When it came time for me to begin researching an engagement ring for my girlfriend, I wanted to start at the heart of Jewelers Row on Sansom St in Philadelphia. This is my second marriage, and my budget was considerably higher than when I was 22 years old. First I determined the jewelry shops I'd be visiting on that Friday - I took an entire day off work, and headed into downtown with a small notebook, an idea of the type of band, setting, and cut of diamond I preferred, and a budget in mind. I stopped-in to Barsky, Sydney Rosen, Safian & Rudolph, Harzin, and Frank Salese - in that order. The first four jewelers' names I recognized, while Frank Salese came recommended by a close friend whose parents and himself have been buying their family jewelry from Frank Salese for several decades. I would order my level of satisfaction with the first four merchants as Harzin, Sydney Rosen, Barsky, and finally Safian & Rudolph. I purposefully made Frank Salese my last stop. All four I visited first had a level of education and salesiness - if that's a word. My goal for that day was to be educated, not sold. And I was not swayed by the size, looks inside, or outside of any of these shops, and they did vary widely. Barksy and Harzin showed me ring settings and diamonds that met my preferences and budget and presented options that I felt could be in-the-running as possible selections. Both were willing to customize the ring in any way all the way to a fully custom setting. So options abound and I felt like I could get exactly what I wanted at these two jewelers. In the mid afternoon that day, I walked into Frank Salese and was greeted by Massimino Russello, "Massey" for short. I was told by my friends to ask for Massey because of the positive feedback and the long-term relationship my friend and his parents have with Massey. I sat down, introduced myself, and told Massey why I was there, the other shops I had visited before his, what I was looking for, my budget, and what I had already seen that day. The first thing Massey did was establish a relationship with me, and asked me about me and my girlfriend. I felt he wanted to know who we were before diving in, and no other jeweler took the time to lay this ground work. Once Massey understood the style of ring and diamond cut I wanted, and what I had already seen that day, he began educating me on what's important and what defines higher and lower quality stones in the cut I wanted. I realized from that discussion that what I had already seen that day were in fact not the highest quality stones I could get in my budget. Massey had a few stones on-hand that were excellent examples of the type of cut I wanted and explained all the details, went over the four-Cs of each, and showed me the GIA certificates of each one. While I eliminated those first few stones, within an hour Massey had already helped me understand what I could get within my budget and the characteristics that were important for the type of cut I wanted. Massey asked if I could come back in a few days after he could get a couple diamonds that were in my budget, and that he felt were high quality excellent diamonds. On my second visit, he nailed it - He showed me an absolutely gorgeous diamond in the cut I wanted. Then we discussed the setting, and here is where Massey blew me away. My girlfriend's favorite color is green, and although her birthstone is not emerald, I wanted something very special in her ring; something one rarely if ever sees in an engagement ring. Massey showed me a gorgeous setting with fine scroll-work, and a split shank with small diamonds up the middle of the split shank on both sides of the band. He suggested replacing those small diamonds with emeralds and I thought that was brilliant, but I really wanted to "see" what that would look like. He walked in the back for 2 minutes, came back, and the diamonds were colored green!! He did the simplest little thing that closed the sale - he took a green sharpee marker and colored the little diamonds green. That helped me visualize exactly what my girlfriend's ring would look like! Sold! Massey worked further with me to tweak the band and halo design, took my deposit and we completed the sale. My girlfriend has two daughters - 19 and 13 and I wanted to get the two of them a matching piece of jewelry with similar gems as the engagement ring. My first thought was a tennis bracelet but realized that the cost would be out of my budget. But Massey came-through again with an excellent suggestion to have two pendant necklaces made with a diamond surrounded by emeralds. The pendant he showed me has a similar look to the engagement ring and I am sure her daughters will love them. Massey is a wonderful jeweler, and a wonderful person himself. He took the time to establish a relationship with me, didn't try to oversell me, and I felt he gave me a very good price based on other rings I had seen during my shopping process. I would highly recommend! read more

