Memorial Day weekend was my plan. We were going away on vacation and what could be more perfect than an isolated white sand beach in the Caribbean. All I needed was the ring. Everyone tells you they "have a guy." Unfortunately, I took a recommendation and started my process with a NYC diamond district wholesaler. We rushed through the 4 "C's." He promised that he could make an exact replica of the ring I wanted at a significant discount and not pay until the finished product. I'm glad I didn't as the final ring looked nothing like the simple yet elegant ring I wanted. In a panic, I called my fiancé's cousin who suggested SoHo Gem. She's been a customer for a while and mentioned that the staff would be very helpful in my situation. I couldn't agree more. The first person I met was Isabel Kammerer - a trained GIA gemologist - and I knew right away I was in the right place. I explained the situation and realizing that I had time, but not nearly enough, we got to work. She went into great detail on all the details of purchasing a diamond. She explained that there are some areas that I could be flexible on to maximize my budget. She was extremely patient over multiple meetings and followed up with her thoughts on each diamond. She showed me numerous stones, but one afternoon she called and said she found something perfect. I went to the store and it was exactly what I wanted. Now, I will admit this story focuses on the excellent diamond expertise of Isabel and my great experience with everyone there, but I would say that the setting was absolutely stunning. They have a wide selection of both that can fit anyone's budget. Isabel wouldn't have been able to find that "perfect" stone if she didn't spend the time to build a relationship and care about what I was looking for. Overall, SoHo Gem and Isabel took what was a complicated situation and turned it into an enjoyable and great experience. I couldn't have asked for more...other then my fiancé saying yes! We will be back! read more

Our experience with Soho Gem has been great. We initially stopped by early in our search for a ruby engagement ring; while we were still comparing other places in the area. Marina was very helpful and patient that first time, answering questions, showing us various stones and settings, educating us on the difference between diamonds and gemstones, and specifically on rubies. We left and checked out some other stores over the next several weeks but were disappointed with the quality of their rubies, the lack of knowledge in gemstones, and the limited options given. When we returned to Soho Gem a second time, Marina remembered the ruby we had seen and loved from the first visit about a month prior. Irina, the designer and shop owner, was also there, and the two of them took the time to answer questions and give us more information. It really felt like they wanted us to find the right ring and put in the effort to make it happen. We chose the ruby we loved with a beautiful setting designed by Irina herself. We ended up choosing them because of the quality of their products, their depth of knowledge, and the care and pride they put into their work. Also, financially, given the quality of their product, you can't get a better deal elsewhere. We plan on returning to Soho Gem for our wedding bands. And highly recommend them for anyone looking for bridal jewelry and unique gemstones. Marina and Irina were wonderful to work with. We couldn't be happier with our choice, and our ring. read more

We recently got engaged and purchased our ring here with Winona. I can't even tell you how great our experience was with her, she is absolutely amazing. She is the nicest person you will ever meet and incredibly honest which can be very difficult to find when buying a ring. We went to a few other shops in the city and they came no where close to providing the personal experience of Soho Gem. Winona's expert advice helped to make our design perfect. Soho Gem had the biggest variety and also had the personal care that you want in this process. We wanted to get a unique ring that no other shop was able to build for us until we found Soho Gem. Every other place we went to, including many custom, niche shops, weren't able to make us what we wanted. Soho Gem hand built our setting with incredible detail and also had the unheated blue/green sapphire that we dreamed of for the main stone. No other shops that we went to in the city even had the ability to get unheated sapphires. The stone is gorgeous and is truly unique. We have already begun looking at wedding bands and once again they are able to custom make exactly what we want. If you want a bland, machine-made ring like everyone else has then a jewelry store in the mall is probably a better/cheaper option. But if you want a custom, hand-made engagement ring that you will love forever then there is no better place for the quality and affordability that Soho Gem offers. read more

Although my budget has limits. I consider myself a sophisticated shopper. It's very rare that I like everything when I walk into a store, even with my most favorite designers. Sohogem is one of the few stores in the world where I do like everything. If fine jewelry would wear off like clothes I am sure I would spend at Sohogem a lot more of my husband's money:) My most stunning piece from Sohogem happened to be a solution for a Marquis diamond from a former marriage engagement ring. I have spent years trying to find a setting where this oddly shaped stone would not look like a classic engagement ring. I found it at Sohogem the first time I came there! Maria (the owner) was very creative with introducing a solution where a pear shaped stone was replaced with a Marquis. So rather than ordering a new setting and wondering how it would turn out I bought an existing one from Sohogem that was customized for my stone. The result is impressive! You would never guess that the designer had anything different in mind. It looks contemporary, sophisticated and chic! Thank you, Maria! Thank you, Sohogem! read more

