We have been using Protea for over 15 years and we highly recommend. Just recently I brought in an heirloom diamond that I wanted to have made into a ring. The team sourced two incredible sapphires, designed the ring and had it made. The new ring is beautiful and better than I imagined or hoped for, all for a very reasonable price. read more

Protea Diamonds - Sapphire and diamond custom ring - Jewelry Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Protea resized my wedding ring with great sensitivity and care, preserving the engraving and ensuring a new fit neither too loose nor tight.

I had a fantastic experience at Protea Diamonds. Anthony helped me design and manufacture a custom engagement ring in 2019, and then a custom eternity-style wedding band in 2021 -- I couldn't be happier with the results! Anthony is knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. Throughout the process, he made himself available to chat both via email and over the phone. It was straightforward to request modifications to the design renders and then the manufacturing process took a few weeks. These are some of the biggest purchases that I'll likely make in my entire life and I'm glad that I found Protea Diamonds to help me with everything. read more

Protea Diamonds - custom engagement ring and wedding band - Jewelry Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Anthony was most gracious - took a great deal of time with me, despite my budget limits. He made me feel as welcome as a millionaire. He was extremely thorough and thoughtful. I recommend him highly and recommend him as you close out your holiday gifting plans read more

Anthony is really the best! After several years of my princess cut engagement ring coming loose in the setting I had, I went to Anthony and he was HONEST with me. He told me why I was having problems with it (nobody else I had gone to previously told me the truth) and have me some solutions. After a few meetings, we decided to remake the setting specifically for the diamond. Needless to say, I LOVE IT!! What a superb job by him and his designer. The quoted time line was on point. And price was right! Thank you Anthony! (Sorry it took me so long to write this!!) read more

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I had a wonderful and easy experience with Protea Diamonds. Anthony is delightful to work with - never pushy but has great suggestions and advice. His breadth of experience, eye for detail and ability to understand what the customer wants makes him the only jeweler I'll ever use. Everything about working with Anthony was simple, clear, quick and fun. read more

In 2004, my husband purchased my engagement ring from Protea Diamonds. The purchase was a surprise and I was not present; however, I am told the experience was top notch. Anthony and Chloé were kind, nonjudgemental, patient and informative. My husband was able to purchase a heritage quality diamond platinum set solitaire without the ridiculous markup. Several months later, my husband and I were in the market for wedding bands. Because I wanted to shop around, we visited nearly a dozen jewelers, including high jewelry retailers such as Tiffany, Dior, De Beers and Harry Winston. Our last stop was Protea Diamonds. None of the high jewelry retailers compared to the quality of service and guidance received from Protea. In some cases, jewelers were pushing subpar jewelry that was nothing to close to what we described or wanted. In some cases, we felt like we were buying used mattresses or cars. Protea truly listened and worked within our parameters to find the pieces we wanted. I've been going to Protea now for fifteen years. No matter if I'm visiting Protea for a repair, an appraisal, to browse or purchase, the experience is consistent. De Beers many have introduced the slogan, "A Diamond is Forever," but it is Protea Diamonds who "Shine Bright Like a Diamond," (Rihanna) with their combination of impeccable customer service and outstanding heritage of diamond and jewelry expertise. read more

I found this place with a quick Google search when trying to have my wife's antique ring refurbished. They did an unbelievably awesome job on the ring for less than I expected to pay. They even replaced one of the side stone diamonds that was missing. My wife is thrilled with the final product. It's a birthday present for her 40th. I highly highly recommend that you take any work to clean up and repair old jewelry to Protea. read more

I'm an Arlington resident. I have purchased several items from Anthony at Protea in the past couple of years and most recently a gorgeous pair of stud earrings. I trust Anthony completely. He is from South Africa and has been in the diamond biz for many years. He is extremely knowledgeable and straightforward in his descriptions and explanations of quality variations, cost, value, and other important factors. He is not at all pushy (very easy going and friendly) so don't hesitate to just stop by to see what he can offer if you are in the market for a ring or other special jewelry. I have also bought jewelry in NYC, online and at bigger stores but I feel Anthony offers the best combination of price (competitive) service, attention and advice. Really an excellent shop! read more

