Testimonials
Custom Engagement Ring Review: Connor and Drew
Jewelsmith is AMAZING!! My now fiancée and I had the pleasure of working with Tracy to design and create our custom engagement rings. Tracy went above and beyond to make the entire process so fun and exciting! She helped us tweak the designs until the rings were perfect yet she never made us feel rushed or overwhelmed.
The rest of the staff was always so kind and welcoming as well! It was a little daunting to embark on this experience as a queer couple, but we consistently felt accepted and celebrated at Jewelsmith.
12/10 would recommend!!! We couldn’t be happier with our experience and our rings :)
--Drew
Could not have had a better experience! My fiancée and I had the pleasure of working with Tracy, and she was AMAZING! She perfectly balanced listening to the vision we each had for the rings with contributing her professional opinion on style and design! She was so easy to communicate with and was consistently able to get us in for design appointments very quickly and me feel so special each time I came in. Tracy also did a phenomenal job of secret keeping since my fiancée and I were designing each other’s rings at the same time but separately!
If you are looking to be very hands on in the design process from start to finish, I could not recommend Jewelsmith (and specifically Tracy) more! My fiancée and I could not be happier with our experience and our beautiful rings!
--Connor
Testimonials
Matthew H.
Google Review
The folks at Jewelsmith were amazing. Tracy expertly helped navigate the process from start to finish and clearly cares deeply about their customers. Thanks for being great!
Rick S.
Google Review
Your representative May was very helpful and patient. This store did a great job helping me through the custom design process and made exactly what I wanted, within the limitations of the stone. I highly recommend them!
Brendan W.
Google Review
Excellent service-I highly recommend! The Jewelsmith representative I worked with, May, was patient and helpful. Thank you, May, and the Jewelsmith team.
Resetting Sentimental Family Gems Review: Laurette
I have wanted to come to Jewelsmith for over 40 some years. About five months ago, I said," this is the time." First reaction: I started crying because of the sentimental value and knowing that I can wear and have representation for two women I loved so much in my life, which was my grandmother and my aunt. I just started jumping down and hugging Tiffany. My spirit sings every time I see you and come into this place.
--Laurette
Testimonials
Rob S.
Google Review
Tracy took such good care of us over the last year taking my crazy sketches and turning them into an amazing wedding set design. We couldn’t be happier and we’ll be coming back again for the next big occasion.
Michelle S.
Google Review
Amazing jewelry designers, thorough design process with lots of good communications! Truly spectatular works of jewelry art! Started with a beautiful custom engagement ring and then wedding bands. Just returned again for custom diamond pendant for 20th wedding anniversary. We won't even consider going somewhere else.
Elin H.
Google Review
We had so much fun and are completely thrilled with the jewelry created for us. Each piece was exactly what we were hoping for! Tiffany understood our ideas and turned them into reality.
Transforming Gold and Repurposing Gems Review: Lisa
I was on Instagram and I had seen a post from Jewelsmith about bringing your gold in to be refined. I knew I had some pieces from my mom that were pieces that I would never personally wear, and decided I wanted to do something with them so that I could wear them because they were actually from my grandmother. I just wanted to incorporate them into something I could wear that meant something to me. So, I contacted Tracy, my favorite person at Jewelsmith, and got the ball rolling. I love everything about it! Wow!
--Lisa
Testimonials
Logan S.
Google Review
We had a wonderful experience! The staff, especially May and Patrick, were incredibly welcoming and provided fantastic guidance from start to finish. They helped us on our sapphire gem hunt, making our vision possible. Thanks to their expertise, we created pieces we will cherish forever. I cannot recommend them enough!
Pat M.
Google Review
I'm so glad I came here. I had a pair of Tanzanite loose stones from my trip to Tanzania that I wanted turned into earrings. Tracy Hayes, the designer, was a joy to work with. She spent a lot of time with me discussing what I wanted, showing me examples from the showroom and sketching out some alternatives. She is also very personable, easy to talk to and...fun! Jewelsmith was very transparent about the cost of various alternatives. I'm very pleased with the result -- the earrings are beautiful and showcase the stones nicely.
