed that you got to see the artist making the jewelry right in front of you. They have all sorts of different styles and price ranges for engagement and wedding rings. All and all, seems like a good place.
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Review from Trevor R.
Austin, TX
9/18/2008
We went here first looking for an engagement/wedding ring for my wife. They were very helpful and friendly, especially the designer we talked to, Kirk, and we came very close to ordering the ring from them. The only reason we didn't is that it turned out that a friend of ours is a diamond dealer/jeweler and could make almost the same ring (it was a fairly simple design) at nearly cost. But for anyone without such a friend, I definitely recommend GLJW.
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Review from Allison F.
Pittsburgh, PA
1/8/2011
I was pretty nervous about getting my engagement ring over the internet, and went into the process very cautiously. Melissa T. was wonderful to work with, and I have nothing but good things to say about the process. I'm incredibly picky about everything from the design to the type of metal and the origin of the stones. Melissa was well-informed about everything, was hugely responsive, and designed a gorgeous engagement ring. I actually went in to a local, highly reputable jewelry store to look in person at some of the things Melissa and I had been talking about. The information wasn't the same, so I did some digging on the internet. Absolutely everything Melissa had told me, I easily verified by reading scholarly, peer-reviewed articles on-line. Especially if you are interested in alternative metals such as palladium, and are concerned about the origin of your stones - GLJW is the place to go.
During the design process for the engagement ring, I had also asked Melissa about a wedding band. She designed a gorgeous band and quoted us a price, which turned out to be outside our budget. Melissa was totally ok with that, and I never got the feeling she was annoyed to do work that didn't turn into anything.
I also spent a long time going back and forth with her about the design of the ring. I never felt any pressure to make up my mind or to stop asking asking questions. Melissa provided sketches and images of everything I asked for, and came up with creative ways to help me see what she was envisioning. That thing they said on their website about continue to design until you say "Yes! That's it!" is really true.
I also found that the quotes they gave for the metal and the design were really accurate. And we were so pleased with the final cost.
I have been having so much fun showing off my ring to everyone! And I'm so very happy with it that we are going to spring for the matching wedding band as well :-) I just really hope to make to Seattle at some point to visit GLJW in person.
Thank you Melissa!! -
Review from Lindsey D.
Seattle, WA
12/31/2006
We got our wedding bands at Green Lake Jewlery Works. They were having a sale, so we got some beautiful handcrafted bands for a great price. The staff really knew what they were talking about and were super friendly and helpful. They also did a great job resizing and cleaning my engagement ring.
