FAQS

How can I subscribe to your newsletter?

You can sign up for our Newsletter through our website. Enter your email address and code in the ‘Newsletter Sign Up’ panel at the bottom of our homepage and click on the arrow button. The Newsletter Sign Up page will appear on your screen. Enter the required information and click on the ‘Sign Me Up’ button. You will be signed up for our Newsletter, and a confirmation screen will be displayed. Also, you will receive a sign-up confirmation email for our Newsletter. To subscribe to our newsletter, click on ‘Newsletter Sign Up’.

How can I search for a product?

To search for your desired products, click on the 'magnifying glass' icon at the top right section of the page. Upon clicking this button, a small search bar will appear which will accept your keyword(s). Click the search bar once more to type. You need to enter a minimum of 3 characters to search your choice of products and then click on the ‘magnifying glass’ icon once more. This action will display your search results based on your keyword(s). On that small search bar, you can also find keyword(s) and/or select the attributes from available search criteria dropdowns and click on the search button. All the products that meet these specifications will be displayed to you on the search result page.

How can I contact you?

Our website provides various means of instant communication for our customers. You can click the 'Contact Us' button available at the bottom of our website’s homepage and a new page will appear including our four locations. The top of the ‘Contact Us’ page provides each location’s street address, phone number, email, and store hours. The bottom of the page displays a simple form to submit any questions you may have. Fill out the required information, and submit the form to one of our stores. Your message will be emailed to us, and you will also receive a confirmation email stating your form was received. You will then receive a reply within 1-2 business days. We hope to hear from you soon at James & Sons and invite you to visit one of our locations in Chicago, Naperville, Orland Park, and Schererville.

How can I create an account on your website?

Creating an account on our website is a simple procedure and essentially requires your email address as it will be considered your username. You can create a new account by clicking the ' Sign In' link available at the top of our website and the ‘Sign In’ page will appear. On this page, you need to click the 'Create An Account' button to get a registration form. You need to enter all the required information in their respective fields and click the 'Create An Account' button to submit your account information. Upon successful creation of your account, a confirmation page will appear and you will get a confirmation email. After the creation of your account, you will be able to access this account by entering your email address and password information on the ‘Sign In’ page.

What is a wish list? How can I create my own wish list?

While browsing the products on our website, you may come across many products that you would like to purchase from us sometime in the future. Our website allows you to store all these favorite products in your wish list until you are ready to purchase. To create your wish list, you need to have an online account on our website. You have to sign in to your account to add products to your wish list. After you’re signed in, you can just click the 'Add to Wish List' link on the product display or product detail pages This action will add these items to your wish list.

How can I share my wish list with my friends?

To share your wish list with your friends, you have to first access your wish list. In your wish list, simply click on the ‘Share Wish List' button to email your entire wish list, containing details of all your favorite products, to your friends. If you wish to send details of only one product on your wish list to your friends, then you need to click on the 'Email' icon available on that particular product in the grid. Clicking on these links will display a simple form where you need to enter your friend(s) email address along with the email subject and your optional message. Enter the required information and click on the 'Email This Page' button to email your entire wish list or particular product details to your friends.

How can I find quality diamonds?

If you are looking for quality center diamonds, you can rely on our assistance to get the best. You can visit our ‘ Contact Us’ page and submit a request form where you can enter your desired details. Upon submission of this form, you will get a confirmation message on the next page as well as an email containing details of your form. You can expect a response within 1-2 business days. Our global reach allows us to locate rare and unique diamonds in fancy shapes and fancy colors, and we would be happy to find the perfect diamond for you.

What is the catalog? How can I browse the catalog?

Our catalog is an online version of a product flyer that offers additional features like Zoom, Product Details, Product Zoom, Printing and Emailing, and more. The James & Sons Catalog offers you the joy of shopping online with a traditional flair. Our Catalog displays the collection of interactive flash-based presentations of all our latest and exclusive Flyer Collections. You can find the most recent James & Sons Catalog near the bottom of our homepage under ‘News & Blog’.

