Certificates from other labs may be questionable, as they often do not hold to standards as strict as AGS and GIA. The most reliable places to get your diamonds graded are the American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). You can send your diamond to different laboratories in the country to have them certified for quality. Grading assesses a gem according to the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight – all of which influence its value. The very first thing you’ll want to know is, will you be able to score a sweet deal for a high-quality diamond from Zales or Kay? Diamond quality is measured through grading. We pit Zales and Kay Jewelers head to head based on five different criteria: the quality of their jewelry, price point, variety of selection, customer service, and online and brick-and-mortar store availability. While they share similar policies here and there, Zales and Kay cater to distinct audiences. The million-dollar question now is – given that these two retailers are sister companies, aren’t they basically one and the same? Not exactly. Like Zales, Kay is also owned by Sterling Jewelers in America and further owned by Signet Jewelers worldwide. Today, Kay Jewelers is the second most widespread mall-based jewelry retailer in the US, if we’re going by the number of physical stores (the first one is Zales!). Kay Jewelers has been around since 1916, established by Edmund and Sol Kaufmann in Reading, Pennsylvania. Sterling Jewelers is a wholly owned subsidiary of Signet Jewelers, which is the largest specialty jewelry retailer worldwide. The company is now operating under Sterling Jewelers, the largest jewelry store conglomerate in America. A quarter of a century later, the 1950s marked the beginning of Zales’ revolutionary marketing strategy of opening stores within indoor shopping malls, making jewelry more accessible to the public.Īt present, Zales owns almost 700 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. Zales was founded in 1924 by William and Morris Zales in Wichita Falls, Texas. This guide will give you a peek into both Zales and Kay Jewelers’ selections and marketing styles to help you discover which retailer will likely have the diamond of your dreams. But if both these stores are in your sights, how do you narrow down the hunt for a diamond ring? Start your online diamond search now to find the perfect diamond.Zales and Kay have mastered the art of making the idea of ring shopping feel less like a daunting, huge life purchase and more of a regular errand to the mall, albeit for a momentous occasion. Whether it be EGL or GIA certified, Brilliance has thousands of loose diamonds to choose from. If you are interested in purchasing an EGL certified diamond and would like to have an expert evaluate it, contact a Brilliance diamond expert at 86.Ĭlick here to see our GIA vs. This is seen as an advantage to those who consider the ratings stated on the certificate a priority when choosing their diamond. Due to the discrepancy in the grading standards used, an EGL diamond graded the same color and clarity as a GIA diamond will be less expensive. However, there is a benefit to choosing an EGL certified diamond. For example, an EGL diamond graded G in color and VS2 in clarity is comparable to a GIA diamond graded I in color and SI1 in clarity.Īs a result, GIA certified diamonds are considered more valuable and provide the consumer with more confidence in the product they are purchasing.