Karen G.
Google Review
Working with Tiffany specifically (and the entire staff as a whole) was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to turn something already special into something even more memorable and special.
Custom North Carolina Pendant Review: Andrea
I'm really excited about that storytelling piece that gives me a chance to talk about the state and her environments and her natural systems. I love it, I love it! I love that the water is shiny and I love how subtly Patrick designed it. I love that [he incorporated] Lassiter Mill in Raleigh, NC...and he placed it on the Neuse River, just making sure that each of the elements that I really care about in the state of North Carolina...were included. I'm really, really happy!
--Andrea
Testimonials
Karen J.
Google Review
I took my wedding band and engagement ring to Jewelsmith for a makeover. I worked with May, who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She helped me create an absolutely stunning redesign of my rings, using my original stones. The finished products are an absolute perfect result of what I had imagined. Can’t find these in any store, only on my finger. I absolutely love them. Thank you May. Thank you, Jewelsmith.
Robyn H.
Google Review
Fantastic, personalized service. My ring turned out beautifully!
Kathryn K.
Google Review
I had a wonderful experience with Jewelsmith. They created a beautiful custom ring for me from some family jewelry. The results were absolutely stunning and the designers, gemologists and the whole team were so amazing!
Resetting Mom's Diamonds into a Meaningful Pendant Review: Teresa
I've been wanting to do something with my mother's engagement ring. And so I came in and Tiffany came up with a great idea. When she showed me this new type of finish that they were working with...I saw it and it reminded me of my mother because she loved the night sky and looking at the moon when it was full and the stars. And I loved being outside in nature as well. And when I saw that, I knew that her diamond set in this type of pendant with this finish just was like the ultimate thing to be able to set her diamond and be able to wear it. And I just absolutely adore what they came up with. She passed three years ago and I just wanted to do something that was different and something that reminded me of her, and something that was significant. So I love it. I'm thrilled!
--Teresa
Testimonials
Felipe S.
Google Review
May was absolutely fantastic in helping me pick out the perfect engagement ring. She was patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole process feel easy and stress-free. I truly appreciated her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for something special.
Rodolpho T.
Google Review
I found out about Jewelsmith through a friend who referred them to me. Even though I live out of the state and didn’t have an in-person consultation for the design process I got exactly what I wanted. The team was super friendly and professional taking care of my requests throughout manufacturing phase! I’ll be able to surprise my loved one with one of a kind piece that really makes up for a special moment!
Parker H.
Google Review
I worked with May and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. I was so happy with how the ring came together.
Custom Bee Earrings Incorporating Family Diamonds Review: Christin
It's better than anything I had imagined in my head. I was so impressed with the amount of detail. The bees are just incredible. Patrick did an incredible job. I'm a beekeeper and I've been a beekeeper for about 6 years now. I've always been such a fan of Jewelsmith, taking old jewelry and turning it into something that can be treasured for years to come. I asked my mom if she had any of my grandmother's old diamonds and she did. [The earrings] are absolutely stunning and incredible. So, thank you to the whole Jewelsmith team.
--Christin
Testimonials
Ananda L.
Google Review
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Jewelsmith for the incredible work on designing my 25th anniversary diamond ring. The craftsmanship is truly exceptional, and the ring is a beautiful reflection of our special milestone. Additionally, the customer service I received throughout the process was outstanding, making the entire experience memorable. Thank you for your dedication and artistry! I will be back again! A huge shoutout to Kathryn for working with us on a creative design remotely!
Jonathan S.
Google Review
We are beyond happy with our experiences at Jewelsmith!! Working with Mary has been an absolute joy, and we are so excited to keep coming back! Jewelsmith really provides a personal experience to match your every need. We've never felt rushed, and we also have been very impressed with the reasonable prices! We originally assumed that we'd spend a bit more to support a local business, but Jewelsmith's prices in our experience have been on par with the more-corporate engagement ring stores. From every angle, we are so thankful for Jewelsmith for making our engagement all the more special and stress-free! :)
Rin J.