They did an exquisite job repairing an antique diamond ring that my grandma wore everyday of her life up until her passing. My aunt gave me the ring about six months ago and I wore it everyday until I looked down and noticed one of the diamond stones had fallen out and the others were loose. Protea enlisted the help of another jeweler to fix the small prongs holding all of the diamonds in place, so that I wouldn't lose anymore, and replaced the lost stone and polished it. It looks new just with a beautiful antique design and it's beautiful! Thank you for doing such a great job on my ring!! read more

From the get go, Anthony was extremely helpful in introducing me to the concept of engagement rings and what matters most. He was always very flexible with appointments and was able to make time for me when it counted most. He managed to speed up the typical process of a custom ring so that I could propose to my girlfriend on the California beach. I highly recommend visiting him if you're in the market for a ring, he has a lot of experience and it shows. He will help you select an amazing diamond that really shines. read more

My husband and I inherited some precious stones set in rings we knew we would never wear. At the recommendation of a friend, we brought them in to Anthony. A knowledgeable professional with a great eye, he listened to us share our ideas and then guided us to exactly the right designs for two new rings. He expressed his opinion without ever pushing us. With a jeweler's eye for quality, he also offered to polish and reset my husband's wedding ring at minimal cost. We are thrilled with the two rings we got--totally different from each other but both exactly right. The designs, communication and service were top notch and the prices very fair. I'll never use another jeweler! read more

Anthony and his staff were courteous, efficient, and professional. We used them for a repair, refinishing, and cleaning of 2 rings, a wedding band, and engagement ring. We had a diamond replaced that was lost in a setting. The diamond was priced well, matched the rest of the setting, and the repair was solid. They took the time to explain the process, and gave us a couple options to consider and everything was good as new when they were finished. Even through the holidays, the timing was surprisingly quick. I have no complaints, and highly recommend this business for all your jewelry needs. I've used jewelers all over world and the USA. California, Nevada, Virginia, DC, NYC, Dubai, Germany, and the UK. Protea Diamonds is as good as you can get for a smaller shop. The larger outfits just have needless markup and terrible service. read more

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carl W. Buechner Service: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Product Knowledge: 5/5 Salesmanship: 5/5 Variety: 5/5 I was looking for a place to buy an engagement ring nearby in the Arlington area on Yelp and I found Protea Diamonds. I was skeptical about a place that had all 5 star reviews and decided to do a walk-in one weekday. *Please note that Anthony, the owner, works on an appointment only basis and I do not recommend barging in without one.* He was quite generous as I stood at the door and sheepishly looked in to see if I could meet with him. He could have just as easily refused. Not knowing I needed an appointment left me a little embarrassed but his attitude towards me was entirely welcoming. Having visited a few other big name diamond stores Anthony will come as a welcomed change of pace. No being bombarded at the door by over perfumed stepford wives or shown the specials of the month. The incentive here is to have a great diamond buying experience and that's exactly what you're have. After the engagement ring went over brilliantly I also came back to buy one of two wedding bands. Anthony's service was personalized, prompt and business professional. He was timely and realistic about turnaround times and price quotes. Pricing was fair and communicated clearly. While I chose a ring that he had already in stock he let me know I could show him a style and he would do his best to make it happen. I came to the appointment with a few pictures of rings that my fiancee liked and Anthony narrowed my search down immediately. Every diamond is GIA certified and Anthony will let you know exactly what that means with a full diamond education. It doesn't feel like you're being sold an expensive piece of jewelery. Anthony went out of his way once again when I went to pay for my ring and my debit card was declined. Go to Anthony first and everyone else will feel like a disappointment. read more

