Rudest, most inconsiderate jewelers in all of San Diego. Take your money, time, and jewelry elsewhere. Oh and just a forewarning, if you post a negative review be ready for them to send you a demeaning message that further highlights their lack of customer service as highlighted multiple times throughout yelp and google reviews. read more

I have been going to Mario since they opened for business and will not go anywhere else. I have had repairs, along with a newly upgraded wedding ring. One day I was in there and spotted the wedding ring he made for his wife. Such a beautiful piece, so I asked if he could make me one similar, and now I wear it proudly. He's a super nice man, always tries to accommodate and Perla is as nice as can be. These people are like family. They are honest, hard-working people who have been in business for a long time. You don't stay in business this long if you're not doing things right. Thank you Mario and Perla for many years of satisfaction and trust. ALOHA! read more

Mario Master Jeweler & Designer - Made with love by Mario - Jewelry Near Me - La Jolla, California

I have taken many jewelry items for repair to Mario with complete 100% satisfaction. I have purchased jewelry from him and Perla. I have had custom jewelry made by Mario. All excellent. No job too difficult... like any jeweler, you MUST pay for the excellent work they do. That's life! Thank you Mario and Perla. read more

Unsure how still in business, poor customer service and very unaccommodating to clients. In addition, inside shop is dusty, disorganized, and unwelcoming. read more

I can't express how happy I am with my beautiful jewelry custom made by Master Jeweler Mario. My sweet husband commissioned a Christmas ring in 2002, and it is a piece I wear daily. I cherish it not just because it's gorgeous, but because it was made just for me. It has also substituted for my wedding ring on my "fat" days when my fingers swell too much and I can't put my actual wedding rings on. Mario also created other beloved pieces: a peridot heart necklace and of course our wedding rings and my engagement ring. This is what makes our experience 5 star: Mario custom made everything, and the process was smooth and enjoyable. My husband was able to actually select the diamond (Mario had a few of varying sizes and clarity for him to inspect) and Mario was very patient in designing my ring and most of all in keeping my then fiancé on budget (as it was a surprise... Yes I feel extremely lucky!). The process: sketching the ring, choosing diamonds, creating a mold, tweaking, then he created my engagement ring- all unbeknownst to me. And even years later they still offer stellar service! I just picked up my newly re-sized rings and they are polished to perfection and expertly done; no cuts show unlike work from some other places. I am absolutely thrilled with them. read more

Just had appraised the pieces I bought here and was told I didn't get what I paid for. Total rip off and the daughter was always mean and just not respectful and they didn't honor a credit that was given. read more

It has taken me five years to write this review. After reading some of the reviews I realize that I am not the only one that feels that one star is fair. When I was nine years old I received a crucifix for my first communion. It hung on my neck for over 40 years and I thought it would be smart for me to go in and have the chain solidified to make sure that it was safer on my neck. When I picked up the necklace, I told Mario's daughter that some of the welding did not look like it was done well and I was afraid that it would break off. She took the necklace back to Mario to get his opinion and Mario said "it should last at least another 40 years" he said this with a little chuckle. That day I went for a 5 mile walk on the beach and when I got home, my necklace was gone. I will never forgive them. I think about it all the time. When I went back and told them, They said I probably snagged it on my shirt or something and ripped it off but I told him that I never changed my shirt that from their shop I went directly to the beach for my walk. I'm still sad. It can never be replaced. read more

I cannot write enough good things about Mario and Perla. They were so friendly, accommodating, and professional, but above all else they were trustworthy... My soon-to-be grandmother in law entrusted me with a diamond ring that she purchased in the 1970's. I wanted to use the diamond from her ring and create a custom engagement ring from scratch so I could propose to my girlfriend. I also needed a matching wedding band. I visited multiple jewelers and Mario was the only one that I felt at ease with from the beginning and trusted with this family diamond. It was also surprising how few jewelry shops could make custom rings. Most places just had pre-made settings. Heading into the process, I was armed with photos of engagement rings my girlfriend liked and very specific instructions. Mario spent a lot of time with me as I explained her dream ring and gave me a lot of good advice on how to make the design better, especially on how to make the ring more secure - this was music to my ears as I'm very practical. He was able to do this while keeping the setting and band looking dainty, which I new was important to my girlfriend since she has small fingers, while securing and showcasing the 2 ct diamond. The expression on her face was priceless when I proposed and she saw the ring for the first time. It turns out Mario made the engagement ring better than she could've imagined even though she had such high expectations. It is a special ring because of the sentimental value behind the diamond and Mario did it justice with a beautiful band and setting. I highly recommend him. read more

Definitely a man of his craft. A true professional. He squeezed in before the weekend since my watch batteries all died at the same time. I was feeling naked without a time piece and wasn't going to make it through the weekend. He took great care of my watch and was worth every penny. Bring things you care about to people who will truly care for them. read more

Great and quick service. Changed a battery in my watch within 20 minutes and super friendly.

