Where to buy · Mall and chain stores · updated September 2026
Jared Engagement Ring Prices: What 13 Buyers Paid
Buyers who named Jared paid a median of $5,000 across 13 rings, half of them between $3,000 and $6,000. Of 30 buyers who described their own experience with Jared, 11 recommend it, 4 are mixed and 15 warn against it.
Jared against other mall and chain stores
| Rings from | Rings | Median | Middle half | Lab-grown share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared | 13 | $5,000 | $3,000 to $6,000 | – |
| Other mall and chain stores | 104 | $1,300 | $300 to $4,000 | 40% |
The $5,000 median at Jared is above the $1,300 median at other mall and chain stores (104 rings).
What buyers said about Jared
Of 30 buyers who described their own experience with Jared, 11 recommend it, 4 are mixed and 15 warn against it. One line per buyer who bought or priced there themselves.
| Verdict | Price named | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Recommends | – | Her brother-in-law bought a larger, higher-cut, better-color diamond at Jared for the same price Tiffany would have charged; still sparkles 10 years later |
| Recommends | – | Got engaged with a 1.5ct oval H color diamond ring; credits both Jared and James Allen for it. |
| Recommends | – | A buyer who works at this chain said resizing the ring down 1.5 sizes, possibly with sizing beads, should be manageable there. |
| Recommends | – | Jeweler agreed to withhold email notifications and send paper mail only to his parents' address to keep the ring purchase a surprise |
| Recommends | – | Original engagement ring (Vera Wang Love collection) came from here; couple still buys a piece there each year for their anniversary |
| Recommends | – | Happy with their particular store, though notes experience can vary by location |
| Recommends | – | Fiancé financed the ring on a store credit card; informative, non-pushy staff, free cleanings every 6 months |
| Recommends | – | Designed the ring herself there; loved their support and gets free cleanings every 6 months |
| Recommends | $350 | Sets stones for about $350 and offers an optional lifetime metalwork warranty afterward |
| Recommends | $1,700 | Used a gift card there to set the stone in a platinum setting with baguettes for $1700 |
| Recommends | – | Says based on working there that Jared's lifetime warranty covers all metal work and replaces the center stone if it falls out, as long as 6-month inspections are kept up |
| Mixed | – | As a diamond sales employee there, had to pay full retail on their own setting instead of using the staff discount to keep diamond-bond loss coverage, since discounted purchases didn't qualify |
| Mixed | $4,070 | Paid the same $4,070 for a similar upgrade stone; suggests questioning the price but says she's had good luck with Jared overall. |
| Mixed | $400 | Charged $400 to set a 1 ct diamond into their own setting in Colorado; called the price insane |
| Mixed | – | Same former employee says Jared and Kay share ownership, but Jared carries more weight since it keeps an in-house jeweler on site who can talk directly with customers about repairs. |
| Warns | – | A 3ct lab diamond ring arrived the wrong size with a prong not properly holding the stone; the store wanted payment for the repair and proof from another jeweler that the ring hadn't been altered. |
| Warns | – | Says Jared has a poor reputation for diamond quality and points to other posts detailing complaints. |
| Warns | – | Former Jared employee says Costco's jewelry is far superior in quality to what Jared sells. |
| Warns | – | Had Jared polish off a ring's surface texture during a repair and had to send the piece back to the original jeweler to get it redone. |
| Warns | $50 to $449 | Employee says actual stone-setting labor costs about $50-100 but her store bundles it at $449; calls the parent company profit-driven and says quality has slipped. |
| Warns | $4,070 | Charged $4,070 for a 1.02ct natural I/SI1 princess diamond, far above same-spec online listings; staff blamed in-store availability, later allowed an exchange for a better stone. |
| Warns | $2,500 | Refused to repair her existing wedding band and instead quoted $2500 to make a new one |
| Warns | – | Designs jewelry through an LA jeweler personally and says Jared's warranty has many loopholes, repairs are outsourced to shops of unknown quality, and the nearest store can be hours away |
| Warns | $5,400 | Custom yellow-gold marquise-style ring came back with a flat oversized bezel, missing shoulder diamonds and milgrain, and a gold color the buyer felt was misrepresented |
| Warns | – | Said an equivalent but lower-rated diamond at this store was priced about three times what the writer paid buying elsewhere. |
| Warns | $2,000 | Black diamond ring had visible soldering near two prongs staff denied, plus poor rhodium plating that wore off unworn; ended up outside the return window after being strung along, and was later sold at a loss. |
| Warns | – | Sized the writer two sizes too small and, in their view, tried to sell a lab-grown diamond with a sticker that didn't clearly disclose it as lab-grown. |
| Warns | – | Ring broke 8 times in 2 years (loose diamonds, center stone falling off); the store eventually called it a structural flaw and let the writer trade it in for a different ring. |
| Warns | – | Lost a family member's ring during a routine clean and check, stalled for two weeks before admitting it, then paid a refund plus extra reflecting gold price gains in exchange for an NDA. |
| Warns | – | Asked for a lower profile and six prongs for security; got back the same tall setting with only the prong count changed after a week's wait, had to go to a local jeweler to actually fix the height |
Questions about buying from Jared
How much does a Jared engagement ring cost?