Love, Love Love this jeweler! Anthony was great to work with. Not at all high pressure. My husband and I purchased our wedding bands here and have had nothing but excellent service. His jewelry is absolutely beautiful!!! This is not your typical jewelry store that you would find in a mall. I recommend making an appointment. Their hours are limited. read more

Engagement ring shopping. Yowsers. When you are offered a mimosa during your lunch hour by a--yes--quite attractive Eastern European woman dressed to tease, RUN! RUN! (or prepare to be had.) Anthony doesn't pull tricks. He is a friendly, knowledgeable, non-swindling jeweler. What convinced me to go with him was not that I was sure he had the best stones or the best prices (though I liked both), I just TRUSTED him more than all the others. Instead of trying to sell me on the 'rings are a lifetime investment' nonsense, his view was quite clear: "Rings are not an investment. They are rings...And if she doesn't like what you've got for her (though she will), then, my friend, you have bigger problems than the ring." Truth you speak, Anthony. My fiancee LOVED the diamond (we got a temporary setting, a great option, ask about that if you're TERRIFIED of picking out the band like I was). Let's be honest gents, 99% of us have no idea what the heck cut, clarity, carrot and all that nonsense really mean. Though we may read feverishly for a month or so and fashion ourselves an expert (as I did), you really don't know. Find someone you trust to help you. Anthony--in my experience--I could trust. That's it. And if she doesn't like what you got her (when you likely paid thousands for a rock), then...run. read more

Unfortunately for my now fiance, I am one of those gals that has been dreaming about her wedding for years and have had her ring picked out for the longest time. No, I didn't want something similar just with a different basket. I wanted that EXACT STYLE. Even more unfortunate for him, I have a very keen eye and notice the smallest of flaws on everything. So you can imagine how stressful and grueling the ring shopping process was for him. After visiting the big name jewelers in the area (Wash. Diamond, Charleston Alexander, Mervis, etc.), I wasn't impressed with the workmanship and center stone choice at these locations. Everything looked the same at each shop, and the rings looked cheap. Plus, it felt like the salespeople at each of those places had no interest in helping us find (and make) the perfect ring and it was more about the sale than then a quality product. I happened to stumble upon Protea Diamonds on Google Maps, and boy am I glad I found them. The moment I sat down with Anthony, I described to him the exact ring I'm looking for. Round brilliant, square channel setting, tapered up to the center stone. It just so happened he had a similar style for me to try on. Anthony really took the time to make sure I was comfortable with the setting and that every concern I had over the look was taken care of. He was flexible and was willing to make the small adjustments to the ring to make it "just right." He also took the time to describe to us how to pick the best center stone, showing us the difference between the different color, clarities, etc. Since he was in the diamond industry for so long, I trusted his opinion and his honesty about what looks, and would be structurally, the best for my ring. It didn't feel like he was pushing us into a sale, and it seemed as he was genuinely interested in getting us the best ring for our budget. I could not have asked for a better jeweler, who really paid attention to every detail and wanted to make sure the ring was exactly what I wanted. I highly recommend Protea and will be definitely returning in a few months for my wedding band. read more

I bought my engagement right at Protea 11 years ago. Anthony talked me patiently through the entire process, explaining all the traits and characteristics of the diamond and the ring. Anthony is well-informed, honest, and transparent about his business and I felt extremely comfortable working with him. I had shopped around for rings and felt like Protea gave me the fairest deal. My wife was extremely happy with the ring and hence, over the last 11 years, I've gone back to Anthony for numerous birthday and Valentines gifts (rings, pendants, etc). Just recently, we celebrated 10 years and I went back to Anthony for an engagement ring upgrade. Again, he was trustworthy and honest thoughout the whole process and after shopping around, again, there was no better option. Anthony is a small, locally owned business and he works on word of mouth. He's truly a joy to work with - and I can't think of a better place to buy something as important as an engagement ring! read more

