I loathe the radio ads and will turn off the radio for complete silence like a psycho to avoid the pain of listening to one. I did go into the langley store one time to browse with my then gf (and now fiance) to get her finger sized and look at some rings, I (thankfully) purchased a ring elsewhere but prior to buying I was pestered by staff for several weeks calling to follow up for when i can come back in to buy a ring. When i finally said "i bought a ring elsewhere" his first reaction was "Oh... thats too bad." As if not buying from Spence was unfortunate for me LOL. No "congrats!" no "oh thats great news", the gross salesman was only concerned about his sales cause thats all this company and these people are, weeds in society. They dont care about you and the ads are annoying AF. Do yourself a favour and just go somewhere else. read more

Honestly, their ads on the radio are enough to make me never shop in their store. It's funny - every time they come on the radio. I have to change the station. I thought to myself, "I can't be the only one!" and so and I did a Google search and what do you know, there is a whole Reddit thread about this! I think they are the most annoying ads I've ever heard in my whole entire life and I will definitely take my jewellery shopping business elsewhere as a result! read more

I learned about this place via radio ad. There are lots of ring options... like a lot! The lady said over 3000 rings on display. You can basically try on all the display models in the store since the store has an open display concept. The rings are custom made. After you decide the design you want, you can customize it with different materials and you get to pick your own diamond. Me and my fiancé quite enjoy the whole process. It took 2-3 visits before finalize and order the ring. I didn't get to partake in the diamond picking process but my fiancé informed me that they provided some good suggestions like whether I have sensitive skin so he picked a metal that is better for people with sensitive skin aka platinum. Overall, we are very happy with the whole experience. I can't wait till the ring pick up day :) read more

My partner and I had an incredible experience with Chad he was super helpful and knowledgeable. The selection was unlike any other, we had so many beautiful options it was so hard to choose. The price range and quality of the ring we chose we absolutely perfect and we couldn't be happier. Great customer service as well. read more

The sales girl (Taylor) swooped in without really introducing herself in the middle of a conversation I was having with another representative. She then tried to apply pressure to make me buy a necklace I was considering. She answered my questions with the shortest explanation possible, in order to close the sale and move on to another customer. Although I did buy the necklace, I will not recommend her to anyone I know. read more

Went diamond shopping with a friend. Out of the 4 shops we looked at, Spence was my favourite. Not because the store was the largest, but because the sales lady was actually HELPFUL. The other stores we went to (all in Pacific Centre) showed us pictures on a chart, but only Spence actually lets you look at the diamond under a microscope, along with demo units that help you see the 4 Cs. The other thing that was nice was that the rings are not locked away in some case. You can actually pick them up and look at them. I'm sure they have 5 security cameras trained on you when you do, but that's besides the point. Oh, and they give you free water for shopping there too. Yay! My only complaint was that the sales lady seemed a *bit* pushy when my friend hesitated. I don't blame him, I'm sure I would a bit too before dropping a few Gs on a rock. But she was still good with it, and left my friend a card with a reference number so he would remember what we talked about. As part of their sales pitch, the sales lady also mentioned that Spence does all the "middle man" stuff between the actual diamond mine and the store. So in theory they should be cheaper. I've never bought a diamond in my life though, so I have no idea how to even start comparing. read more

Spence Diamonds - Front of store~ - Jewelry Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

The lack of integrity provided by Spence Diamonds has been appalling. I want to note, I have spoken to the Vancouver Store Manager, however, she either could not comprehend how drastically the store failed, or did not care. Either way, there was always an excuse of how it wasn't her fault. When I first met her I was so relieved, I believed 100% she would take care of me. I have called the store atleast 3-4 times and she is never "in the store" this includes her "regular work hours" though she brags about getting to work in a mega snow storm. Each call with her starts with "how's it going" well....... I have (7) examples of how Spence Diamonds failed to provide any level of customer service. Ranging from the Langley Sales Manager is using the company database to grow her wedding planning business, Vancouver Store takes nearly twice a long to order upgraded diamonds as advertised. To my upgraded ring having smaller marquise diamonds than I initially purchased, and the upgraded ring was the wrong size. Essentially, since giving Spence Diamonds thousands of dollars, they have had the ring longer than myself and I still do not have what I purchased. Spence Diamonds has offered a $200.00 credit as an apology. I honestly don't even care about the credit, I am a busy person who doesn't have months (it's been nearly 3 months) to deal with constant mistakes and excuses. If you are looking to make a big and special purchase, do not go to Spence Diamonds. It has taken over 5 store visits to get where I am, and I have smaller marquise diamonds that initially purchased and a ring that doesn't fit. I am so exhausted with Spence Diamonds, I have tried so hard to be polite and share with them how this experience has made me feel, and they respond with $200.00 credit. At this point in my life, I don't care about the money... treat me like a person, show me respect and compassion and I will be a customer for life. read more