Ten years ago we came to Massey at Frank Salese Fine Diamonds for a diamond ring. We bought it, got it home, and after a month, I decided that I wanted to switch out the outer diamonds. I hesitated first because I didn't want to offend my husband and then hesitated again because I didn't want to face a challenge at the store. Massey told me to bring it in, I explained what I wanted to change, he understood, and we changed it. I paid a bit more because the diamonds I chose were a bit different in color, but I was totally happy. Ten years later, the ring is still beautiful and I have stopped in over the years and asked him to clean it, no problem. We stopped recently because we (I) wanted to add a band to the ring. I explained what I wanted and Massey took a lot of time to understand what I wanted. He created a wax for the band so that it fit with my ring of 10 years ago (and also took the 10 year old ring and polished it to the point of which it looked brand new). I specifically told him that I wanted diamonds that match the diamonds in my current ring and I want them bigger than in most bands. We just picked it up and I will say that I was hesitant that the diamonds may not be to my liking. I told Massey before he showed me the finished product that if I'm not happy, I'm just going to tell you, I just wanted to be straight with him. He smiled. He showed me the new ring and I was very pleased. The band was beautiful and the diamond selection was great. He told me he went through 40 diamonds to pick the 10. He did a fine job. He is good at what he does. The price seems quite fair for the level of quality. I think you have to be selective in where you go on and around jewelers row. There are surely many shops that aren't that interested in a repeat customer, but making a quick sale of poor quality pieces. Frank Salese has been there for 40 years in a shop that is not super fancy, but a working shop. You aren't just talking to a salesperson, but to a person who buys, sells, designs and knows his product. read more

After weeks of feeling overwhelmed while looking for an engagement ring, I had the great fortune of walking into Frank Salese Fine Diamonds. They are a small business on jewelers row and not the impersonal corporate environment that you would find in most other places. Massey, a very nice guy at the shop with decades of experience, took the time to educate me on the fundamentals of what is important while looking for a ring. He also went through the process of explaining the mathematical equation of what makes a diamond sparkle. I really appreciated the fact that he wasn't trying to pressure me to buy anything the moment that I walked through the door. He was trying to teach me and he took all the time that was needed to help put my mind at ease. Also, I found it reassuring that the prices at Frank Salese Fine Diamonds are more than reasonable. When I decided to custom design the engagement ring - Massey went through each step and every detail with meticulous care. The ring turned out to look even more beautiful than I had invisioned. My fiancée and I are returning to Massey to purchase our wedding bands this week. I would strongly recommend to anyone that is in the market for a piece of jewelry that you go to Frank Salese Fine Diamonds and work with Massey. You can be assured that he is always there if the store is open, and he takes his business with each customer very seriously. We have recommended Massey to others, and we recommend him to you too! read more

My fiancee and I met with Massey from Frank Salese after about a year and a half after we were first engaged. I had bought me custom engagement ring from a different custom ring designer because I knew my fiancee's style and I knew she didn't want her ring to be off the rack, she wanted it to be sentimental and one of a kind that I had helped design. I ended up going to Frank Salese and finding Massey behind the counter because my fiancee's dad had been to that jewelry store years prior and I had seen some of their work done in person. Going in to a jewelry store blind, you never really know what you're gonna end up taking home. Massey was able to show me a range of diamonds in many different shapes, cuts and clarities for different price points as well as incorporating diamonds from my fiancee's late mother earrings so that her mom could always be with her and that a lot to both of us. I feel like Massey went way above and beyond over the course of 4 different meetings with him to help us find the perfect diamond for my Fiancee's engagement ring as well as steering us in the right direction to find her a perfect wedding band to match, both with custom inscriptions! My overall feeling towards Frank Salese was truly unbeatable and Massey's experience and knowledge really was able to shine through. I would recommend going to Frank Salese Jewelers for the very first time and every time after! read more

Buying a diamond, especially for the one you love, can be an extremely intimidating experience. Couple that with the bright lights and massive storefronts of Jeweler's Row and you're going to find yourself exasperated in no time. When you walk in to Frank Salese's jewlery store, things are different. Invariably, you will be met with the warm welcome of Massey Russello, the gemologist and custom ring designer. The store is small, yet cozy, and you'll notice dozens of pictures and cards from married couples of the past proudly displayed for customers to see. These guys really care about the business they're in and what it means to be buying a ring which signifies spending a lifetime with the one you love. Massey is a true professional who did his part to educate me about a diamond's cut, clarity and color. He allowed me to see each diamond under a microscope and was sure to point any flaws it may contain, and at the end of the day he sold me an amazing GIA certified diamond for a fantastic price (even gave me a 10% discount for finding him on FindMyJeweler.com). I was satisfied enough with my experience that I even took my fiance back to see Massey and he was able to expertly craft a wedding band to match the engagement ring. I couldn't be happier with my experience at Frank Salese's Fine Diamonds and I would recommend Massey's services to anyone in the market for a beautiful piece of jewelry. read more

I was in the market for an engagement ring and I didn't know the first thing about diamonds. I went into Frank Salese and Massey couldn't have been any more welcoming and understanding. He took over two hours to sit and explain the differences in color, clarity, ratios, sizes, etc. Massey could've just sold me the first ring he pulled out because I wouldn't have known the difference but he took the time to ask about my (now) fiance, what she was like, what kind of ring she would like and showed me everything that fit my criteria. He then designed a beautiful ring from scratch to help me surprise my fiance. My fiance was stunned when I was able to take the time to tell her all about the color and clarity of her ring - that's all thanks to Massey. Perhaps the most impressive part of the whole experience was Massey following up the day after I proposed to find out how it went, if she liked the ring and if I needed anything else from him. I took my fiance in to meet Massey and he took the time to answer all of her questions regarding the ring, cleaning it, protecting it, etc. I left Massey and Frank Salese with everything I needed plus some. I couldn't recommend Frank Salese Fine Diamonds any more and I implore you to give Massey a visit if you're in the market. You won't regret it. read more