What started with word of mouth in the metro turned to my most cherished material item I own. I was admiring a woman's sparkly engagement ring on the metro about six years ago and asked her if she'd be comfortable sharing where she got it. She said "Protea Diamonds in Arlington." The rest was history! My then boyfriend, Oscar, and I went there a few weeks later and selected the most beautiful engagement ring. It was so sparkly and cut to perfection. The guidance we got from the owner, Anthony, was exceptional. My husband surprised me with a five year anniversary gift from Protea Diamonds which is a beautiful, halo engagement ring that matches my wedding band. There is no pressure. He is fair. And he has amazing taste. We love working with Anthony! read more

I had a very good experience with Anthony at Protea Diamonds. I found shopping for an engagement ring at the larger, big name establishments in the area to be stressful, to put it mildly. They made me feel I felt like I was a bozo after hearing my budget. They would shield important information like the certification of the diamond from me and just never really paid much attention to or listened very carefully to my needs. Fed up, I sought out a smaller, independent place and came across Protea Diamonds (thanks Yelp!). In contrast to the chain stores I visited, Anthony gave my fiancee and I personalized attention, listened to what she wanted, and measured out and customized the ring to her exact specifications. Despite being a custom job, the ring was ready in less than 4 weeks. The quality, costs and communication were all completely transparent and I felt comfortable with every step of the process. I recommend Protea Diamonds without reservation. read more

Worked with Chloé to buy my wedding band, couldn't be happier. I competitively priced the band with other stores in the DC Metro area and was able to get a quote over the phone, it was several hundred dollars less than the competition. Many of the stores refused to give me a quote over the phone. Overall, great experience and highly recommend their services and products. Having a solid 5-star rating says it all. read more

My wife and I visited several diamond stores (including Mervis) before happening upon Protea (discovered on a list of "Best Places to Buy a Diamond in Washington, DC" published in Washingtonian magazine). While the other stores treated us with the basic respect one would expect when making a purchase as significant as a diamond, Anthony really made us feel special. Anthony doesn't have a large showroom or big sales staff... there's just him and one other employee, and they meet their customers by appointment only, one at a time. Anthony delivers the same "Three Cs" overview you'll get from most of the reputable NoVA diamond retailers, but he goes more in-depth to explain the various aspects of a diamond and what makes it more or less valuable. Anthony is a former diamond cutter, himself, and you just can't help but feel confident with his assessments. He takes the time to go over all of the options you want to discuss, and bends over backwards to help you find the right stone/ring for the money you have to spend -- he is very respectful of budget limitations. Anthony is as patient as the day is long, and never exerted even the slightest amount of pressure to buy. Many of the other stores slid written-down numbers across the table that were significantly higher than what we told them we had to spend, and some were even a bit snobbish when we were up front about what we could afford. Not Anthony. He searched and searched until he found the right diamond in our price range. He finally found us a diamond that was larger, clearer, and of a higher quality than one we had seen at one of the other large retailers -- for slightly less money. The goldsmith with whom Anthony works (a real artist) was able to replicate a ring design we had seen at another store, and Anthony's price was significantly lower. Our customized ring was ready in only a few weeks, and my wife couldn't be happier with it. Protea's small, intimate setting means a level of personal attention you're just not going to find anywhere else. It means the best prices we found anywhere in DC. Protea's support doesn't end with the sale -- Anthony has responded to every email we have sent asking about how best to care for the ring. I cannot recommend Protea or Anthony highly enough. If you're looking for a custom engagement ring, this is the place to go. read more

Anthony was great to work with and a very knowledgable guy. He made the whole process as painless as possible with zero pressure. I was able to find a stone that was great quality, very brilliant, and fit within my budget. My fiance was very happy with her ring. She gets compliments on it all day long. I continue to recommend Protea to all my friends and will be going back for my wedding bands. read more

