Question 1

Why buy from a jeweler with a showroom instead of an online-only retailer?

Accepted Answer

Because you can look at the stone. Diamonds of identical grades can look meaningfully different, and no photograph or 360 video resolves that. At SVS you sit down with a GIA Graduate Gemologist, see stones side by side under the same light, and decide with them in front of you. Everything after the sale happens in the same building too: sizing, engraving, cleaning, repairs, and the person who sold you the ring.

Question 2

Doesn't an online retailer have more diamonds to choose from?

Accepted Answer

The large online sellers list stones from supplier feeds rather than owned inventory, and we run the same kind of feed with over 10,000 stones searchable on our site. The on-screen count is not the difference. What is different is that we also keep loose diamonds in the showroom that never appear online, hand-selected by our GIA Graduate Gemologists for how they actually look. Those are the stones we pull first when someone sits down with us.

Question 3

Are your salespeople on commission?

Accepted Answer

No. Nobody at SVS works on commission, so there is no reason for anyone here to steer you toward a bigger sale. The job is finding the piece that is genuinely right for you, at a price that feels right, and then being the jeweler you come back to. If a lab grown diamond suits your budget better than a natural one, you will hear that from us. Read our reviews and you will see our team mentioned by name over and over, because the same people are here year after year and they are glad to see you whenever you come in, whether you are buying something or just having a ring checked. We would rather be the jeweler your family comes back to for the next thirty years than close one sale today.

Question 4

Is it cheaper to buy an engagement ring online?

Accepted Answer

Not reliably, and price is the wrong place to start anyway. Two diamonds can carry identical reports and look nothing alike. The report tells you the grades. It does not tell you how the stone actually performs in light, whether the cut is doing its job, or whether that particular stone has life to it. That judgment takes years of looking at thousands of diamonds, and it is what our GIA Graduate Gemologists do before anything reaches the case. We do the sorting so you do not have to. When you compare, compare specifics: same shape, carat, color, clarity, cut grade, same grading lab, and then look at both stones. We run a Diamond Price Match Guarantee on natural diamonds so price is not the reason to buy elsewhere, and diamond purchases paid by wire transfer or bank check in the showroom receive 2% off.

Question 5

Can I bring a diamond I found elsewhere for you to look at?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We would rather you brought it in than guessed. We will tell you plainly what you are looking at, and then we will try to earn your business.

Question 6

Do I need an appointment?

Accepted Answer

No, walk in whenever we are open. An appointment is worth booking for engagement rings and wedding bands so we can set aside a specialist and pull pieces before you arrive. Book an appointment.

Question 7

Can we meet by video if we are not local?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We do virtual appointments, including showing you stones on camera and walking through options with a gemologist.

Question 8

Will you hold a diamond while I decide?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ask us and we will hold the price on a stone for 72 hours while you think it over.

Question 9

Can you send me a ring sizer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ask us and we will mail you one at no charge. If you are nearby, we can also size you properly in the showroom in about a minute, which is more accurate than any mailed sizer.

Question 10

Are your diamonds graded?

Accepted Answer

Loose diamonds we sell carry an independent grading report from GIA or IGI covering cut, color, clarity and carat weight. One point on terminology: GIA and IGI issue grading reports, not certificates. Anyone using the word certificate is being loose with the language.

Question 11

What is the difference between a natural and a lab grown diamond?

Accepted Answer

They share the same chemical composition, crystal structure, hardness and optical properties. One formed underground over time, one was grown in a controlled chamber. Lab grown typically offers more size and quality for the same budget, while natural diamonds have historically held value differently. Neither is the wrong answer and we carry both. How lab grown diamonds are made and graded.

Question 12

Can you tell a lab grown diamond from a natural one?

Accepted Answer

Not by eye, and not with standard gemological tools. SVS is an American Gem Society Accredited Gem Lab, which means AGS has verified we maintain a gem laboratory on the premises with a credentialed gemologist and the required equipment. We screen with a Yehuda Sherlock AI detector: natural against CVD and HPHT lab grown, moissanite and cubic zirconia.