Absolutely terrible. These diamond are the fakest diamonds anyone could own. It is an embarrassment to any women to be given a ring from here. COMPLETE EMBARRASSMENT. SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR FIANCÉ LOOK LIKE A JOKE NEVER PUT ONE OF THESE FAKE RINGS ON HER HAND. The diamonds look great they make them seem amazing but they are as fake as a Cubic Zirconia. Their diamonds are completely worthless to any other diamond seller. They are only sold at Spence bc they are not accepted by any real diamond seller. Trust me this company should be shut down lab made and terrible. Spence doesn't even deserve one star but I had no other option read more

If I could give Spence Diamonds (and Nicki Holborn) TEN stars out of five, I would do it! I just got my ring today and I am over the MOON! Nicki helped me find the most perfect diamond ring in the world. It is even MORE beautiful than I hoped and imagined it would be. I am so very grateful to Nicki. She is not only very knowledgeable and extremely professional - but her sweet and friendly disposition made this experience a completely glorious one that I'll never forget! I'm in love with my new ring and I think that Spence Diamonds is very, very lucky to have someone like Nicki represent them! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so very, very happy!! From Mary F., Langley BC read more

Spence Diamonds - Beyond dazzling...! - Jewelry Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I'm a bit of a tom boy, and am more used to wearing scars, scrapes and bruises than anything of value - especially sparkly diamond rings. So when I went into Spence diamonds to look for an engagement ring, I felt a little sheepish and anxious, as I was definitely out of my element. I feel so grateful that Carolyn came over to help me out. She is so kind, sweet, knowledgable and I could tell she genuinely wanted to help me find the perfect ring - one that I loved and felt comfortable wearing. She educated me on the 4 Cs, showed me many styles and helped me narrow down a selection. She picked up on subtle cues that I didn't even know I was putting off. She seriously is a gem. I'm incredibly impressed by her thoughtfulness and her ability to read people and do so in an unassuming, supportive manner. Carolyn went as far as to text me from home on holidays as well as bring in her own personal ring so I could see it and try it on. I've ordered the ring, and so excited to get it. Carolyn made the experience so fun and easy... I could get another one!!! So incredibly happy with my experience at Spence. If I have any other jewelry needs, I won't go anywhere else. Thanks Carolyn! You're amazing. Cindy read more

I couldn't be happier wearing an absolutely stunning engagement ring from Spence Dimonds !! I am very grateful to Alyssa for her knowledge , her patience and for making our experience so special !!We absolutely loved the experience and will be back for more beautiful and unique pieces !! Thank you Alyssa !! read more

Went in looking for an engagement ring for the girlfriend. Knew the basics of ring shapes and the 5 Cs. Met with David, and he showed me the floor. Asked basic questions regarding her interests or what I was looking to get. I looked around and narrowed down my choices to a few different rings. David sat me down and we had a great long conversation about each of the Cs and broke it down to get rid of all the jargon and how important they are to Spence and their strict selectivity. Asked which were most important to me to help narrow down to find the perfect diamond. great store and great employees. Highly recommend! read more

My fiancé and I were an easy sell. We fell in love with Spence Diamonds' copy of the "Adonis Rose" from De Beers and purchased the first diamond that they showed us. We were promised free ring repairs / replacement of the diamond for life in addition to other warrantees, and a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificate by the sales person. The repair warrantee rang true with me because Michael Hill had actually honored the same policy with my Mom's ring. Firstly, my fiancé didn't receive the GIA certificate and had to plead with the staff to provide one before he proposed (which required a new diamond to be placed in my ring). Secondly, a few weeks ago I slapped my ring finger hard against my desk (nothing extraordinary) and everything seemed to be fine with my ring which is still under 2 years old. However I woke up a few days later with a break in the ring itself (which is made of platinum) and a fracture on the other side - I think that this is partially because the ring was so thin that it was purposely designed to fail. Apparently Spence Diamonds doesn't provide free repairs after 1 year and said that if I had the ring fixed elsewhere the lifetime diamond replacement warrantee would be nullified. If Spence can't make a platinum ring last 2 years under normal wear and tear, how well are they going to recap my entire ring? They also only replace the diamond if the ring is in "good condition". How can a diamond fall out of an undamaged ring? I strongly recommend never dealing with Spence Diamonds! read more

