The Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange

My fiance bought me my diamond from CHIDEXX and then Shari made my ring. It is gorgeous! It's one of a kind and I get compliments on it all of the time! We enjoyed my ring so much my husband got his ring made there too. It's nothing like going to a chain store and buying a ring that hundreds of other people can have, it JUST YOUR RING. Shari understands what you want and makes it happen for a very reasonable price! I will go back with all of my jewelry needs! Pros: great prices, wonderful customer service and amazing product more

Shari helped my partner and I create our wedding rings and it could not have been a better experience. The entire process went flawlessly. We loved it so much that we have highly recommended her work to many colleagues and friends. We enjoy Shari and her husband so much, they are almost like family. We stop in every once in awhile just to catch up with them and their family. We love their work so much that they helped us create and then crafted an amazing etirnity band for our 5 year anniversary. I cannot say enough about this place and everyone involved with this Chicago institution. Pros: friendly, reasonable, genuine Cons: nothing more

Really great folks. Shari exceeds her reputation. She is very humble and engaging. I was surprised at the amount of detailed discussion my fianc?e and Shari had over the engagement ring. We walked in with ideas and Shari listened. She started with our core ideas and provided insightful perspective. Shari weighed in on the size and length of my fianc?es fingers and discussed design options to enhance the finger features. Shari understands balance and symmetry. Shari?s art and architectural background is evident in her designs. We saw some of the designs she has exhibited in Europe. Her designs are head and shoulders over anything we have seen including the Michigan avenue stores. We were blown away by Shari?s own engagement ring. This ring is something to see. We knew Shari would build an interesting ring for us. The end product clearly exceeded our expectation. Shari built us a show stopper. The Chidexx common sense approach to diamond buying was compelling. The pricing transparency was comforting. Again Shari provided the time we needed to understand diamonds. We compared diamonds in alternative lighting conditions. The exercise helped us make a good choice. Shari was thorough in the presentation. Shari was the consummate professional. Shari is the most talented designer in Chicago. The Bjeweled Design Gallery is the most unique jewelry store we visited. The Gallery reflects Shari?s uniqueness. It made us feel good that our designer has a Gallery in the Gold Coast. The place is busy for a reason. Thanks Shari Pros: Exceptional Design talent, Best Diamond Pricing, Fun Place more

I don't even know where to start... This place (bejeweled) is amazing, great fun people, very fair and cost effective. I had an engagement ring made with a 4 K topaz, and the design was so spectacular that EVERYONE continues to compliment me on my ""Tiffany canary diamond ring"", and the price was ridiculously cheap for such a stunning ring. Wedding bands, even cheaper, and amazing with custom engraving and a stone hidden on the inside of my husbands ring to match mine (small one of course). If you want a ring made, jewelry adjusted, sized, polished, ANYTHING! This is the place to go. Aside from making custom jewelry, they can do ANYTHING for the right price, and better than the expensive jewelers in the gold coast. I give this place a 1000% (yes 1000%) recommendation, trust me you will love them and their work!! Pros: everything, service, fairness, quality, and fun Cons: none whatsoever more

I liked the Chidexx common sense approach to the diamond purchase. I had a conversation with Shari discussing my diamond needs. Shari provided valuable feedback. We came to an understanding of my diamond profile. Shari brought in a number of diamonds in my diamond profile range to the Bjeweled Designer Jewelry location. After viewing the diamonds in different lighting conditions I purchased the diamond I felt had the best performance. Shari provided good unbiased perspective. Her resources exceeded the diamonds I had seen in other stores. I did a lot of research and the Chidexx pricing exceeded my expectation. I purchased more diamond for the price than I saw at other stores and on the internet. Chidexx lived up to its reputation. I brought my fianc?e back at a later date to design an engagement ring. Her incite into different ways to frame the diamond was interesting. Shari incorporated many of our ideas in the ring. The final design and finished ring again exceeded our expectations. Shari is extremely talented and a pleasure to work with. I see why she gets invited to exhibit her work. She gives you all the time you need. If you want original design talent Shari is the best. Thanks Shari Pros: Transparent transaction, Comfortable, Excellent Designer more