What are the Terms of Use?

The use of our website is governed by specific terms and conditions which are mentioned on our Terms of Use page. It is advisable to read the Terms of Use carefully before using our website. By using our website, you signify your agreement to these terms and conditions. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify or otherwise alter these terms and conditions at any time. Such changes and/or modifications may become effective immediately upon posting. You are advised to review the terms and conditions periodically. Your continued use of the website following any posting of changes and/or modifications will constitute your acceptance of the revised terms and conditions.

What is a Privacy Policy?

A website's privacy policy is a legal statement providing information about the use of personal information, related to its customers and visitors, collected via the website - by the website owner. We respect your privacy, and it is our goal to provide you with a safe and secure shopping experience whenever you visit our website. Our Privacy Policy is created to demonstrate our firm commitment to your privacy. This privacy notice describes our online information practices to inform you about what information we collect, why we collect such information, and how we use the information that we collect from our customers and visitors.

How can I take help from a sales associate?

If you have any questions about our products, services, or website, you can contact our sales associates through the ‘ Contact Us’ page near the bottom of our homepage. This will bring you to a new webpage with our four locations’ street addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and store hours. Below this, there is a form you may submit with any questions you may have. One of our sales associates would be happy to assist you. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response.

How can I map your stores’ locations?

You can map our store location(s) through the ‘Locations’ page. You can click the ‘ Locations’ button available at the top right corner of our website, and a new page will appear with our four locations’ addresses, phone numbers, emails, and hours. The right-hand side of the page shows a map of the area surrounding the selected location. The Online Mapping Services on the ‘Locations’ page enables you to locate our stores as well as get driving directions. Clicking on any of the available Online Mapping services icons (below each store’s hours) will take you directly to that particular map of our store location and its surrounding areas. This map will also allow you to get driving directions to the store of your choice.

What is the most important thing to remember when buying a diamond?

When you go out to buy a sparkling diamond, you must consider 4C’s of diamonds - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight, as a base for your buying decision. These categories will help you to choose the best diamonds on the same criteria that jewelers use to select them. Learn more through our Diamond Education.

What is Diamond Cut?

Diamond Cut is the most important property to increase its beauty. A well-cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stone’s brilliance. A diamond with perfect color and clarity could still have poor brilliance if it is not well-cut. A diamond cut by shape describes the outline of the stone and the pattern of the facet arrangement. A stone can be cut in various shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear, etc. On the other side, a diamond cut by depth is the ultimate feature for its brilliance and fire. A stone's cut by depth can be described as Shallow Cut, Deep Cut, or Ideal Cut. Check out our Diamond Education for more information.

What is Diamond Color?

Diamonds are found in all colors of the rainbow, from colorless stones to ink black ones. Varying degrees of yellow or brown color are common in most diamonds, and slight color differences can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance. The color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow. Check out our Diamond Education for more information.

What is Diamond Clarity?

Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond. In other words, the clarity of a diamond refers to a diamond’s clearness or purity. When these flaws/marks occur internally, they are called inclusions. When these flaws/marks occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes. These slight flaws make every diamond unique, but they also affect the beauty and value of the diamond. The Diamond Clarity Grading Scale grades a diamond with any of the following grades: F (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 - VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included - 1 & 2), VS1 - VS2 (Very Slightly Included - 1 & 2), SI1 - SI2 (Slightly Included - 1 & 2), I1 - I2 - I3 (Included - 1, 2 & 3). Visit our Diamond Education page to learn more.

What is Diamond Carat Weight?

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. Each carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, a 1/4 carat diamond is considered 25 points and a 1/2 carat diamond is considered 50 points, and so on. Large diamonds are discovered rarely in comparison to small ones, which makes large diamonds much more valuable. For that reason, the price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. Therefore, a 2-carat diamond of a given quality is always worth much more than two 1-carat diamonds of equal quality. Learn more through our Diamond Education.

How do I care for my diamonds?