See all

So very disappointed by our trip to Spence this morning. I'm giving two stars for the lovely customer service we've received so far on different occasions, but it only takes one absolutely awful experience to ruin a good thing. What happened this morning was BEYOND rude! I'm still in shock since a place selling expensive products and trying to cultivate long term relationships through things like lifetime ring cleaning, should never reach this incredibly ugly level of low. Sure I've experienced bad service, but this... unbelievable. Considering the amount of cash we've dropped on this place, at a minimum I would expect polite. So they were having inventory problems that caused them to open 20 mins late. Instead of coming to the door and civilly explaining the situation, the older woman who I assume must have been managing this morning, tried to shoo us away like flies! Literally, from the back counter she started waving us away like pests. Mind you they were already helping someone at the front desk!! Being on a time crunch, we asked to come in and simply pick up our order to which we were told we were being 'done a favour' and they can't let anyone in by law... Come on! You're a retail store, the government is not wasting their time creating laws for jewelry shops to not open on time because they have issues!! The only reason we were there was because they got our order WRONG in the first place and had to send it back to the factory to fix! Once in the store there was no attempt to make amends, be nice or anything. This woman was racing around the store but continued to make it clear that WE were being done the favour and they didn't need to let us in etc... while we paid a significant bill for our order. Considering the kind of money that's involved and that we had done nothing to deserve being spoken to or treated like this, I left the store VERY disturbed, not happy as we should have been. What an awful awful start to the day. Would I recommend Spence... Hmmmm, that's a tough one, sadly this story will always be top of mind now. read more

My diamond fell right out of the ring and the store manager said they likely would not honour the warranty. Now may have to go to the better business bureau. Do not shop here! Their low quality settings can't protect the diamond inside and they do NOT stand behind their products. read more

My fiancé bought my engagement ring from Spence and we were planning on purchasing the matching band around the time COVID happened and we couldn't afford to go through with it at the time. We were quoted $1499 and now that we are able to purchase it, the price has risen almost $700 for absolutely no reason and no one from Spence will honor our original quote even with screenshots of the original quote. Extremely disheartening. Go with another company to purchase a ring. read more

My husband bought my engagement ring from Spence. He spoke of a great experience. But my review is about my experience here. I come here to get my ring cleaned every month or so. Workers are always so friendly and helpful. And they always welcome you to look around. I don't know what it is about jewelry stores that always make me feel very uncomfortable, maybe the pressure of buying? Or just pushy sales people. But not here! Another thing I love about Spence is that the have most of the rings on display ( not the real ones of course) but it's nice to be able to try things on... And dream ... Lol read more

Spence Diamonds - Jewelry Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've bought 3 rings in this location and spent approx 5-6 grand on those. And right after one year a itchy rash appeared right under the ring. I've never had any allergies, so I thought that it might be the soap or something like that. But it wasn't. Apparently, it was reaction to nickel, which is included in the alloy of the ring to make it cheaper. And same thing happened with my wife's ring. Once I complained, they told me to go to go test myself for allergies and then they can remove nickel from my ring for only 50% of the ring cost. read more

After the awful and unprofessional service at Spence. I went to another jewelry store in the Gastowb area and they allowed me to take photos, ask questions without receiving abrupt/snotty answers and was so incredibly helpful. This information found its way to my partner via his friend and over a year later, I'm now engaged (yay!)!!! My partner went to this amazing jewelry store and even said he had excellent service from them. Moral of the story - go anywhere but Spence - they suck! read more

We went here looking for engagement rings and everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, especially Kimberly Chin. She answered all our questions, helped us find the perfect ring and diamond in our price range and most importantly kept things discreet so my fiancé didn't know that I had boughten it. Highly recommend! read more

Carolyn was great with excellent customer service and just a very pleasant person. She was very informative and detailed when answering my questions. You can tell right away she is extremely knowledgeable and very patient. She gave me several options for the ring and stone and talked me through the benefits of each one. Truly made this a low stress and learning experience. Thanks very much, will definitely recommend to my friends. read more