Buyers paid a median $5,000 for rings from Jared across 13 purchases, half between $3,000 and $6,000.
Is Jared good for engagement rings?
Of 30 buyers who described their own experience with Jared, 11 recommend it, 4 are mixed and 15 warn against it.
Is Jared cheaper than other mall and chain stores?
The $5,000 median at Jared is above the $1,300 median at other mall and chain stores (104 rings).
Are Jared and Kay the same company, and does that affect lab diamond ring prices?
Buyers said Jared and Kay are sister stores and that lab diamond rings at these chain stores can carry a lot of markup compared to shopping elsewhere.
Are big box and mall jewelry chains like Macy's, Kay, Jared and Zales a good deal for lab diamonds?
No, buyers call Macy's, Kay, Jared and Zales (Kay, Jared and Zales share one parent company) extremely overpriced, quoting roughly $4,000-5,000 at Kay or Jared for the same 3ct total-weight stud pair Macy's sale pricing got for $1,500-1,600 and other sources got for far less.
Are chain jewelers like Jared and Kay reliable for buying an engagement ring?
Many buyers reported serious problems with Jared, including a lost ring, a denied manufacturing defect, a ring that broke repeatedly, and pricing described as roughly triple a comparable independent stone, while one long-time Kay customer described mostly positive service with a modest repair cost and free biannual checks, though pricing outside sales could run high.
Are chocolate diamonds from big-box jewelers like Jared's a good value?
Buyers were largely negative, saying you pay a premium at big-box stores for lower-quality, off-color brown diamonds that hold less resale value than white diamonds of similar cost.
Are mall chains like Jared's a reliable place to buy lab diamonds, or is a small independent vendor better?
Buyers say to avoid chains like Jared's since their lab diamond prices are called way overpriced and they charge for services independents do free; several instead point to small vendors such as Alex Park, Starsgem, Fiorese and Costco.
Are mall jewelry chains like Kay, Jared and Zales good places to buy a diamond?
A buyer said these chains are overpriced and lower quality compared to going to a local independent jeweler.
Are mall jewelry stores like Kay or Jared more expensive for the same diamond quality?
Several buyers warned mall chains often carry bigger markups and lower-quality stones for the price than an independent jeweler or reputable online retailer would offer.
Are online diamond vendors cheaper than mall jewelers like Zales or Jared?
Multiple buyers shared their own rings bought from online sellers such as Brilliance.com, Adiamor, The Art of Jewels and Diamond Nexus at $1,000-$3,600 for equal or larger stones than the asker's mall ring, and several urged avoiding mall chains entirely.
Are overseas or custom jewelers cheaper than big chain stores like Jared for a lab diamond ring?
Numerous buyers reported paying $350-$2,500 total for custom lab diamond or moissanite rings from overseas or custom makers (GoldenBird, Diamondrensu, Ouros, Scott Bonomo) versus a $4,200 quote from Jared for comparable specs, though several noted overseas vendors typically don't offer a warranty.
Can a big-box jeweler like Kay or Jared special-order an exact outside setting I found, such as one from Stuller, without it counting as custom?
Buyers said no; chain stores only install their own in-house settings or catalog options, so matching an exact outside design usually means going to an independent jeweler who can special-order it through a wholesale supplier.
Do big retailers like Zales, Jared and Blue Nile use the same diamond inventory?
A shopper at Zales reported being told that Zales, Jared and Blue Nile draw from the same IGI-certified natural diamond database, so similar 3ct stones show up across all of them.
How do Kay, Jared and Zales ring warranties work?
The Signet diamond guarantee needs six-month inspections, while a separate lifetime protection plan costing a couple hundred dollars at purchase covers metal and melee without them; Kay owners report free resizing, crack repairs and replaced diamonds, though a Jared buyer had to push back.