I randomly walked into this very small jewelry shop with the high hope of finding a new beating heart for my watch. The mission was successful! Mario took care of it and gave me back my watch in 5 minutes after having replaced the battery and polished the resuscitated piece of metal. It costs me seven dollars and just five minutes of my time, besides it put a smile on my face: priceless! read more

I have been coming to this same jeweler for more than 15 years, he has made me jewelry just by copying a picture, turned out exactly how I wanted them (ring and a bracelet) does my repairs, consigns and buys jewelry as well. read more

I had a pretty disappointing experience here. I live in La Jolla and walk by Mario's every weekend. When my boyfriend and I were thinking of purchasing a engagement ring I went into Mario's to ask a few questions about diamonds and to see a few 1 to 2 carats. I felt pretty judged since the front end clerk didn't seem to take me seriously and maybe since I was in jeans and a tank top didn't look like a average la jolla-ian. I was told I would get a call within a week since they needed to get the diamonds from the bank. Two weeks later I walked into the shop, with them having no recollection of my request and with Mario in the back avoiding me. They lost my business and we purchased a beautiful diamond a few weeks later. read more

Beware, I was swindled by this unscrupulous JEWELER. I left an expensive family heirloom with an appraisal with them to be repaired. I never got either back and they claim not to have them. read more

And now I can add a beautiful custom engagement ring review! What a beautiful job Mario and perla did helping my partner! Thanks again!

I will never ever return to this place. The other reviews are spot on. The woman that works in the front is obstinate and rude. Not sure if that's the owners wife but she behaves like she owns the place. They don't guarantee any of their work so if you get repairs done there watch out. read more

nice and honest people... BTW great and artistic 1 of a kind pieces designed and created by Mario.

My wife had a watch repair at a high cost, it was still not keeping time and I returned to Mario for repair. It cam back and within one hour the whole back of the watch feel out and was lost, despite numerous phone cal Mario would take no responsibility of the defect and even though I felt a compromise was in order ie refund the high labor charge and I would take the lost of the expensive watch. He declined any negotiations. I personally would avoid this firm for extremely poor customer service read more

Took my wife's diamond ear rings in as one of the diamonds was loose. Fixed with in five minutes for nominal cost. Will use them again.

This place and "Super Mario" would be a joke, except that, as you can tell from other reviews, it's not. I took my wife's Mabe pearl pendant in to have it made into a pin. Somehow, he drilled completely through the piece and ruined it. We asked him to find a replacement. Couldn't do it. "Too rare." Yes it was! Solution? He put a crummy little 10 point diamond in the hole! She hasn't worn it since. Beware! read more

I would like to second the review that states a bad experience with Mario's re. a watch. I had a bracelet clasp repair that failed the first time I used it after a Mario repair, and he rudely refused to take any responsibility. He was insulting in his response and I would never enter that store again and recommend that no one else do so. read more

Mario and Pearla are fantastic! I came in with an idea and a picture, Mario built me a ring that exceeded my expectations. The best part is, she said "YES" and now he will be making me more pieces in the near future! Why support the big corporations when you can have competitive pricing, exceptional quality and service that is just not found anymore. read more

I have been a customer of Mario's for over 16 years. My husband and I discovered him when we got engaged and the ring that my husband chose for himself was by an expensive designer and a complicated mix of platinum and 18kt gold (they melt at different temperatures and are difficult to combine). We went to a fancy, expensive jeweler in La Jolla to see if they'd copy it for us. They explained that Mario was a jeweler's jeweler and handled their custom orders and that we should go to him directly. We did and he ended up making us the fabulous ring for 1/3 of the price of the original designer model. It is beautiful! Since then he's made other custom pieces plus sold us some estate pieces that he purchases from other customers. He always passes on the good deals to his customers and does a fabulous job on repairs. He even repolished an important sterling silver tray that was in our family and had gotten banged up over the past 100 years. We would never trust another jeweler the way we trust Mario. For diamonds, custom pieces and watches...he's our jeweler! read more

Going to Mario's was a horrible experience. I went there for two very simple services: 1. to get an estimate to repair a watch and, 2. to order a replacement band for another watch. Apparently these two tasks are beyond the capabilities of the "master jeweler" known as Mario. They said they would call me in a week to pick up my watch and band. They didn't, so I stopped by to find my orders were not ready as promised (they repeated this 4 more times over the course of about 6 weeks). When I came back the next time to check on my order (they didn't call this time either), Mario still did not have my band or my estimate but they did hand me a bill for a $70 for a repair that I did not request. I pointed out that the order was for an estimate and they made a mistake. Instead of just owning up to his mistake and giving me my watch back as any respectable establishment would, they sent it back to have the unauthorized repair removed, and returned my watch missing a part after telling me to "come back in a week" a couple more times. This place is hideous. I wasted my time with at least five trips to the store and not only did I not get the services they said I would, they returned my watch worse off than before. They offered no apology during this whole experience. Horrible establishement. read more