There was a staff interview while I was shopping. It was a quiet night tonight, just me shopping and a wide open door to the interview. Ouch. I heard the whole thing and the poor woman was trying to stay on point during some personal and intense questioning as I'm just standing there browsing. There are tons of the small privacy rooms with doors, close the door! The other associate could hear the whole thing too. How awful. About the rings- case upon case of rings, they all begin to look the same. But no photos allowed. Other jewelry stores don't have this rule. They will write the style number down for you if you want. No thanks, I don't want to compare style numbers later, I want to compare how rings look on my hand. Isn't the point of going in person is seeing how hey look on your hand? Just wish I had a photographic memory... read more

My first salesperson was not rude but didn't take the to time explain the 4 C's of mined, and/or the benefits of Artisan. I was buying stud earrings for my wife, so it clearly was not a big enough item to warrant her full attention. I decided to give Spence Diamonds another shot and had a completely different experience with Mercedes. She is a rockstar (couldn't resist) and educates you with microscopes and charts. She's lovely, patient and treated my purchase as she would $5,000 ring. If you're shopping in Vancouver be sure to ask for Mercedes. read more

When I was looking for an engagement ring, Spence diamonds seemed like a good place to start. They have plenty of setting store wide for you to choose from. The experience went down hill as soon as we sat down to look at loose stones. It was obvious that our sales persons was very seasoned at what he did. Speaking with a friend who had help from the same sales we soon found out he used the same cheesy lines. Most importantly was the price of a loose diamond. Round J colour SI 2 0.86 was priced at over 6000$. I knew my prices and my diamonds even before stepping into their store. Immediately I knew that they were selling junk at OBVIOUSLY HIGHER prices contrary to their radio ads. With that said he tried to scare me by asking me to place a deposit for the diamond. I pleasantly declined the option. Ever since our visit, he has called a total of 5 times, each time I've let it go to voicemail. So for those who go into the store and have a consultant talk to you. Make sure you give out a fake number if you don't see what you like. read more

For a long time, your boy Caspian was married to the streets, but now I'm gettin married on the reals. When I needed an iced out ring for my girl I came to Spence and these cats legit helped me out. My queen picked out a design and then I told these fine folks my budget (huge, cuz Caspian got the cheddar) and they worked out something real nice. They pulled out the diamond and microscope and errything. Now my babygirl got a big ol ring to show the world that she the one who got Caspian. read more

My boyfriend and I went there to check out a few rings in person. You can only feel so much for something that you see online. I think if we had been left alone for a little bit longer, it would have made for a better experience. I like to be able to go up to staff and ask questions when I'm ready, not having them trying to show me rings that are the complete opposite from what I've been trying on. The gentleman who helped us with sizing, diamond colour and all that jazz was awesome, though! Needless to say, I got the ring of my dreams meer months later. It's on my hot little hand as I type! read more

If I give 5 stars, I have to be wowed. I went into Spence specifically to buy a promise ring. I was greeted in an upbeat way and quickly introduced to Jessica. Jessica genuinely and warmly guided me to the perfect ring, something definitely nicer than I would find in my price range. I needed it sized and I was promised that it would be 6 or 7 days and it was ready in 4, exactly how I wanted it. My ring is a promise ring with a promise of bigger and better on the way. The staff at Spence were truly excited and supportive for my upcoming life changing moment. Thank you Spence, you wowed me! read more

Excellent customer service! Unlike some stores where you are pressured to buy right away, the sales staff let you explore and are available to answer any questions you have. There's an excellent selection of rings, especially if you want something unique. read more

DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST. I have done so much research lately on diamonds and recently went to Spence Diamonds in Vancouver last week. The showroom was impressive with lots of selection to choose from. The staff greeted me promptly. The PROBLEM? Pushy Sales Reps I was constantly urged to narrow on a design with the sales guy beside me the whole time. He's like, is your gf short or tall? Then I was asked if she would like lots of diamonds or just one diamond, then I was asked how much I was going to spend and if it will be a suprise. I just wanted to be left alone and browse...OMG! Then once I had my hands on a ring, I was urged to follow him on a quick presentation. The whole time I was sitting there, he kept 'babbling' away which I suspect is a cheesy memorized script he uses with every customer. I tried asking questions but were brushed away quickly so that he won't forget his script. He shown me a diamond and kept pushing for a deposit, which I clearly told him I was still shopping around. Low Quality Diamonds For some reason, I was kept shown diamonds in the I and J colour range and was told that there is not a significant difference with the ones in the colourless range. It was very obvious the G and F colour was a big difference. He pointed to the SI range and hinted me to go for diamonds in that range; under the microscope I saw major inclusions in obvious spots, even though these may not be visible to naked eye, it interferes with how the light will bounce off a diamond which means not as much sparkle. The diamonds were over priced and they do not discount keeping their profit up. They claim their cut quality is really high but even if this is the case, the significant increase in price for a smaller diamond in lower quality ranges does not make up just for a better cut. OVERALL? Good Warranties, Good Selection, Good Clean Store High prices for what you are getting Pushy sales environment Cheesy sales people Do your homework; research online, and maybe you can find a better quality diamond for less then what they sell for without the sales pressure hassle. I end up buying mine from BlueNile. read more

