My family and I have done business with Mary Weber for 10-15 years now. When my girlfriend and I began talking about engagement and marriage, I trusted no one but Mary to design our rings. She is a highly respected gemologist with a graduate degree. She goes out of her way to make sure that you are an educated buyer so that you are confident in your purchase. I knew I wanted something different for my ring and settled on having a yellow sapphire as the center stone. Mary ordered stones from 8 individual sapphire dealers so that my girlfriend and I could have a good idea of what is available and what our different options were. We settled on a beautiful unheated cushion-cut yellow sapphire (it is very difficult to find sapphires that are not heat-treated, for those who are not experienced buyers). My ring is stunning. People stop me all the time to ask me where I got it. I have also experienced people doing full-body double-takes, particularly in elevators for some reason. Haha! Design process: I noticed a review where someone complained about Mary's suggestion to look for ideas online. This is a very common suggestion, and a good one at that. It's one of the first things my girlfriend and I did even before we went ring shopping so that I might get a basic idea of what I wanted. It's too bad that suggestion was somehow taken the wrong way. (...Spammer possibly?) I printed out/emailed images of several different rings to Mary so that we could discuss design features of different rings, including what kind of features were complementary to one another and what features may not look right with the three stones that we had picked out. After meeting several times, she emailed us 3-D CAD images from her designer, and my girlfriend and I were able to tweak several things we liked from there. The entire process of selecting stones and adjusting the custom design did take between 1-2 months. This is to be expected. Significant pieces of jewelry like this are emotionally charged and are passed down in families. Many people take more time than this. Experiences other places: We had also tried on rings at Calvin's to get an idea of what style ring I might like. I was not very impressed with Calvin's, despite their impressive reputation. Their customer service seemed nice upfront, but I knew from experiences with Mary Weber that the prices they charged were exorbitant for the quality that I would get. This was disappointing and really tainted the experience there. I look young for my age (I'm actually 28), and I felt like the salesperson was talking to me as if I were a kid. Two things: (1) I have excellent credit, so it was not wise to underestimate me there, and (2) I don't make a big purchase without knowing what I'm doing, so don't talk down to me! Anyone else out there who looks young for their age surely feels my pain on those two points. I tried on a ring at Calvin's that was priced at $26,000... Mary and I designed a more beautiful ring for half of that. Not only is the design more personal to me, but my ring has more stones and it is made of a higher quality metal than what Calvin's offered at that price. After we left Calvin's, and particularly after we had browsed a few other stores/internet sites (read: bluenile.com, diamondsbylauren.com, Kruger's, Benold's, Zales.... and many others), I felt lucky that I already knew Mary. I didn't even go into Jared. I have several friends and family members that refer to stores like Jared and Zales as 'trash collectors' because they have such an awful reputation for selling mediocre stones to unwitting customers. Definitely be careful in those places. It is always(!!!) best to buy from a graduate gemologist certified by GIA. read more

I recently purchased an engagement ring from Five Star Jewelry Brokers and was blown away by the final product. I purchased the ring a few months back and wanted to wait to write a review because I wanted to see if I still loved it as much as I did the moment I saw the ring for the first time. I still do, and so does she. It is beautiful!!!!! I had a diamond that was given to me by my fiancé's mother and I really wanted to use it in the ring. I started my search at the jewelers in the Domain and Barton Creek Mall. I looked at rings and settings to see what I liked and what would fit in my budget. I learned a lot from all the place's I visited, but I didn't find anything that blew me away and some of the places I visited were lacking in customer service. I won't name names, but one place said they would call me back with answers to my questions on 2 separate visits, but never called. Other places tried to push me to buy on the spot even though I was just trying to get ideas. On recommendation from my father, who has purchased several pieces from Five Star Jewelry Brokers, I met with Mary Weber. They have a great selection of rings and settings, but most were out of my price range. She then told me about how they could create a ring around the stone and I would even have the ability to customize it. This really appealed to me because I wanted to give my fiancé something unique, but I was concerned about price being a custom ring. I wanted to think about it so I decided to come back at a later date. Mary was great and did not try and push me into something on the spot. I came back and talked to Mary about what my budget was and she said she could make a ring that would be at minimum as good as all the others and I would get to decide how it looked, I was sold. It took six weeks for the ring to get made and it was well worth the wait. When I picked the ring up I was stunned. I almost went straight to my fiancé's work and proposed, but I knew better than that. I was so proud when I proposed and she saw the ring and was speechless. She said yes of course. I can't stress enough how good my experience has been with Five Star Jewelry Brokers and Mary Weber. I received a custom made ring with touches that I wanted at a price less than I would have paid for a comparable off-the-shelf setting at the other jewelers and the quality of the ring is beyond exceptional. The ring absolutely shines and the accent stones that were used match the center stone perfectly. My fiancé gets complements on it all the time. It looks like a much more expensive ring then it is and my fiancé loves it. From now on I will be going to Five Star Jewelry Broker's for my jewelry needs. Do yourself a favor and visit Mary Weber at Five Star Jewelers. read more