Question 13

Can you tell me what stone is in a ring I already own?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bring it in and we can screen it while you wait. No charge and no obligation. If you need it documented, whether for insurance or an estate, we also do full appraisals in house.

Question 14

Do you sell moissanite?

Accepted Answer

We are selling down our remaining moissanite and will not be reordering it. Once it is gone our showroom will carry natural and lab grown diamonds only. Why we stopped carrying moissanite.

Question 15

How should I balance the 4Cs?

Accepted Answer

Start with cut, because it governs how the stone behaves in light. From there, spend on what you can see at arm's length rather than what shows under a loupe. A specialist can show you the difference between two clarity grades in about ninety seconds, which beats reading about it.

Question 16

Do you carry colored gemstones?

Accepted Answer

Yes, including sapphire, ruby and emerald, both in stock pieces and for custom work.

Question 17

Do you do repairs in house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Jewelry repair, sizing, stone tightening, refinishing and engraving are done at our bench in Oceanside by Jorge T., Master Bench Jeweler, and Oscar H., Master Setter, with more than forty-five years between them. Designer pieces that require factory work are coordinated through the designer. More about repairs.

Question 18

Will you work on jewelry I did not buy from you?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and you are welcome to watch. We have a lounge that looks onto the shop, and our jewelers do not mind an audience. Bring in anything, wherever it came from.

Question 19

What if my piece is under warranty with another jeweler?

Accepted Answer

We are happy to arrange for it to be sent back to the manufacturer so the warranty stays intact.

Question 20

Do you repair watches?

Accepted Answer

Tony T., our In-House Watchmaker, handles routine watch service on site. Tier 1 luxury brands and anything under manufacturer warranty are coordinated with the manufacturer, because that is what protects the warranty. More about watch repair.

Question 21

Do you do engraving?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in house. Riley S. handles engraving and CAD-CAM work, so fonts, lettering and placement are decided with you rather than sent out. More about engraving.

Question 22

Do you do custom design?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our Forever Custom workshop designs and builds one-of-a-kind pieces on premises: CAD design, model approval, casting, setting and final polish. Typically four to eight weeks from design approval. We also redesign heirlooms and reset stones you already own. More about custom design.

Question 23

Can I design my own engagement ring online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our ring builder lets you choose a setting and a diamond and see them together. You can also finish it with us in the showroom, which we would suggest before committing to a stone.

Question 24

Do you clean jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Free, for anyone, whether you bought it here or not. Bring it in any time we are open. More about cleaning.

Question 25

Do you do appraisals?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A complimentary insurance appraisal is included with every engagement ring, wedding ring, and any pendant or earrings over $2,000. Appraisals on other pieces are available on request, prepared by a GIA Graduate Gemologist who is also an AGS Certified Gemologist Appraiser. More about appraisals.

Question 26

Do you buy gold and diamonds?

Accepted Answer

Yes, including estate jewelry. Bring the piece in and we will evaluate it while you wait. More about selling to us.

Question 27

Do you sell pre-owned watches?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We carry pre-owned Rolex and other pre-owned watches. SVS is an independent dealer and not an authorized Rolex dealer, and every pre-owned watch we sell is authenticated by a third-party service before it reaches the case. Browse pre-owned watches.

Question 28

What does shipping cost?

Accepted Answer

Free standard shipping on orders over $75. Priority 2 to 3 day is $20, free over $300. Overnight is $35, free over $599. Every shipment is fully insured and requires a signature. Shipping details.

Question 29

How fast will I get my order?

Accepted Answer

Standard is 2 to 5 days, Priority 2 to 3 days, Overnight next day. Made-to-order and custom pieces run longer, and we will give you the timeline before you commit.

Question 30

Can I pick up in store?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Choose in-store pickup at checkout, or free same-day curbside pickup in Oceanside with no minimum on orders placed by 3pm.

Question 31

Do you deliver locally?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anywhere in Nassau County, same day, flat $25 on orders placed by 3pm. Delivery is handled by our dedicated local courier partner. You receive the driver's name and an ETA before arrival, and the driver carries identification.