Google Review
Tracy at Jewelsmith helped us design my dream engagement ring and I could not be happier!! We came in with a vague vision of a bypass ring set with a sapphire and she guided us through all the decision making. We even got to use an heirloom sapphire from my girlfriend’s side so it has extra special meaning. I had been quite nervous about designing because the options are limitless so I really appreciated Tracy’s attention and honesty in bringing our vision to life and creating a high quality piece that fits my lifestyle and personality. As a queer couple it was really important that we find a jeweler where we are not just tolerated but welcomed with the same excitement as any couple, and Jewelsmith served us so well. Between our several visits we definitely saw other excited queer couples too which was really fun for us!! I am so pleased I get to wear this for years to come and we will be back for our wedding bands!!! <3
Continuing Mom's Legacy by Resetting Heirloom Diamonds into Custom Pendants Review: Hart and Heather
Mom passed away almost 20 years ago from cancer, and she had some wedding bands, engagement rings that she had that had some stones in the new [pendant] to continue her legacy with some further jewelry that we could wear instead of sitting around in a box. We could actually wear it and enjoy it. We love it, thank you so much!
--Hart and Heather
Summary & FAQ
At A Glance
Based on our recent 5-star reviews, here is what you can expect when working with us:
- Inclusive Atmosphere: A welcoming, celebratory environment where all couples and love stories are honored.
- Heirloom Expertise: Specialized skill in melting down customer-owned gold and repurposing family gemstones for 'Jewelry Makeovers.'
- Collaborative Design: A low-pressure process where our designers (Mary, May, Tiffany, Tracy, and Katherine) guide you from vague concept to reality.
- Remote Capabilities: A seamless design experience for clients living outside of North Carolina.
- Value & Transparency: Pricing that is competitive with corporate stores, but with superior craftsmanship and custom service.
Can I use my own family heirlooms or old gold to create a new piece?
Absolutely. Many of our clients come to us specifically for "Jewelry Makeovers." As seen in Lisa and Karen J.'s stories, we can melt down your old gold or repurpose gemstones from family pieces to create something entirely new. Whether it’s turning a mother's engagement ring into a pendant like Teresa did, or using a grandmother's diamonds for earrings like Christin, we love giving new life to sentimental treasures.
Is Jewelsmith a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ couples?
Yes, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and celebratory space for all love stories. We are thrilled that couples like Connor & Drew and Rin J. felt not just "tolerated," but genuinely celebrated and comfortable throughout their design process. We are honored to help you create symbols of your unique love.
I don’t live in Durham, NC. Can we still work together on a custom design?
Yes! We successfully work with clients remotely. Rodolpho T. and Ananda L. both designed custom pieces with us from out of state without an in-person consultation. Our team (including designers like Kathrine) is skilled at communicating designs virtually to ensure you get exactly what you envision.
Do I need to have a clear design in mind before I come in?
Not at all. While some clients bring sketches (like Rob S.), many come to us with just a "vague vision." Our designers, such as Tracy, May, and Tiffany, are experts at guiding you through the creative process. As Connor mentioned, we balance listening to your vision with offering professional design advice to create a piece that fits your style and lifestyle.
Can you source unique gemstones for me?
Yes. If you are looking for something specific, like the Montana sapphires mentioned by Logan S. or the Tanzanite earrings Pat M. commissioned, we can hunt for the perfect stone. Alternatively, if you already have loose stones (like Rin J.'s heirloom sapphire), we are happy to build a design around them.
Is custom jewelry significantly more expensive than store-bought?
Many clients find our pricing surprisingly competitive. As Jonathan S. noted in his review, he expected to spend more to support a local business but found our prices to be "on par with more corporate engagement ring stores." We are transparent about costs and can help you make choices that fit your budget.
Continue Shopping