Anthony was a pleasure to work with, both before and through our engagement. My now-husband and I decided to choose the engagement ring together, and I wanted a ring that was similar to my mother's estate ring. I couldn't find anything online or in stores that had a similar look and I was really starting to feel destined to having to spend weekends at estate sales to find what I was looking for (which is not how I wanted to spend my weekends!). At our first appointment, Anthony understood exactly what I was looking for and helped us find an engagement ring that matched my vision and our budget. The diamond he helped us choose was gorgeous too! I get complimented all the time on my ring. Anthony also helped us choose our wedding bands - mine matched the vintage look of my engagement ring perfectly and my husband's is a simple, classic band. Through the entire process, Anthony was fantastic. He helped us find exactly what we wanted and made the process so easy. We can't recommend him highly enough. read more

I worked with Anthony on a sapphire engagement ring and it was an amazing experience. Before coming to Protea, I learned that finding the perfect sapphire can be extremely​ challenging​. I visited a number of jewelers​ around northern​ Virginia but no luck. Though it's not the most conventional choice, Anthony understood my vision right away. He was able to locate the exact sapphire​ I had been looking for. He also helped me with designing a beautiful custom setting that really compliments the stone. Anthony is very knowledgeable ​but even more impressive, he's an honest jeweler​ and you can trust what he tells you. I would definitely​ recommend Protea! read more

I was incredibly anxious about the engagement ring purchasing process, especially because I wanted to surprise my girlfriend and didn't have all of her preferences deciphered by the time I first visited Protea. Anthony came to me highly recommended by multiple friends, so he was my first (and only) stop. I was very pleased with his expertise and service and my fianceé is thrilled with the final product. First things first: Anthony is a diamond expert. With a lifetime in the industry, and history in diamond cutting, he knows what he is doing and he places an emphasis on buying beautiful quality gems and helping his customers understand how to choose the right one (or ones) for their budget. He listened to me and gave me options that were exactly what I wanted without playing the "show-her-you-love-her" card. He used a friendly, low-pressure approach and he was very clear about the pricing process and the characteristics that yielded the best bargains. In the end, he helped me pick a stunning diamond for my fianceé and it was very clear that he actually cared about the proposal. This is a small, low-frills, boutique operation. You get great service and a great product at a great price. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Make an appointment--you won't be disappointed. read more

I have to say I am a little disappointed, I was recommended to this jeweler as someone who could set a Padparascha Sapphire that I have into a mount, that I had custom made for the stone. The first time I called back in April I was informed over the phone that yes they could set the stone for me not a problem. However when I called again I was informed over the phone that no they couldn't help me, and they don't do that service. read more

I heard about Anthony from a family friend and decided to check him out for an engagement ring even though I live in California and I'm so glad I did! I had a little knowledge about diamonds, rings, and the overall process but Anthony took his time to educate me (much much more information than those chain diamond stores had told me) to make sure I make the right decision for me. The result is the perfect ring with high-quality craftmanship and a diamond that lights up my fiance's face (and everyone's that she shows). My fiance and I couldn't be happier with the result. His high level of patience is rare and a definite asset. I flew across the country to work with Anthony and will do it again for my future jewelery purcahses. He's got a customer for life! read more

Protea is the one and only jeweler that you need to visit if you live in the Metro DC area. Not only are they an Arlington mainstay, occupying the same retail space for over 26 years, but Anthony derived from a family steeped in the diamond industry. With extensive training in all aspects of the business he possesses a plethora of knowledge which he is happy to share with you. I was looking for an engagement ring and visited several locations throughout the area. Protea was one of my first stops, and I was very impressed, but I figured I needed to do my due diligence. Every store greeted me with the same canned script, and all seemed disconnected with what I wanted except for Protea. Upon returning, Anthony took the necessary time to really understand what I was looking for and ordered three diamonds that he thought would suit my requirements. After several visits back to the store I finally selected the perfect GIA certified diamond. Anthony had it sent off to our chosen designer and thus began the five week wait (which I was informed of at the beginning) for the ring to be manufactured with meticulous precision and care. About a week before the scheduled delivery I inquired about the ring to ensure that everything was still going according to plan. Although Anthony was out of the office, he still promptly responded to my email, personally called the designer, and verified that everything was still on track. He assured me that even though he would be away for a week that his assistant Chloe would complete the transaction. Enter Chloe, she is another integral part of what makes Protea so special and unique. The weekend before I was supposed to pick up the ring the massive storm (July '12) that knocked out power to millions in the area struck with a vengeance. The power, phones, and data lines at Protea were out for several days. Chloe communicated with me via her personal cell phone and ended up meeting me at the office even though they were closed due to the damage, cleanup, and restoration efforts. The ring was absolutely breathtaking! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Anthony and Chloe went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that I received the ring on time. I ended up proposing in the Shenandoah Mountains on the White Oak Trail at an overlook with waterfalls as the backdrop. We ate dinner and stayed the night at the Inn at Little Washington. Everything went perfectly! None of this would have been possible without the understanding and hard work of the team at Protea. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for Anthony and Chloe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. read more