My fiance just purchased my engagement ring from CHIDEXX, and I could not be happier! My ring is beautiful, and exactly what I wanted. When I went in with him after he proposed to make sure it fit properly, Kevin and Sherry were warm, welcoming and helpful. Sherry makes the MOST BEAUTIFUL jewelry in town, and Kevin is friendly and laid-back and exactly the kind of person you want to do business with. Even better, my ring is MUCH nicer (and bigger!) than many of my girlfriends', and their fiances paid A LOT more than mine did (which means more money for the honeymoon for us, too!) As we were leaving, my fiance told me that every piece of jewelry he will buy me will come from CHIDEXX, and I couldn't be happier about that! Shop around so you know what you're looking for (they are brokers, so they go and find your diamond, they don't keep much on hand) and you know what an amazing value you're getting, but don't buy anywhere else! We never will! Pros: Beautiful products, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly staff Cons: None! more

I just purchased my engagement ring for my fiance, and my experience with CHIDEXX was so refreshingly different from every other jeweler I visited. Let's face it - the vast majority of diamonds shoppers are at a disadvantage the moment they set foot in a jewelry store; it's nearly impossible to become as knowledgable as the individual working behind the counter who has made a career of selling diamonds. At CHIDEXX, the playing field is leveled thanks to what owner Kevin likes to call ""transparency"". CHIDEXX makes their profit in the form of a brokerage fee that is clearly disclosed to the customer. They make a fair, reasonable profit that keeps them in business while the customer gets a diamond that they would never be able to acquire from a traditional jeweler. Amazingly, traditional jewelers don't seem to realize that their customers can hop onto the internet and view the current prices of a myriad of diamonds. Every traditional jeweler that I visited told me that it was impossible to get the diamond I wanted for the prices I saw online. They invariably insisted on telling me what I was looking for and that I needed to settle for less. My fiance-to-be requested that I not purchase my diamond online (so I could see it first-hand before deciding whether it was right for her), so CHIDEXX provided the best of both worlds; the service and expertise of a traditional jeweler and the prices that I knew were fair. When I first called CHIDEXX, they asked ME what I was looking for. After describing the diamond I wanted, they asked me to tell them the price range that I expected. I mentioned the range that I was seeing online, and they said they could help me (I can't tell you how refreshing it was to hear that). The final result is that my fiance is wearing a BEAUTIFUL ring that costed me much less money than I would have paid at a traditional jeweler. Kevin and Shari are helpful, knowledgable, and VERY personable and maintain focus on the customer. Bottom line: Do your homework, shop around, but don't buy your diamond from anywhere else until you've checked out CHIDEXX; you WILL NOT be disappointed. Pros: Transparency, amazing value, wonderful staff Cons: Other jewelers will have to catch on at some point more

Shari is a real artist. We saw some the designs she exhibited in Basel and Italy. Shari is a find. She was a great listener and fun. Her humor made the experience all the more enjoyable. We had some ideas for our engagement ring. Shari incorporated our ideas and added some interesting enhancements. The ring was a one of a kind design. I did my due diligence in researching Chidexx and diamonds. Shari found the best selection of diamonds within my criteria range. The pricing was transparent as represented. I shopped the internet and the Wabash district. Nobody touched the Chidexx price. One of a kind engagement ring and best pricing. No need to look anywhere else. Pros: Exceptional Design, Best Pricing, Shari is fun more

I'd been ring shopping for weeks, bouncing around places, finding nothing that inspired me. But this spot was totally different. Shari trotted out a series of styles that just leaped out at me. Her diamond settings were bright, brilliant and classy -- and she worked with me to create the perfect setting that fit precisely what my girlfriend wanted. They also helped me land a great stone -- and there was absolutely no pressure to buy since they weren't trying to ""move the merchandise"" to get it off their shelves. Any guy looking to buy a ring should go here. Good prices, good service, good designs. Pros: selection, custom work, service, prices more