We highly recommend Mary Weber and her trustworthy, knowledgeable establishment! We needed to have jewelry from an estate appraised and Mary Weber's credentials were very impressive. At our first meeting Mary Weber came to our home almost two hours from Austin with all her professional equipment. She took photos of each piece and promptly returned the written appraisal at a reasonable cost. We have had her personalized customer service and professional attention from the start. Several weeks later, I decided to have some of these pieces re-worked so I drove to Austin to see for myself the establishment. To my surprise I was very impressed with the area. The business is located in a nice professional plaza in an excellent district of Austin, and was not on the second floor. In the store you will find some of the finest up-to-date pieces of jewelry in their inventory -a very nice store! We went through several of my pieces to be re-worked, and she was able to fix 10 pieces of jewelry for me ready within a few hours by her associate -whether she farms out or not. I personally experienced first hand her associate's quality workmanship with the 10 pieces he fixed for me that day. One piece he fixed my jeweler could not. I did bring photos of designs I liked and she creatively re-purpose these pieces so I can enjoy them. I left her more jewelry to be re-worked that will be done quickly. Of these pieces of jewelry old clip-on's were re-purposed into stud jackets for me -how fun! Mary Weber's Certified Senior Appraiser credentials are what brought us to Five Star Jewelry Brokers. You too, will definitely have a "five star experience" at Five Star Jewelry Brokers & Gemologists. We have! Best of all, we don't even live near Austin! Now that's outstanding 'five star' service. I appreciate all your help, and I also value your professionalism. It's been a pleasure doing business with you! Thanks Mary! read more

I saw a ton of jewelers looking for an engagement ring, but when I finally met Kelly I knew I didn't need to go anywhere else. I'm from Austin but for the last two years have been living in San Antonio for school. So, going into town to come and work with her on the ring should have been extremely difficult and time consuming...especially since I had none. But it was the opposite. After a few consultations Kelly knew exactly what I wanted, and so much so that there came a point where I didn't even have to drive into Austin to look at every diamond she got in. She knew exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted; If in the shipment she received the diamonds weren't perfect then she'd call and let me know that I didn't need to bother coming in to look at them. She said she would know when she found the one, and I knew she would find the perfect one for my fiancé (AND for my pocket book.) Kelly wound up finding the most beautiful diamond and more importantly a high quality beautiful diamond that I was more than proud to give to my girl of seven years, and at a great price. It was such a painless process and I highly recommend them for any jewelry needs. You're not going to feel more comfortable and better taken care of anywhere else. That's the number one reason I chose to buy from Kelly because I can't stand being pressured into buying anything and feeling uncomfortable especially when I'm making the biggest and most important purchase of my life. As long as Kelly is in the jewelry business, no other jeweler is getting anything from me. Go see her. I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

Mary Weber over at 5 Star really came through for me when I needed to custom design an engagement ring for my fiance. I had tried a couple other diamond brokers who came highly recommended by friends, but neither worked out for various reasons. I kind of stumbled onto 5 star and boy am I glad I did. Mary was able to give me a fantastic price on a 2 carat emerald cut VVS1 diamond center stone and was also able to provide me with a custom built 19K gold setting with 2 side stones. I am a very detail oriented and picky customer, which is one of the things that turned off the other jewelers, but Mary was very patient with me and answered all my questions. She even sent me full color CAD models that showed me almost exactly what the finished product would look like. I was on a tight timeline because I came to her in November and needed the diamond before Thanksgiving. From the time I gave her the go ahead, she was able to deliver the finished ring in less than 2 weeks. My fiance loved it and said that it was literally the ring she had been dreaming of. I am very thankful for Mary, because she was able to make my vision for a ring come true even despite my own uncertainties and numerous questions about the process. I highly recommend 5 Star Jewelry! read more