In the summer of 2014 my husband and I ventured to Jewelers Row Philadelphia. We are eternally grateful that we happened upon Frank Salese Fine Diamonds. My husband and I were not exactly sure what kind of wedding bands we were looking for, but we had a good idea and we knew that we would know when we saw them. After looking through and leaving several other jewelers store's not quite satisfied with what we found, we finally entered Frank Salese Fine Diamonds! Upon meeting Massey and after interacting with him we were enthused to find a knowledgeable, talented and genuine jeweler. His passion about his work and his authenticity reassures you that he will help you find and/or create the exact ring you desire. We returned to him a year later to get our rings remade (one due to misplacement and the other due to a health-induced allergy). The process could have been frustrating and discouraging; however, with his skilled assistance and amicable personality all went incredibly smoothly. We were and are immensely grateful for his services! Our ONLY regret after working with Massey was that we did not find him sooner!! (my husband bought my engagement ring elsewhere) read more

My fiancé and I decided to walk around Philly to look for a ring but after stopping in at least 7 stores, nothing jumped out - until I saw Frank Salese's window. There was a ring in the window that looked perfect (although, it wasn't the one I ended up getting) so we stopped in. Massey greeted us and showed us what other options he had. He listened to exactly what I was looking for (unlike some other stores) and brought me a few selections and there it was! I found the perfect ring to compliment the infinity band of my engagement ring! Massey kept my engagement ring for one week so that he could make a mold and get the perfect fit - and while he had it, he put it through the cleaner for me! When I got it back I was almost blinded by the sparkle and I hadn't seen my ring look that good since I first got it! Massey made my fiancé and I feel very comfortable, he remembered our names when we went back, and we had a lot of fun talking while we were looking at rings. I would HIGHLY recommend Fank Salese Fine Diamonds to my anyone looking for high quality, custom jewelry! read more

Truly exceptional customer service. Massey is an expert at his craft. It is easy to see his passion for his work and his desire to connect with his customers and treat them like family. On each visit to the shop, I witnessed one customer after another come in to the store or call asking for him. Whether they were picking up, dropping off, or searching for that perfect gift, each conversation began and ended with talk about family and special moments in their lives. I was amazed to watch as they were all repeat customers. Prior to visiting Frank Salese Fine Diamonds, I thought I had done all of my homework. Massey took time to educate me further and more importantly, listen to what I was searching for. He shared his insight and provided me with options that allowed me to find the perfect engagement ring. On NYE, she said "Yes," and now can't wait to come back with me to create customized wedding bands. Knowing the proposal date, Massey even followed up with an email to congratulate us. I encourage everyone to see him before making their next jewelry purchase. read more

I have already posted a review praising the work of Massey on my (now) wife's engagement ring and my wedding band. I wanted to add an additional review for the tremendous work that Massey did for her wedding band. Once again, I know there are dozens of places in Jeweler's row, most of which try and convince you to come in with kitschy commercials or gimmicks. Massey, at Frank Salese, invites you in with a smile and a reassurance that he will make you a satisfied customer. What more could you really ask for? He is always willing to go the extra mile, making sure everyone is happy with the final product (including the wallet). The first time we went to the store, another Massey was finishing up with another couple who, we learned, had driven down from out of state just to come to Frank Salese. I thought at the time, "there are jewelry stores everywhere, why drive so far to go to one place?" After working with Massey, I truly get it. Massey will, without question, be our lifetime jeweler. read more

Jeweler's Row has lots of choices if you're in the market for a special piece of jewelry. But no one makes you feel more special than Massey. He designed an engagement and wedding band from scratch for my wife in 2008 and it is just as sturdy and stunning as the day I bought it (Halloween... the day of the Phillies World Series parade). He even allowed me to come in and sign off on the wax mold. Six years later and I took my wife in to meet Massey a few weeks ago to have the rings redipped. We spoke like old friends, about more than just the rings. About the Phillies and life and kids and watches. He doesn't talk down. He engages. Both with his craft and with his clients. Jeweler's Row is full of experts and exceptional gemologists. Massey is certainly one of them. But what makes Frank Salese jewelers a cut above the rest is the people and the care. The next time, and every time, I'm in the market for a special piece of jewelry, I know exactly where I'm going. read more