Working with Shari was an exceptional experience to say the least! Shari is dedicated to finding you the rock of your dreams and her creative mind always takes it up many notches above your expectations. Shari is extremely creative and was able to make the ring of my dreams with a simple sketch and her listening skills. Not only did the final product match what I described it came out even better and the price was amazing. I also wanted a unique ring made for my husband and brought Shari a picture of what I was looking for. Shari was able to take the picture and provide her feedback of how we could make the ring even more unique! Of course we went with her idea and now my husband has a unique ring that definitely stands out from other men?s wedding bands. Shari is very patient and works with you to find you the best possible diamond within your budget. She provides expertise feedback from her heart and will tell you like it is so you are guaranteed to walk out with the best possible stone. Pros: Being able to customize your ring Cons: Are you kidding me? NONE of course! more

We met with Shari at Bjewejed on Walton Street. The store is a neat gallery in the Gold Coast. We knew we found the right designer because the store looked different than other jewelry stores. Shari just returned from Italy where she had participated in a Designer Jewelry Exhibition. Her work exceeded our expectations. Shari listened to my fiancee and provided architectural perspective to my fiancee's ideas. Shari did a great job of merging art and architecture. From my perspective as a equity trader I appreciated the Chidexx transparency and market efficiency. Chidexx is a very interesting business model. Again Shari was a great listener in the diamond element of the transaction. Shari located strong diamond candidates with my diamond criteria requirements. I purchased a diamond based upon its visual performance. I am not sure I would have been comfortable buying a diamond without comparing multiple diamonds in similar light senarios. Shari was very patient while I examined and compared the diamonds against each other. She provided unbiased perspective. After performing my own research and vetting of Chidexx I am confident there isn't a better place to buy a diamond and design a ring. Shari helped make an intense transaction fun and enjoyable. Thanks Shari. Pros: Shari is the best. Chidexx pricing and transparency is unparalleled. more

Shari was amazing!! We came to her kind of knowing what we wanted and she was able to steer us in a perfect direction! The ring is amazing and I could not have asked for more! She knew exactly what she was talking about and we were very comfortable taking advice from her. Everyone over there is great!! I highly recommend Shari and her team to anyone who is looking for jewelry. I will be going back to her for all my jewelry needs!! Pros: Great designs, great diamonds, quick service more

Shari and Kevin were able to get the exact diamond that I found at a much lower price. Pros: Pricing, exceptional custom design, great service. more

I don't typically write reviews. I thought enough of Shari and the relationship we developed to make an exception. Shari is a real talent. She was a good listener. Shari challenged some of my diamond research conclusions. Shari brought in a group of diamonds to the Bjeweled location for viewing. She offered unbiased perspective. Shari didn't advocate any diamond. I bought the diamond based upon its performance. Shari provided all the time I needed. Her fun style in presentation made the purchase process comfortable. I also appreciated the transparency of the transaction. I couldn't beat the price with the Wabash Street stores or online vendors. Her design talents are the real deal. I saw some of the design work she has exhibited. Shari showed hundreds of ring design models. The ring I designed with Shari was architecturally different. Shari had alot of activity at the store while I was there. Each person was treated with warmth and kindness. I came in a cautious buyer and left a friend. I would strongly recommend Shari. Pros: Transparent pricing, different designs, Shari is an exceptional designer more

Found Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange ""chidexx"" on the Notre Dame Chicago club Alumni Business Network. I performed a Google search on chidexx and found interesting artlicles including one in Crain's Chicago Business. The place was fun and informal. I did extensive research on the internet looking for good educational sites. Once I felt comfortable with the diamond terms I visited a number of Wabash stores. I made chidexx my last stop. I spoke with Shari on the phone and explained what I was looking for. Shari explained that chidexx doesn't own diamond inventory. Shari felt she was better able to find diamonds meeting my needs if she maintained her independence. Shari was a great listener. We met at Bjeweled Designer Jewelry Collection on Walton Street. Shari was very warm and funny. She had a number of diamonds to review. I found a diamond I liked; however, I made it clear I was not prepared to make a decision that day. I left the store with no pressure to buy. I felt good about her willingness to let me walk. Her diamond skills were great. I bought the diamond a couple of days later. I paid 7% over dealer cost. I looked at the dealer invoice. Her design talent is the best. We saw examples of the work she exhibited in Switzerland. The design we developed with her was a one of a kind piece. She didn't just copy a picture in a magazine. While I was in her store couples stopped to have their rings cleaned. She services what she sells. While the rings were cleaned by the jeweler she had warm conversations with the couples. Her clients become friends. Highly recommend chidexx and Shari. Pros: Unbeatable Pricing, Outstanding Design Experience, the place is fun more