My husband wrote this but Yelp filtered it so I'm reposting it. The five star rating you see here is very much deserved. Both Anthony and Chloe did a great job from start to finish: 1. Appointments: Not only are they easy to make with Chloe, but Anthony is also both patient and flexible. When I was running late for an end-of-the-day appointment due to DC traffic, Anthony never made me feel rushed to finish. In fact, we were together past closing time! 2. Education: Anthony's experience and willingness to teach me about diamonds was a real bonus. He explained not just what to look for, but also why certain diamonds are priced as they are. In the end, Anthony really made me feel like I was making an informed decision and getting the best value for my money by pointing out both the pros and cons of each diamond we looked at. In addition, he explained the different metals used for the bands and answered all of my questions related to those too. 3. Salesmanship: You're never pressured to buy anything. In fact, I didn't make a purchase until my second visit; the first visit was purely educational. When I sat down with Anthony, the first question wasn't regarding my price range, but rather, describing what sort of ring I was looking for. 4. Purchasing: Anthony and Chloe were always accurate and upfront with the price and timelines for getting the rings. Chloe was always happy to provide an update when I called to check on the status and she was quick to inform me when the rings arrived. They also include an appraisal (complete with a photo) when you come to pick up your purchase. Not only does the appraisal tell you everything you'd want to know about what you bought, but it also makes insuring it that much easier. Also of note - If you're not 100% sure what ring you would like or you don't know the right ring size for your bride-to-be, Protea offers a temporary engagement band. Anthony will place the diamond you select in a simple setting for the proposal. You and your fiancé can then go to Protea together and select the permanent band (the cost of the temporary band will be credited back to you). I chose this option and I was really happy with the result. With Anthony's help, I narrowed down the rings to 4 or 5 options I thought she would like and let her make the final decision. The collaborative experience was great and I have to admit that I was really excited when she picked my personal favorite. My fiancé and I are thrilled with Protea Diamonds. Her engagement ring has been complimented many times and we're often asked where we got it. Obviously, I've been more than happy to tell them about Protea (we'll be going back for some diamond stud earrings before I know it!). Even now, after having it for several months, my fiancé and I still love looking at the engagement ring just as much as we did when we got it. It's perfect for us and Anthony and Chloe helped make that possible. For an investment that will last a lifetime, that's a great feeling to have. read more

My husband purchased my first engagement ring from Protea in 2007. We chose Protea after looking at several other diamond jewelers in the area. Anthony is personable, honest, instills trust. I feel like he is giving me the best value and advice. We have since bought diamond earrings, a pendant and upgraded my diamond engagement ring. I would not go anywhere else. read more