Regular cleaning of diamond jewelry is essential to maintain the shine and brilliance of diamonds. When wearing them, they get dirty as you use various skin and body care products such as soaps, and lotions. Even our skin's natural oils can dull their shine. When you are not wearing them, they collect dust. You can clean your diamonds at home on your own by using a soft brush, water, and soap or with a jewelry cleaner. You can also take your jewelry to our professional jewelers, who will clean your item and ensure all stones are secure. Diamond jewelry should be stored individually in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that a diamond does not scratch other diamonds or other jewelry. You should not wear diamond jewelry while doing heavy work. You should avoid any situation where your diamonds come in contact with chlorine bleach, hair spray, or other chemicals as they can pit or discolor the mounting. Contact James & Sons to speak with a representative to learn more!

What is a Gemstone?

A gemstone is a mineral or rock, which can be used in jewelry after cutting, faceting, and polishing. Gemstones are diverse in their beauty, and many gems are available in a stunning variety of colors. After a skilled cutting and polishing of a gem, full color and luster can be seen.

What's the difference between carat and karat?

When shopping for jewelry, it's not unusual to start wondering what the difference is between a Carat and a Karat. Both the terms are used for measurement. The term 'Carat' refers to the weight of a diamond. It is derived from the carob seeds, which are remarkably consistent in weight and shape, so they were the favored scale balances in ancient times. This was standardized in 1907, and after that 1 carat became 0.2 grams (1/142 of an ounce). Furthermore, each carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, a 1/4 carat diamond is considered 25 points, a 1/2 carat diamond is considered 50 points, and so on. Carat is also used in its abbreviated 'ct' form.

On the other hand, a 'Karat' is a measurement used to measure the purity of gold, with 24 karat being the purest. The measurement gauges how much gold is in a piece of jewelry in comparison to how much alloy is in it. If a jewelry item contains 18 Karat Gold, that means it has eighteen parts pure gold and six parts other metal alloys. Karat is also used in its abbreviated 'kt' form.

How do I care for my jewelry?

Jewelry requires proper care and treatment so it can be handed down as heirlooms to future generations without losing its shine and sparkle. Regular cleaning of jewelry is essential to maintain the shine and brilliance of a piece’s gemstones and metal. When wearing jewelry, it gets dirty as you use various skin and body care solutions such as soaps, lotions, and your skin's natural oils may affect the jewelry. Even when you are not wearing them, they collect dust. You can clean your jewelry at home on your own by using a soft brush, water, and soap or by using readymade jewelry cleaners. You can also take the services of a professional jeweler to keep jewelry clean. Jewelry should be stored individually in a soft cloth pouch or plastic zip-lock bags to ensure that a piece of jewelry or gemstone does not scratch other jewelry or gemstones. You should not wear jewelry while doing heavy work such as housework or gardening as it can be scratched. You should avoid the situation where your jewelry comes in contact with chlorine bleach, hair spray, or other chemicals because they can severely discolor and damage your jewelry as well as its settings. Check out our DIY Jewelry Cleaning Video.

How can I select jewelry that fits in my budget?

Jewelry is a personal ornament, such as a ring, bracelet, necklace, or any other item made from jewels, precious metals, or any other material. You must set your budget for buying jewelry and then explore all your options by considering the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight of a stone, as well as consider the material used for its setting. In this way, you'll find a wide range of jewelry in your price range.

Why is it beneficial to buy from a local jeweler?

When purchasing jewelry from a local jeweler, you can be sure that you are getting the true value for your money. Local jewelers provide you with more personalized services because they intend to build a legacy of integrity & trust with their customers. Since local jewelers intend to build personal relations with their customers, they care enough to deal in only certified & best quality diamonds & jewelry. A local jeweler can better understand your style and keeps it in mind when going on buying trips. You can expect honest, professional advice as well as satisfactory attention before and after sales/services only from a local jeweler.

How are gemstones classified?

Gemstones are classified into two categories, Precious and Semi-Precious, based on their characteristics.