Five Stars for Five Star Jewelry!!! I knew my fiance wanted a particular setting for her engagement ring, so I started calling up all of the local places in Austin that carried that line. This was my first time shopping for jewelry at this level, and Kelly quickly differentiated herself from everyone else I had been talking to. While others pushed a sales pitch and tried to talk me into a decision, Kelly listened to my objectives and educated me. She had samples flown in overnight that I could view. When I thought I needed a certain grade, she helped me understand at which level it made a difference to the naked eye vs. under 30x magnification. She helped me build my dream ring, even if it meant she wouldn't be getting the full commission. When I was flying in and needed my ring that night, she was willing to make arrangements so that I could pick it up after business hours. That is going above and beyond. That is building a trust-based relationship. That is how you earn a customer for life. Thank You Kelly!!! read more

I took some emerald jewelry that I purchased on the internet to them to get an independent appraisal for insurance, but mostly to make sure I wasn't ripped off. Mary Weber is the appraisal specialist and I was very impressed with her knowledge and expertise. She took one look at the gemstones and knew exactly where they were mined from. She had electronic equipment to measure the gold and diamond quality of the fittings. She carefully explained any flaws she found and took very detailed notes of everything including careful examination under a microscope. This was all done while I waited for the necklace and earrings I brought in. She didn't provide the value that day because she had to do research using the notes she took. The very next day I received a detailed report on each piece showing not just the value, but the substantiation of how that value was determined. I was very pleased with this service and would recommend it to anyone needing appraisal for fine jewelry. read more

Five Star Jewelry exceeds all our expectations - and we live out of state. All of our family and extended family use Mary and Kelly for all their important purchases because we trust them. Most of our purchases have been custom pieces that were effectively completed despite being out of state. We know they will give us the best quality gems for a fair and competitive price. Mary's eduction and qualifications put her at the top of her industry. Kelly's knowledge and abilities compliment Mary's achievements. Together, they are beyond amazing - service oriented, attentive listeners, quick to respond, caring and loyal. This is a boutique jewelry store that delivers! No doubt, this is the place to go for the most discriminating buyer. Thank you, Five Star Jewelry for all the years of helping us and our extended family here in California. We look forward to many more years of doing business together. read more

I worked with Mary, at Five Star Jewelers, in 2011 to get a diamond appraisal and create a custom engagement ring for my bride-to-be. The diamond appraisal was fast and efficient. Mary provided a professional valuation, with documentation, at a very reasonable price. After the appraisal, Mary asked where I planned to have the ring designed. I told her that I was planning to work with a designer in Houston. After listening to my basic ideas, she came up with a unique design that was perfectly suited for my fiancé. I decided right then and there to let her design and make the engagement ring. A couple weeks later, I had a beautiful engagement ring that I could not wait to give to my girlfriend. Mary was great throughout the process, very courteous and professional. We also has our wedding rings custom made and Mary helped us the entire way. read more

I was super nervous about approaching a smaller owned jewelry store. I had this idea that the prices would be extravagant and that my look (pretty tattooed) would be looked down upon. I was so wrong. Mary was very helpful and knowledgeable. I appreciated her education background which put me at ease when she did an insurance appraisal for my ring. I asked her many questions and she was very good about answering me and not blowing me off. The price was reasonable, $125. I wish I had gotten her assistants name, but she was so lovely and approachable. While Mary was busy testing my ring for authenticity her assistant talked to me and was very genuine in her demeanor. It was overall a great experience. I will be going back to her store in a couple of months to buy my engagement ring, which was also priced appropriately for what it offered. Thank y'all!! read more

I have known and worked with Mary and Kelly for as long as they have done business in the Westlake area. I am thrilled they are back in the neighborhood. For my 60th birthday they created an outstanding gift for me, adding beautiful and unique diamonds to a keepsake necklace given to me by my parents 39 years ago. They kept the integrity of the piece, and added just the right 'bling' to it. I LOVE it! Sadly, on a recent trip I lost an anniversary gift/tennis bracelet - when I went in to talk about the necklace, and possibly replacing the bracelet (which would have been prohibitively expensive for me) they happened to have the perfect bracelet ON SALE. I have come to count on them for their quality gemstones, excellent service and fair prices for exquiste pieces of jewelery. They do incredible custom work as well routine, excellent repairs. read more