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Soho Gem! From our first visit to the store months before we got engaged to the few days after he proposed, Marina was warm, welcoming and incredibly knowledgeable. My fiancee was a bit of a novice in buying a diamond but had a good idea of what I was looking for. Marina made the process accessible - not intimidating - and fun! He was able to visit the store as my ring was being built and really appreciated the hands-on experience, education and personal attention that he didn't find with other jewelers. That warmth and excitement carried over to when he brought me to the store after he proposed. Marina recognized my fiancee right away and was truly excited to welcome us back to the shop. We have since bought three additional rings (my two wedding bands and his) at Soho Gem and will be coming back for all of our occasions going forward. Marina treats her customers like family, give honest opinions and is always willing to work with customers to create their ideal pieces. We highly recommend Soho Gem for all of your jewelry needs! read more

My now fiancé and I decided that we were going to pick out an engagement ring together. In my quest to figure out what my perfect engagement ring would look like, I stopped by Soho Gem one evening. There I met Winona. I cannot say enough good things about her. She has a very impressive range of knowledge with regard to gemstones. When I showed her my grandmother's engagement and wedding rings I learned information about them that I had never known. Winona's insight into the benefits of different cuts and settings is also helpful for anyone, like I was, who is uncertain as to what kind of ring they may want. Finally, Winona is incredibly kind and patient. She spent a great deal of time with me and was more than happy to let me try on ring after ring after ring - well past closing. In the end, I found my perfect ring at Soho Gem. I look forward to wearing it forever and thanks to Winona's thorough instructions on how to care for it (plus the fact that the store is happy to clean and check the ring for damage every 6 months for free), I know the ring will look beautiful forever. read more

Created the perfect engagement ring with Retno and Winona after months of searching. I could not fully describe the journey my girlfriend and I went through to find the right (fancy vivid yellow) diamond stone for her engagement ring. We went to dozens of small to high-end jewelers and everything in between to find the right stone, cut, and color. Finally, after almost giving up we walked into Soho Gem and met Retno. She instantly gave us confidence that she could source the right stones for us and knew exactly what we were searching for. She did not disappoint! The entire process: from reviewing stones, walking through the details with my girlfriend to make her comfortable, and eventually picking up the ring was flawless. Retno was on top of updating me all the time (including texting and emailing). If I had to do it all over again, I wish someone told me just to go to SoHo Gem and speak to Retno and Winona. They were super helpful and assisted us in creating the perfect engagement ring. We highly recommend visiting the store!!!! read more

After months of searching for a fancy yellow vivid diamond engagement ring with no luck, we found Soho Gem. From the minute we walked into the store, Retno made us confident that she understood and could design exactly what we wanted. I couldn't have been happier when she showed us the stones a few weeks later. She listened to every detail regarding color, clarity, and carat and gave us four stunning options (in comparison to other jewelers who were only able to source one yellow diamond at best). When I received the ring, it was even better than I imagined! They even went above and beyond and engraved the ring and put a tiny sapphire inside. I'm so grateful to the team at SoHo Gem for designing my dream engagement ring! It's truly spectacular and I am so grateful for the wonderful experience working with your team. Soho Gem truly exceeded our expectations, and I highly recommend them to anyone searching for exceptional quality and service in their jewelry purchase. Thank you Soho Gem! read more

Not knowing much about rings, my fiancé and I went into Soho Gem to choose our wedding bands. The store is lovely, a boutique feel with incredibly beautiful pieces everywhere, I wanted them all! I was a bit nervous about how little I knew, platinum vs gold, the quality of the diamonds, should we insure it? Sarah was amazing. She talked us through everything and worked with us for a very long time as I tried on SO many different bands. She struck the wonderful balance of helping me discover my own opinion and taste, and sharing her own. She helped us create something unique to each of us and took care of getting the ring insured and sized once we realized we had gotten the wrong size. She even taught me how to perfectly polish my engagement ring for our big day. Not only do we now have BEAUTIFUL wedding bands, we feel like we have a lifeline if we ever have any questions. I would highly recommend Soho Gem! Now, I'm gonna go stare at my rings that I love, see ya! :) read more

I don't think I've ever left a Yelp review but its certainly worth leaving one for Soho Gem! Working with Winona made the whole process of getting an engagement ring so much more pleasant! My now fiance and I had gone to several shops in the diamond district and they left much to be desired. I popped into Soho Gem one day on my lunch break and had the pleasure of chatting with Winona. She was attentive, welcoming and relate-able. Major plus, she did not seem to only want to make a purchase, she really took the time to understand what kind of ring and diamond I was looking for and being respectful of our budget. Winona really did a great job of sourcing our diamond and did not try to convince us to go over our budget or compromise on what we wanted. In the end she really found us a beautiful diamond that I've gotten tons of compliments on already! Ive been raving about SG since walking into the store and think this review is actually over-due! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Winona at Soho Gem for my engagement ring. My (now) husband and I looked at a fair amount of stores and jeweler's in NYC but felt most places were too pushy or didn't have the flexibility we needed when making such an important purchase. I stumbled into Soho Gem during my lunch break from work, and thank goodness I did! Winona welcomed me with opened arms and sincere interest in finding me the absolute perfect ring. I tried on a variety of beautiful options, as Soho Gem is filled with a large array of gems and diamonds in many settings, shapes, sizes, etc. After a few short trips, Winona found a beautiful antique oval diamond that met my very specific requirements, and ended up creating a custom ring together. I also purchased my simple, platinum wedding band to match the engagement ring, another high quality purchase and easy transaction! I highly recommend Soho Gem for any and all of your jewelry needs! read more