No one is a pro at engagement ring shopping--most people will only buy one in their lifetime, and you're not going to spend months learning the ins and outs of the business. So let me save you some time. Ignore the ads on the radio for jewelry stores or "diamond importers". Go see Anthony at Protea. We selected a setting together, and came into the process knowing little-to-nothing about fine jewelry. Most stores will show you 6-8 very similar possibilities and that's it. Anthony takes a step back and starts with a wide variety, then quickly narrows down the options to get to what you're interested in. It sounds simple, but short of browsing by yourself through rings under a store's glass cases, you're not going to get that same level of understanding. We ended up picking a setting and designer Protea didn't carry. Other stores said, "We don't carry that, but come in and we'll find something similar." You don't understand--we picked THIS ONE! Anthony's response: "I can get it for you." And get it he did... and at a significant cost savings over other retailers. Protea doesn't have as broad a selection of stones as other retailers, but they're hand picked. You can sift through the low-quality slag elsewhere, or let Anthony do it for you. And at the end of the day, the stones are perfectly cut and well priced. It's not about the sale--Anthony's very invested in you making the right decision. Low pressure; intimate service. This is small business at its finest. read more

I recently proposed to my fiancée, and after my ring-shopping experience, I had to create an account and post on Yelp, for the first time ever, to rate Protea Diamond. Both she and I had an exceptional experience there and would gladly go back there for any future jewelry purchase. First, the ring itself: we could not be more pleased with the purchase. The stone is lovely, and of great quality, and the rest of the ring is exquisite. In fact, that was the first thing that set Protea apart. My fiancée and I shopped together, and visited several jewelers. We were consistently impressed by the quality and selection at Protea, and ended up comparing every other store to Protea. The other thing that set Protea apart was its owner, Anthony Taitz. He showed an exceptional amount of service, care, and attention; he did not just sell a product, but he gave us guidance and advice. For a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, that was exactly what I was looking for. When I first visited him, he educated me about diamond characteristics, ring features, and the different metals used for rings. When my fiancée joined me, she had an instinctive reaction to what looked good on her hand, but Anthony was able to distill her reactions into concrete recommendations and was able to guide her to a ring that was perfect for her. In comparison to every other jeweler I visited, Anthony shone. At many other places, I felt like I was given a hard sell, and other jewelers did not like that we took time making a decision. Anthony never rushed us, and in fact invited us back as many times as we needed to browse rings and make exactly the right decision. When we settled on a somewhat more expensive setting, Anthony pointed out how I did not need a slightly bigger, clearer, or less imperfect stone to create a beautiful ring, he found stones that worked for my budget, and he never once tried to up-sell. He also treated both of us with care and respect: not, as unfortunately happened at another store, talking solely to me, assuming I would be the paycheck; not talking solely to her, assuming she was the only one whose opinion mattered. Bottom line, after our experience at Protea, I wanted to give him my business, and my fiancée felt the same. Try him yourself, and you'll want to give him yours. read more

My fiance surprised me with a diamond in a temporary solitaire setting when he proposed and told me that I was going to design my very own setting for my engagement ring. Being an architect and designer, I was thrilled! He had gotten the temporary setting from Anthony at Protea Diamonds who worked with me one-on-one to help me build my perfect ring. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted at first, so Anthony patiently sat me down and walked me through his tremendous selection of rings, from the more simple and classic to the more modern and unique options. Within just two appointments he had helped me design my engagement ring, which he had custom made in platinum by a goldsmith/jeweler which whom he works closely. I could not be more pleased with both the finished product and the ease of working with Anthony. I get non-stop compliments on the ring and would highly, highly recommend Protea Diamonds to anyone looking for an engagement ring or wedding band (especially custom made) from a shop with an intimate setting and excellent one-on-one customer service. read more

Can't say enough great things. Anthony (the owner whom you will work directly with) knows his stuff --- more than anyone else I've ever met in the jewelry business. Take a look at the pictures on his wall when you go visit--- that was him cutting diamonds in Africa dozens of years ago......seriously - he knows his stuff. His shop, candidly, is not high-glam....but he passes that savings on to you. He will take the time to spend with you to make sure you are fully confident in your purchase....with ZERO pressure to buy or move quickly. I changed my mind after I picked a diamond out.......no issue with the change. Anthony is not just some guy selling diamonds. They are his life and he is passionate about them. I will absolutely be working with him in the future, and will certianly be recommending him to all of my friends going forward. read more

Great experience. Anthony isn't pushy at all and really explains everything. Highly recommend.