Question 32

Do you ship internationally or to APO and FPO addresses?

Accepted Answer

No. We ship within the Continental United States only.

Question 33

Is my package discreet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Orders arrive in unmarked outer packaging with your jewelry in signature SVS packaging inside. We can also ship to an office or hold for pickup if the surprise matters.

Question 34

Do you charge sales tax?

Accepted Answer

We collect New York sales tax on orders shipped to New York addresses.

Question 35

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

Fourteen days from delivery for a full refund or exchange on in-stock purchases, provided the piece shows no wear and all tags are attached. Call us within those fourteen days and include the receipt with the return. If something does not fit, we will make as many adjustments as it takes. Full return policy.

Question 36

What cannot be returned?

Accepted Answer

Custom pieces, personalized jewelry, engraved items, special orders and final clearance items. Each of those is made or priced specifically for you.

Question 37

Who pays return shipping?

Accepted Answer

Outbound shipping is free on orders over $75. Return shipping is your responsibility.

Question 38

Is there a warranty on my engagement ring?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every engagement ring purchased at SVS, in store or online, includes our Lifetime Warranty at no charge and with no opt-in. It covers lifetime cleaning and microscopic inspection, prong tightening, minor re-tipping, stone tightening, one-time complimentary resizing after the initial fitting, and replacement of a lost round diamond up to 0.20 total carat weight, natural, lab grown or moissanite. Refinishing and rhodium plating are not included; those fall under the Montage Care Plan. It applies to engagement rings with natural, lab grown or gemstone centers. Fancy cuts, fancy colors and invisible-set rings are excluded from diamond replacement, and eternity and invisible-set rings cannot be resized. Full warranty details.

Question 39

Do I have to do anything to keep my warranty valid?

Accepted Answer

Yes, one thing: bring the ring in twice a year. The six-month inspection is what keeps coverage active for life. We clean it, check the prongs and side stones under magnification, tighten anything that has moved, and update your record in the Preferred database. Preferred emails you 30 days and 14 days before each inspection is due, so the warranty does not lapse by accident. It takes a few minutes and it is the reason most lost stones never happen.

Question 40

What happens to my warranty if I move away from Long Island?

Accepted Answer

It goes with you. SVS is the only Preferred Jewelers International member on Long Island, part of a network of 145+ vetted independent retailers across 33 states. Your ring is recorded in the Preferred database at purchase, so inspections and warranty service can be handled at any member store nationwide. The coverage follows the ring, not the zip code.

Question 41

Does the Lifetime Warranty cover wedding bands?

Accepted Answer

No, engagement rings only. Wedding bands carry the designer's manufacturer warranty, plus free lifetime cleaning and in-house service here.

Question 42

Do you offer a protection plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Montage Jewelry Care is available at the time of purchase on bridal and on everything else we sell. It covers repair or replacement for accidental damage, mechanical breakdown and wear-related issues during normal wear, plus specific maintenance repairs for the life of the agreement. Homeowners insurance covers loss, theft, fire and mysterious disappearance. Montage covers the gaps between those, which is why the two work well together.

Question 43

Can I trade up my diamond later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through our Natural Diamond Upgrade Program. It applies to natural diamond engagement rings and natural diamond studs, and it covers the center stone rather than the setting. Lab grown diamonds are not eligible. Upgrade program details.

Question 44

Do you price match?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on natural diamonds. Bring us a comparable stone advertised elsewhere and we will match a qualified competitor's price. Lab grown diamonds are excluded. Price match details.

Question 45

Should I insure my jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we will give you the appraisal to do it. We do not sell insurance ourselves. More about insuring your jewelry.

Question 46

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Online, our checkout runs on Stripe and accepts all major cards, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and Cash App Pay, plus Affirm and Klarna if you want to pay over time, with no separate application or account. In the showroom we also take wire transfer and bank check.

Question 47

Do you offer a discount for paying by wire or bank check?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Diamond purchases paid by wire transfer or bank check in the showroom receive 2% off. Card processing costs money, and we would rather hand that back to you than to a processor.

