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A curated list of my favorite local jewelers

Engagement Rings in Chicago, Illinois

a buyers guide for finding the perfect engagement ring in chicago

Where to find the perfect engagement ring in Chicago, IL

I’ve seen a lot of rings during my career photographing weddings in Chicago. Round cut, oval and marquise, cushion cuts. Black diamonds and sapphires. Moissanite and rose gold. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, one of my grooms surprises me with another unique piece.

As a married man myself, I’ve had my fair share or rings shopping experience, too. Three years ago, I got down on one knee in the middle of the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights to propose to Jasmine. After singing a customized version of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” to her, she said yes to a round cut Moissanite stone accented with two smaller blue sapphires.

engagement rings in chicago, illinois
engagement ring buying guide for chicago, illinois

Jewelry Stores in Chicago

Bryn Mawr Jewelry Co.

Local to Chicago since 1918, Bryn Mawr Jewelry Co. specializes in engagement and wedding rings with options to choose from their new and vintage inventories, as well as custom designs. The team also maintains an extensive collection of loose diamonds, including conflict-free, graded/ungraded gems, as well as specialty cuts and colors.

Website: www.brynmawrjewelryco.com

Diamonds on Wabash

Located along Chicago’s historic Jeweler’s Row, Diamonds on Wabash aims to be a one-stop shop for new jewelry, stocking designs from Aspiri, Coast Diamond, Benchmark, CrownRing, and Gabriel & Co.

Website: www.diamondsonwabash.com

James & Sons Fine Jewelers

With multiple locations in downtown Chicago as well as the Chicago suburbs, James & Sons stocks jewelry and watches in a variety of price points. When it comes to engagement rings, James & Sons also maintains a certified and sustainable lab, for creating lab-grown diamonds in addition to their collection of naturally-sourced gems and rings.

Website: www.jamesandsons.com

Chicago Suburb Jewelers

Other Chicago Custom, Ethical, and Recycled Jewelers

Brilliant Earth

Since 2005 Brilliant Earth has specialized in conflict-free gemstones and 100% recycled precious metals, with numerous customization options available.

Website: www.brilliantearth.com

Mineralogy

Focusing on unique gemstones and custom designs, Mineralogy practices social responsibility by making donations to local charities with portion of each sale. For each piece of jewelry sold, the team at Mineralogy plants one tree!

Website: www.mineralogydesigns.com

The Gold Hatpin

The Gold Hatpin gives new life to historic jewelry, specializing in rare finds and repurposing heirloom and classic pieces.

Website: www.chicagovintagejewelry.com

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For the gentlemen

Try Hitched

Gentlemen, don’t forget about your wedding band! One of my favorite local places for men’s wedding bands (and women’s bands and earrings, too!) is Hitched. With a Chicago showroom as well as a convenient try-at-home service, the team at Hitched make it incredibly easy to find the perfect gold, diamond, or tungsten wedding band. If you’re trying on at home, you can even download their unique ring-sizing app!

See their rings here.

How much should you spend on an engagement ring?

You could spend $1,000, $5,000, or even $10,000+ on a stunning engagement ring. While The Knot reports the average cost of an engagement ring in the United States was about $6,000, there is no “golden rule” when it comes to finding the right ring for you and your partner.

In my opinion, you should budget enough money to buy a ring made with quality components that will stand the test of time and make your partner feel truly special, but don’t sacrifice so much that you put off of saving for the future or end up having to finance current living expenses with a credit card. Remember, there is more to life than just the proposal, engagement, and wedding — you have the rest of forever to look forward to…together!

Should I order online or go to a jeweler?

I bought Jasmine’s ring online back in 2018, due mostly to the fact that I was living far out in the northern Chicago suburbs without easy access to local jewelry stores. We had to take the ring in to a shop for sizing after she said yes, so if you plan on buying online, plan some extra time to have the ring resized if you can.

If you’re looking for a completely custom design, it’s often easiest meet with a jeweler in-person.

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