If you're looking for an engagement ring make this your first stop! I started my search for a diamond engagement ring with all the big names you hear about (Mervis, Washington Diamond, Charleston Alexander, and a few others) and was totally frustrated with the quality of diamonds. Some of the merchants were either pushy, didn't seem to care or rude if you didn't like what they had in inventory. I had searched for engagement rings on the internet and found article in Washingtonian Magazine about the best places to buy diamond engagement rings in the area. Protea Diamonds was listed in the article, and I called for an appointment . I really was expecting the same as all the other places I had visited, but the moment I walked in the door I could tell this would be a different shopping experience. Anthony was very welcoming and spent a great deal of time educating me about diamonds and settings. My fiancée had a setting picked out from a designer that we saw at another store, and I gave Anthony the name. He looked it up on the internet and then brought out trays of settings, and had virtually the same setting at a much lower price. The quality of the diamonds that he had available to view were outstanding! We returned to Protea Diamonds to buy our wedding rings, and were equally satisfied with the selection and service. Thank you Anthony for your excellent service!! read more

I had a great experience last year working with Chloe. I was looking for a pair of diamond stud earrings. My first stop was a place I have bought several jewelry pieces from in the past, but a frustrating shopping experience led me to look for an alternative jewelry store. I spoke over the phone with Chloe and told her what I was looking for. She suggested I come in for an appointment to take a look at what they had in stock. Initially, I was focused on specific color/clarity grades I wanted. Chloe showed me what they had in stock matching my requested specifications, but she also educated me on the importance of the cut-- showing me examples of how some earrings with lower color/clarity grades actually looked more brilliant than higher color/clarity grades, simply because the cut was better. After the initial consultation and some back and forth over email, we narrowed down the specs and size I was interested in- plus the fact that I wanted the earrings to be GIA certified. Chloe did not have anything in stock matching those exact specs, so she did some research and quoted me on some matching pairs of diamonds that could be ordered in for me to look at. We settled on a pair that most closely matched my specs, and I went back to Protea to look at them. They were absolutely gorgeous, sparkly, just the right size (two thirds of a carat each), and both GIA certified with excellent cut grades. I was also able to choose the earring settings and earring backs that I wanted. I really like the fact that I was able to select every detail of these earrings, and that they were truly made for me. Even better, there was no additional cost for having them made-to-order. The prices at Protea were very fair for such nice quality, and I value having been able to see and compare the different diamonds in person. The earrings are beautiful and I get compliments on them all the time. Chloe was very friendly and knowledgeable, and even followed up via email a few weeks after the purchase to make sure I was happy with the earrings. I really recommend getting in touch with Chloe if you are looking for a knowledgeable jeweler and a more personalized experience. read more

My fiancé got my engagement ring at Protea and it is absolutely gorgeous. There was no question that we would go back to get our bands here as well. Anthony is a pleasure to work with, very knowledgeable, reasonably priced and does not take advantage of his customers. Highly recommend! read more

I had been planning to propose to my 5-year girlfriend for months, but was completely overwhelmed by the process of buying a diamond. I knew nothing about what to look for in a diamond, and had little idea of what my gf wanted in terms of size/style. I ended up finding Protea on Yelp and made an appointment based on the positive reviews. I couldn't have been happier. Anthony is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject and of all the jewelers I spoke with, was the only one who was actually a gem cutter himself. I visited Protea 3 or 4 times before actually making the purchase. I never felt any pressure from Anthony--a testament to his professionalism. Ultimately, I settled on a tension setting--a rather non-traditional style. Protea was the only jeweler that I visited that was able to provide non-traditional settings in addition to the more common settings. My experience at Protea was completely positive and I will be returning in a few months to purchase my bands from Anthony. read more