Question 48

Do you offer financing?

Accepted Answer

Two ways. In the showroom, financing through the American Gem Society Credit Card issued by Wells Fargo. Apply in store or online beforehand so you know your range while you shop. Online, Affirm and Klarna appear at checkout with terms shown before you commit. Financing details.

Question 49

Do you offer layaway?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in-house layaway. How layaway works.

Question 50

Do you offer a discount for military or first responders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bring your ID to the showroom and we will take care of you. Details for military and first responders.

Question 51

Can I design my own personalized piece online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our personalization designer builds name necklaces, initial pendants, dates, zodiac signs and signet rings in 10K or 14K gold with three diamond quality tiers, showing the price as you go. Submit it and our team confirms the details with you before payment.

Question 52

How long does a personalized piece take?

Accepted Answer

About four weeks from confirmed order. Personalized pieces are made specifically for you and are final sale.

Question 53

Can you modify a designer piece?

Accepted Answer

Modifications to designer pieces are carried out by the designer and facilitated by us, which keeps the manufacturer warranty intact. Anything we make ourselves, we can change ourselves.

Question 54

Can you use stones I already own?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bring the stones or the piece and we will design around them.

Question 55

How long have you been in business?

Accepted Answer

Since 2003. We moved into our current Oceanside showroom in 2013, now over 4,000 square feet, and we have been there ever since. Locally owned and locally loved.

Question 56

Where are you and when are you open?

Accepted Answer

3323 Long Beach Road, Oceanside NY 11572. Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 8pm, closed Sunday. Call (516) 766-2614 or text (516) 346-5355.

Question 57

Who will I be working with?

Accepted Answer

A team of fifteen, including two GIA Graduate Gemologists and master jewelers at the bench. The same people year after year, which is the part that matters when you come back in ten years to have the ring checked. Meet the team.

Question 58

What organizations does SVS belong to?

Accepted Answer

SVS is a member of the American Gem Society and an AGS Accredited Gem Lab, which requires a gem laboratory on the premises supervised by a credentialed gemologist and equipped to a published standard. We are also members of Preferred Jewelers International, the Independent Jewelers Organization, the Retail Jewelers Organization, and Continental Buying Group. More about our memberships.

Question 59

Have you been recognized in the industry or the community?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our awards and community involvement.

Question 60

Are you hiring?

Accepted Answer

Every now and then. Most of our team has been here for years, which is exactly how we like it, but occasionally we expand and add another rock star to the lineup. If you are the kind of person who wants to help people celebrate life's brightest moments, get in touch and we will see whether there is space for you. Careers at SVS.

Question 61

What does SVS stand for?

Accepted Answer

Sami V. Saatchi, our founder. When we opened in 2003 we wanted something shorter than the full name over the door, and the initials were the easiest answer. It stuck.

Question 62

Can you redesign a ring I no longer wear?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Redesign is one of the most common projects at our bench. Bring the piece to our Oceanside showroom and we will look at it together: what the stones are, what condition the setting is in, and what could be made from it. Rings become pendants, earrings, right-hand rings, or an entirely new ring. There is no obligation to decide anything at that first appointment, and no charge to talk it through.

Question 63

What are my options for an engagement ring I no longer want?

Accepted Answer

There are three, and they are worth understanding before you choose. You can sell it, which is fastest but means letting go of the stone. You can keep it as it is, which costs nothing and leaves the decision for later. Or you can have the stone reset into something you would actually wear, which keeps the value of the diamond while changing the piece entirely. We can walk you through all three, including what your ring is realistically worth if you did sell it, so the decision is an informed one rather than an emotional one made under pressure.

Question 64

Can you reset my diamond into a different piece of jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your center stone can be removed and reset into a pendant, a right-hand ring, earrings, or a new ring in a different style entirely. Our master setter, Oscar H., has 25+ years at the bench and does this work in our Oceanside showroom, so your stones never leave the building. If you would like to watch the stone come out and go back in, you are welcome to sit at the bench while it happens.

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