I was looking for a diamond engagement ring and getting frustrated with the high prices and high pressure of the chain and local jewelers. I found the Chicago Diamond Exchange by accident while googling ""Chicago Diamonds"". I made a phone call and talked directly to Kevin on a Tuesday and he asked me some basic questions to find out exactly what diamond I was looking for. By Friday I was sitting with Shari looking at some different options and I picked the diamond I liked the best, so easy and the price was unbeatable. After picking out the diamond, my fiance worked hand in hand with Shari creating the perfect setting. Shari was an expert at letting her know what would look good and what wouldn't, which helped mold the vision my fiance had into the perfect engagement setting. Also, we live 2 1/2 hours away so we did most of the communication over the phone or email. Its nice to know that when you call either Kevin or Shari answers the phone and you can talk directly to who you need to be working with. We couldn't be happier with our experience and am recomending it to everyone we know. Pros: Selection, Service, and most of all PRICE!!! more

CHIDEXX provided the best shopping experience to my fiance? and I when we were making one of the most significant jewelry purchases of our lives. They offered the best in price, expertise and service amongst all of the other jewelers we visited and consulted with along the way. Shari and Kevin are tremendous people and their genuine character was represented in their approach to their business and their clients. At every turn we were surprised but moreover impressed by their genuineness and extreme professionalism. Shari?s honesty and knowledge was truly amazing when it came to the details regarding stones, metals and the overall design and workability of each facet together. In an environment of snakes and vultures trying to sell less than sub par or mediocre diamonds as top quality at the most ridiculous of prices, it was refreshing and redeeming to come across CHIDEXX. Hands down we will purchase all of our major jewelry selections from CHIDEXX, because we have clearly witnessed and experienced the authenticity of what integrity and professionalism is and should be when it comes to such a significant and meaningful purchase. My engagement ring is absolutely beautiful and truly unique and I smile every time I look at it and it is almost a year later. We are in the process now of designing our wedding bands with Shari for our upcoming wedding in October 2008. CHIDEXX truly is a diamond to us, aces among aces. If you are in the market for beautiful, unique jewelry, wedding related or not, CHIDEXX should be your first and only stop. But in the event you try a few other jewelers first as we did, you will be blown away by the service, value and expertise provided by Shari and Kevin in comparison to what is offered elsewhere. Pros: Expertise, Service and Value more

I recently was in the market for a diamond engagement ring and contacted Kevin via the Chidexx website. He immediately put me in touch with Shari, who helped identify the stone I was looking for in my price range. She helped me pick out an absolutely gorgeous stone and setting that was exactly what I envisioned. My fiancee absolutely loved it. Kevin and Shari were very easy to deal with and made the whole experience a pleasure. I also believe I paid much less buying from them than I would have anywhere else. Absolutely recommended! Pros: Price, Personal service more

I met the owners of Chicago Diamond & Jewelry Exchange (CDJE) during a trip to Chicago, when I was shopping for a 25th anniversity present for my wife. Needless to say, we were looking for something special. However, since both my wife and I are CPAs, we were also looking for the best value. Not only did they deliver exceptional value, but the stones/jewelry were of truly outstanding quality. They also worked with my wife to customize the settings and design that she wanted. While we live 1500 miles away, we still consider CDJE our personal jewelers. Great personalized service, in a friendly, low-key manner, but very professional. I'm not sure why anyone would want to shop elsewhere! Pros: Value, quality, friendly, personal service, timliness, customization, Cons: Can't think of anything more

Best service and value in the Midwest. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Anyone in the market to buy a diamond should buy from the Chicago Diamond and Jewelry Exchange. Pros: VALUE, SERVICE more