From the moment we walked in to when the ring was ready to be picked up, our experience with Soho Gem was nothing short of amazing. While we had visited many other shops in the area, Soho Gem was the only one that provided us with the level of personalization and care that we were looking for. Within the first interaction, Retno and Winona felt like family and they made it a point to listen to all of our requests/answer any questions. While other shops scoffed at the idea of pairing gemstones or using a fairly non-traditional stone cut, Retno/Winona went above and beyond to cater to our vision. They also made sure that communication at every step of the ring building process was clear. These are people who truly care about their customers and the works of art they are creating. The end product was breathtaking and exactly what we were looking for. read more

I went to Soho gem when i was looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend at the time. I was looking at Tacori rings online and Isabel from Soho gem contacted me to set up an appointment. The staff at Soho were extremely friendly, and after i told them that i no longer wanted a Tacori ring, they showed me a number of other options. The staff was very knowledgable and remained very patient and accommodating throughout the whole process despite our ever changing needs. They were never pushy, and allowed me to do things at my own pace. After months of back and forth between designs, various diamond shapes and sizes, i finally bought the engagement ring in April and my fiance is absolutely in love with it! Thank you to Soho gem for everything! read more

Soho Gem are absolutely the best. At no point did I feel like I was being pressured into making a purchase and at no point did I feel like they were trying to upsell me to something outside my budget. Winona was amazing and genuine. She worked with me to help me figure out exactly what I wanted out of an engagement ring. The end result was absolutely perfect and my (now) fiancée loved it. I believe that the folks over at Soho Gem would be able to find the perfect ring for anyone who walks through the door. They do custom pieces so if something is close to what you're looking for but not quite right, they will make whatever changes needed to make the ring of your dreams! Soho Gem is truly one of the hidden gems of NYC. Give them a try! read more

Our experience with Soho Gem for both engagement and wedding rings has been exemplary! The engagement ring had to be resized and they worked with us until it was just right. The wedding bands are lovely -- they helped us select bands that were just the right finish, width and size for each of us and had them custom made, plus engraved. (We got different style bands.) Every time I go in, I have a wonderful interaction with the staff. Each person is helpful and knowledgeable, and I feel as if we've built relationships with our primary contacts. They are also happy to scope and price custom pieces at any price point, small and large. They'll be my jewelers for the foreseeable future, even after the wedding preparations are complete! read more

When my now-husband started looking for my engagement ring, he knew I didn't want a traditional stone. Irina worked with him to design the most beautiful ring to his (and my!) exact liking. The stone was a stunning sapphire from Madagascar, untreated and ethically sourced. We were so impressed with the unique beauty and quality of the ring, and with Irina, that we returned to Soho Gem for my wedding band and a matching necklace to complete the set. Soho Gem has been more than professional throughout our experience as they listened to our desires and then went beyond our expectations. Needless to say, I highly recommend Irina and Soho Gem whenever in the market for a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry! read more

I went to Soho Gem to have a diamond solitaire necklace made. They set a marquis shaped stone into a bezel setting. I gifted it to my daughter who absolutely LOVED it. The design was their suggestion and it will be a timeless piece she will wear for years to come. THANK YOU Soho Gem! I also purchased some diamond hoop earrings and they made some blue topaz enhancers to match a cocktail ring that I already owned. Now I can wear the hoops alone or add the enhancers when I wear my ring for a dramatic effect. I trust this shop to provide me with beautiful design, excellent advice and a great price. Their gracious customer service and gorgeous shop make the fine jewelry shopping experience top-notch! read more

Had a great experience working with Retno and Winona! My girlfriend and I went into the shop without much of a plan but Retno was incredibly helpful in picking out design aspects that my girlfriend liked. We ended up customizing a ring according to our preferences. Winona helped us pick out the right stone for our specifications and budget, and Retno made it all come together. Retno and Winona made a great tag team in making this a great experience. If you are thinking about creating a custom ring, I would definitely go with SOHO Gem over the online jewelers. Being able to see your stone in person and having help from actual gemologists will beat an online customization tool any day! read more

Completely unique: the highest quality gemstones and workmanship combined with combined with contemporary design by the brightest rising stars in the business and all completely customizeable. If you see a piece you love (hard not to love the entire collection!!!!) but it doesn't quite work on you, the designers will rework it so it looks as if made for you alone. If you have an idea Soho Gem can MAKE it into an amazing piece of jewelry just for you. This shop has it all: amazing quality, original designs, fabulous service and very fair prices. It's the perfect 10 of jewelry stores with the feel of a European boutique. Impossible to walk out without buying something! read more