• Precious Stones
  Gemstones which are highly valuable for their hardness and rarity, are known as precious stones. Precious stones are generally expensive in comparison to Semi-precious stones. Precious stones include diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
• Semi-Precious
  Stones Gemstones that are valued for their beauty but not covered under any one of the four ‘Precious Stones’, are known as semi-precious stones. Semi-precious stones are available in all price ranges from low priced to high priced. Semi-precious stones include alexandrite, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, garnet, iolite, onyx, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, etc.

What is a birthstone? What are the different birthstones?

A birthstone is nothing but a gemstone, which is associated with the date of one’s birth. Wearing such birthstones is considered to bring good luck and health.
Birthstones, on the basis of calendar months, are as follows:

• January’s Birthstone – Garnet
• February’s Birthstone - Amethyst
• March’s Birthstone - Aquamarine
• April’s Birthstone - Diamond
• May’s Birthstone - Emerald
• June’s Birthstone - Pearl / Alexandrite / Moonstone
• July’s Birthstone - Ruby
• August’s Birthstone - Peridot / Sardonyx
• September’s Birthstone - Sapphire
• October’s Birthstone - Opal / Pink Tourmaline
• November’s Birthstone - Citrine / Yellow Topaz
• December’s Birthstone - Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircon / Blue Topaz

What is precious metal?

A Precious Metal is a metal with a rare metallic chemical element with high economic value as a result. Precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high luster, and have higher melting points than other metals. Gold, Platinum, and Silver are considered precious metals and are used extensively in jewelry.

• Gold
  Gold is an extraordinary and rare precious metal, with an unmatched combination of chemical and physical properties. Gold is the most non-reactive of all metals, and it does not oxidize under ordinary conditions. No other metal is as malleable as gold. Pure gold is very soft and pliable, and alloys of different metals are combined with pure gold to enhance its durability and strength. This can also create a blush in the gold’s appearance with different color tones. 24 karat is 100 % pure gold, and it is more expensive and less durable than gold that is alloyed with other metals.
• Platinum
  Platinum, an extremely rare and expensive metal, is a silvery gray precious metal often used for setting or mounting high-quality diamonds and gemstones. Platinum is a strong, durable, and dense metal that is valued for its white color and purity.
• Silver
  Pure silver is a very soft metal with its lustrous white color. Silver was used as jewelry metal well before the development of white gold alloys, and before platinum could be isolated. It is normally stable in pure air and water but tarnishes when exposed to ozone, hydrogen sulfide, or sulfur.

What should I know before buying jewelry?

Buying perfect jewelry requires knowledge about diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals as well as settings & finishings. Keep these points in mind while selecting jewelry for yourself or your loved ones:

• Whenever you buy jewelry for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.
• When you decide to buy diamond or gemstone jewelry then you should always evaluate stones on the 4Cs criteria.
• You should ensure that the stones of your jewelry are properly polished and with perfect symmetry.
• You must ensure that there are no visible blemishes or imperfections on the diamonds, gemstones, or metal.
• You should also check to make certain that fasteners, clasps and catches work properly and are secure.
• Beware of jewelry store lighting which usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs.
• When buying gold jewelry, it is advisable to go for either 14 karat or 18 karat gold jewelry. You should never buy 24 karat gold jewelry because it is too soft, less durable, and more expensive. You should also avoid buying less than 10 karat gold jewelry, as it appears dull. While buying jewelry, you should not be in a hurry or feel under pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace.

What is the meaning of wearing rings on different fingers?

Wearing a ring on a particular finger represents some of the attributes of your personality. Here are different meanings for which finger you choose to wear a ring on:

• Thumb - Individuality, Independence
• Index finger - Dominance, Power, Energy
• Middle finger - Irreverence, Rebellion, Decadence
• Ring finger - Love, Romance, Connection
• Pinky Ring - Conflict, Assertiveness, Competitiveness
• No Rings - Friendliness, Helpfulness, Adventure