Truly a fantastic experience! My fiancé and I went there not knowing much about engagement rings and Kelly did an amazing job helping us design the perfect ring with the labradorite we brought in. She was so patient and answered all our questions and never made us feel rushed when it came time to make a decision. When our labradorite developed a crack in the final stages of production - they made it right with a new stone and even threw in a pair of matching labradorite earrings for the trouble! My ring turned out exactly how we wanted and my fiancé also found his perfect wedding ring there. We can't recommend them enough and are so happy we chose a locally-owned business rather than a national chain. Kelly and Mary are so easy to work with and they create beautiful pieces. Go see them, you won't be disappointed! read more

5 Star Jewelry worked with me to create beautiful, custom engagement and wedding rings that were within the budget my husband of 20 years gave me. I wanted an oval center stone, which is notoriously difficult to buy online, but Mary had some in store and brought two more in so that I could have my pick. I choose one of the stones that she had in store... and I just adore it! Price was great and to be able to choose from a few with the exact specifications that I wanted?! Priceless! The custom pieces I ended up with are just stunning. Mary and the jeweler worked very hard to ensure a gorgeous final product and it was a success! Additionally, their customer service is excellent, Ritz-Carlton excellent. Ashley is kind, efficient, and conscientious. Highly recommend! read more

The words "professional" and "responsive" come to mind when I think back on my engagement ring purchase experience with Five Star Jewelry Brokers. I contacted Mary Weber, told her what I was looking for, and shortly after our discussion, she had everything ready for me to view. Bottom line: she didn't waste my time or her time. She had diamonds in the range that I requested and the setting that I requested. The end result was a beautiful engagement ring at a good price. Mary went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with my purchase, she coordinated with the manufacturer to handle sizing, and always provided timely updates via e-mail and phone. If you want quality jewelry and excellent customer service, I strongly recommend contacting Five Star Jewelry Brokers. read more

I had gone to several jewelry stores before I came to Five Star Jewelry. When I arrived, I knew that I was at the right place. Mary was so friendly and knowledgable about diamonds. She explained to me how they broker diamonds and were able to sell diamonds for way below what it cost at other stores. They taught me what I needed to know about the different qualities of diamonds. They did not pressure me which is what I hated about the other stores. I did not buy on the first visit but after visiting still another store I knew I was going to go back to Five Star. Untimately, I bought a custom-made platinum engagement ring and a beautiful princess cut diamond. The ring exceeded all of my expectations! I would definitely recommend them! read more

I live in SC and I wanted some information and potentially buy some diamond earrings. I had heard about Five Star from my son and so I gave them a try, once Mary understood what I was looking for she was relentless in finding exactly what I wanted in the price range that I needed and let me tell you this wasn't easy for Mary in understanding exactly what I wanted because I changed so many times. What I respect about Mary is that she respected my changes, was very patient with me and researched my request as much as she could and until I was satisfied. She always let me know what were my options. The one word that comes to mind when I think about this store and Mary is Integrity and that means a great deal. Thank you!!!!! read more

Kelly and Mary get a 5 star rating..just like their name. I purchased a watch online last August that boasts of changeable bands. I was having lots of trouble changing the bands...I sent it back to the online company since they said they sell and service the watches. They flat told there was nothing wrong...and they don't deal with band issues. I called Kelly and since we live outside Austin I mailed my watch to her. She took it from there, and I received it back yesterday. I'm now able to easily change the bands, even with my arthritic fingers and hands. Kelly rocks. I'm so glad I found this little 'jewel' of a company. Thanks to Mary and Kelly for their friendly, prompt service. read more

If 6 star we're available I'd check those. Mary and her staff are the absolute best at what they do. I wanted my fiancé to have the perfect engagement ring. I hunt I fish I work hard. ... I don't do rings. I spent weeks pricing rings through wholesalers, Internet , retailers and found that it was a huge waist of time. Five star had by far the best price, service, professionalism and simplicity. Since I bought the ring I've added to it and had it resized. They'll do it custom for your lady. Don't waist time looking somewhere else. Mary and her staff will take care of everything!!! Im more than happy to leave my email if you have any more questions. cbusspro@yahoo.com read more

I began looking for a jeweler in Austin that carried tacori after I recieved a tacori engagement ring 2 years ago. After findinh five star I made a appointment to get my matching band! I have been beyond impressed with mary and kelly's service not only did they treat me amazing but they also helped me find a wedding band for my fiance wven though I didnt have a large budget. Kelly has made sure even my engagement ring (which I did not purchase from them) is not loose and cleaned! I prefer this intimate mpre personalized experience when I buy something im going to wear forever! I will for sure use five star for all my jewelry needs and recommend them to anyone who asks! read more