Every Jared ring in the data
| Ring | Stone | Carat | Shape | Metal | Year | What the buyer reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2026 | Ring type not stated; a baguette fell out after a week, Jared first asked $500 to reset it then did it free; local jeweler built up gold for $10 |
| $1,500 | – | – | – | – | – | Writer told him not to spend that much |
| $2,000 | Natural diamond | – | – | – | – | Black diamond ring had visible soldering near two prongs the store denied and poor rhodium plating that wore off unworn; sold at a big loss after being strung along past the return window |
| $3,000 | Natural diamond | 0.75 ct | – | – | 2022 | Diamond about $2200 plus $800 setting, plus an $800 wedding band |
| $5,000 | – | 1 ct | – | – | – | Pre-COVID purchase; also considered a $3k option from Brilliant Earth before buying |
| $5,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Buyer contrasts their own $5k ring, which carries a lifetime warranty, with VCA's refusal to cover a similar prong repair. |
| $5,000 | – | 1 ct | – | – | – | 1ct diamond with gold band bought at Jared after comparing the diamond district and family jewelers |
| $5,400 | – | – | marquise | yellow gold | – | Custom 14k yellow gold marquise ring; casting came back with a flat oversized bezel, missing shoulder diamonds and milgrain, and a lighter gold color than the CAD render showed |
| $5,500 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.33 ct | round | – | 2025 | Total carat weight with setting stones is 3.03ct; chose the Jared setting for its design |
| $6,000 | – | – | – | – | – | Bought a ring marked at $21,000 for $6,000 through a friend working at Jared's |
| $6,072 | Lab-grown diamond | 2.94 ct | radiant | yellow gold | 2025 | Custom-made with discounts; $860 mounting + $800 diamond-halo head + $214 lifetime warranty included in the $6072 total |
| $7,500 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | – | – | – | 2024 | Small, lower-quality diamond ring bought at Jared's for $7,500; later returned |
| $8,000 | Diamond, lab or natural not said | 2.57 ct | round | – | 2025 | Pave band; regrets buying from Jared before discovering this community |
Sources and method
Price reports on this page come from 27 public discussions where buyers answered in their own words. Each comment that stated what someone paid became one row; notes are paraphrased, never quoted.
The largest discussions used here (27)
- 2025-01: How much did you pay? (703 comments)
- 2026-08: I want to propose. She wants a natural diamond. I want to buy her a ring that doesn't destroy our finances (526 comments)
- 2026-07: PSA: do not buy an engagement ring from Tiffany’s (372 comments)
- 2022-10: Is everyone here super rich? 😅 (336 comments)
- 2025-05: With the caveat that the actual answer is “however much you’re both comfortable spending”, how much did you spend on an engagement ring? (242 comments)
- 2025-01: Where are y’all’s getting your engagement rings?! (208 comments)
- 2022-12: Difference between a $500 ring and a $10,000 Tiffany ring (199 comments)
- 2024-01: Will I regret getting a 3ct Moissanite vs a 1.31ct lab diamond (pictured)? (197 comments)
- 2023-08: Saw an email from Tiffany & Co on boyfriend’s phone (193 comments)
- 2025-02: Local Jeweler wants $600 to set my 4.5 ct oval (166 comments)
- 2025-06: Just saw my custom diamond rendering…how do I talk to the jeweler? (147 comments)
- 2025-03: I want to shop local, but these prices are insane… $35k for 2ct lab?? (125 comments)
- 2026-04: My ring is super high (9mm tall), jeweler says that's just how it is (124 comments)
- 2025-11: Broken Prong on 1 year old Platinum Van Cleef & Arpels $30,000 Couture Solitaire Ring (105 comments)
- 2022-12: Calling all experienced Diamond lovers (104 comments)
- 2026-02: Wedding Ring Cost - How much did you actually spend? (84 comments)
- 2023-01: Megathread - Show us your oval engagement rings! This is a no chat post. Please Include your ring specs, finger size and vendor (optional). (73 comments)
- 2024-11: Jared’s - inflated diamond price? (72 comments)
- 2025-12: Issue with Jared engagement ring. Wedding in 2 weeks! (64 comments)
- 2023-11: Jeweller refurbished my Tiffany eternity ring, removed the hallmark proving its platinum (PT950) and the "Tiffany & Co" stamp. (43 comments)
- 2026-01: Where to sell expensive jewelry? (42 comments)
- 2022-09: Quoted $380 to replace diamond that fell out of band and tighten 2 other prongs. Does this seem high? Diamond is about 0.12 (40 comments)
- 2022-11: Need recommendation on a solitaire diamond. Should I go for Tiffany 0.5 carat F, VS2 or 1 carat F VS1 from a regular jeweler. Both are priced the same. (36 comments)
- 2026-03: SOS KAY RING DEBACLE Pt. 3 (36 comments)
- 2025-05: Can someone explain the warm-leaning 18k gold alloy to me? Also is it normal for jewelers to break up with clients after one stone search? (35 comments)
- 2023-08: Engagement ring set is 1.5 sizes too big & my local jeweler advised he could not resize it traditionally. The set was given to me by my MIL. (31 comments)
- 2025-12: Advice on engagement ring price (9 comments)
A ring counts for Jared when its buyer named the store; the store's channel (Mall and chain stores) comes from its name rather than from each buyer's description. Prices are in US dollars and cover the ring as a whole. Verdicts count one line per buyer, and only buyers who bought or priced there themselves.