I went to Frank Salese Fine Diamond Specialist Assoc. on charming Jeweler's Row with a vague idea of what I wanted for my fiancee's engagement ring. Massey was so friendly, patient and helpful. He helped me pick the right diamond for my price range and used a wax mold to show me exactly how the custom setting would look. He created a beautiful halo setting for us, and the finished product was perfect. He completed it quickly too. When it was time for us to pick out our wedding bands, we never even considered going anywhere else. Massey again walked us through all of the options to best fit our vision, and again, everything turned out beautifully. Any time we needed any sort of adjustment, cleaning, or resizing, he was very accommodating. We couldn't be happier with our rings. I would highly recommend Frank Salese and Massey Russello to anyone. read more

We have purchased many Fine Jewelry items (Rings, Ear Rings, and such) from Frank Salese Jewelers over the past twenty years and have come to trust their excellent (& unique) selection of uncommon, high quality pieces, not easily found elsewhere. They have also carried out many jewelry repairs on our most prized possessions. When my Wife recently lost one of the small diamonds on her wedding ring, we took it to Salese Jewelers. An inspection of the ring revealed that it had become too worn to properly repair. Massimino worked with us to recast the original ring, incorporating numerous design improvements as well as diamond upgrades. The results are stunting. The new ring is much more beautiful than the original ever was. We want to thank you for providing such great care and craftsmanship. Mariko & Sal read more

I was not in the market for a piece of jewelry when I found myself at Frank Salese Fine Diamonds. I had actually never been to a jeweler before but had tagged along with a friend who was revisiting the store. After five minutes into shopping, I felt comfortable and right at home. Massey was patient, honest, and very well educated on the history and characteristics of each ring he showed us. I found a unique ring that I couldn't take my eyes off of and with Massey's guidance and patience, I decided that the ring was undoubtedly for me! The personal, no-pressure experience at Frank Salese made my first purchase even more special. Every interaction with Massey since then has been a treat and I would recommend that all of my family and friends take advantage of the priceless service he offers! read more

After almost losing hope with the annoying salesmen on jewelry row, we found Frank Salese. We were walking past the store well beyond closing hours and saw some beautiful, unique antique rings in the display. Massey was still there and he invited us in with no pressure at all. He was more than patient and so accommodating with the tons of questions I had. I brought him a loose diamond and an antique ring with a pearl in it. He figured out a way to remove the pearl and set the diamond into the ring. Throughout the entire process he was kind, thorough, and a pleasure to work with. Plus he has a huge selection so there's a good chance you'll find something you love. Thank you Massey for everything, I'll be returning to you for any and all future jewelry needs! read more

If you are unsure exactly what you want or need, you need to work with Massey! He is very knowledgeable and open jeweler. He truly listens to you and doesn't push what HE thinks is the right piece. My first time was with picking a wedding ring which he customized just what I was looking for. He took the time to really work with me and answered questions so I knew I could make the perfect choices. When I needed custom jewelry for my girls, he again designed pieces that made me so happy at a very reasonable price. The quality of the work is exquisite and perfect for what I wanted. I have recommended to all my friend to go there for the best service and will be returning to my "friend" again! read more

Massey is one of the most dedicated and customer-oriented person in this business. My fiancé, Mark, bought a beautiful engagement ring here through Massey's excellent suggestions and valuable advice. We loved how much he understands each person's unique taste and budget. Although there are plenty of jewelers in the area, they don't make you feel as comfortable as Massey. He is someone who you can rely on being honest, thorough, and detailed. We actually went back to Massey to purchase our wedding bands - my fiancé and I love our bands! He even put in a special engraving for us. I highly recommend Massey - he values all his customers and provides spot-on recommendations! read more

Massey from Frank Salese Fine Diamonds has never disappointment. Let's see, Massey started with a custom piece for my brother which included three of the same necklaces and a money clip. Then another brother had a custom design made with four necklaces and a money clip. Then I wanted three small earrings. Massey had two and customized the third which is an excellent match. My mom had a diamond cocktail ring and Massey customized that for me too. The extra work continues. Massey is extremely talented, has a good eye, and definitely enjoys working with us. It's so nice to be able to trust someone with heirlooms also. Thanks for the good hard work, Massey! read more

I was in the market for an antique/vintage-inspired "right hand ring," and had an excellent experience here. Massi was very thoughtful, informative, patient, and honest. He respected my price range and helped me find exactly what I wanted. He really picked up on the particular style I was going for and I appreciated all the attention to detail. I enjoyed learning about the stones and precious metals from Massi. He has been in the fine jewelry business for about 40 years! He offered to clean and polish the rings I was wearing, which was a nice treat. Great service and I would recommend this jeweler to all my friends! Thank you! read more