Spence Diamonds can be a girl's best friend! I visited Spence for my wedding band. My fiance had already found his, and I wanted something to match my engagement ring. It wasn't bought at Spence, and the original matching band for my ring was way out of budget for us, so I decided to look at other options. Spence was actually my last resort, because a friend told me they charge too much for their diamonds. I decided to peruse through their website anyway to see if they had anything similar, and within a more reasonable budget. That way, I won't waste my time in the store with someone trying to sell me something we couldn't afford. Their website showed me a lot of their rings, and I came across one that could fit well with my engagement ring. Without making an appointment, I decided to walk in and inquire, since there was a bit of time left before my wedding. When I arrived, I was greeted right away by an employee. He asked what brought me in to Spence, and I told him exactly what I was looking for, and he said he knew which one I was referring to. I love it when sales people are knowledgeable about their products. I tried on the band, it fit well with my engagement ring, but I had to get it re-sized. So I paid for it, and within a week, it was ready for pick up. When my fiance and I came back, he gave us a tour of their diamonds and a little lesson on diamond cut/colour/clarity. I already did my homework on this stuff, but I had a great experience there, and I think I'd go back to find my 10 yr anniversary present! Good thing my husband to be isn't on Yelp! LOL Or maybe he should be so he could read this! read more

EXCELLENT service! The best line of options from all jewelry stores I have been to and extremely helpful. Not pushy at all and I HAPPILY bought my ring from them and do business with them. I would recommend Spence Diamonds Downtown Vancouver in a heartbeat. Also, I worked with an employee there named Ian and he was a joy to work with. He was very helpful and made it a very fun experience. Chase Wickham read more

This is an update to my original review, I've edited the original review to respect the privacy of the salespeople involved. I don't feel anything was just one person's fault but a whole array of misunderstandings. Since posting my review Spence contacted me almost immediately and had the branch manager of the Burrard location directly contact my partner. This shows they certainly want to keep people happy and provide good service. My original review is subjective and was only my personal experience, I wouldn't let it stop you from visiting Spence! Like I stated previously my first impression was really great and they certainly do have some wonderful staff working there! You will always be respected, educated, and who knows you might just find the perfect piece of jewelry. Who knows, maybe I'll be back in the future. I'll just be slightly more cautious before handing over a hefty deposit. read more

Had an outstanding experience today during my visit looking for a wedding band to match my uniquely shaped engagement ring. Kimberly Chin helped me find the perfect band to suit my style and needs and it was $600 less than any similar band I had found so far (and I have been looking for MONTHS). I didn't feel any pressure and appreciated all of her suggestions and her positive attitude. I was not expecting to walk away with such a positive impression, let alone a ring- and I will certainly be suggesting to my friends! read more

The staff (and especially Kim Chin) were all very friendly and helpful. Great place and would highly recommend!

While the ladies I have dealt with over the past year have been professional and friendly, I would absolutely not recommend or give Spence Diamonds any of my future business. My engagement ring was purchased in Feb 2018 and we've had nothing but problems since it was picked up, going on 14 months now. Ring setting was incorrect when it was picked up initially and it's been returned to the store 3 other times in the last year as the white gold was yellowing. I was told i have higher than average acidity, which I would be willing to accept, however i have never had an allergy or reaction to any other piece of jewelry i have ever owned! When I refused to accept that my skin acidity is the cause, they find something else to blame. Humidity was on the list of possible reasons and a long list of chemicals. I have never taken better care of any other piece of jewelry than this ring. I do not wear it in the shower, when i clean, sleep, pool/hot tub. I even take it off when i have to count cash at work! i asked them to tell me what alloys they mix with the gold and they will not. Their solution was to recast the ring in platinum for an additional $700 which i refused. After negotiating them down to $380, i reluctantly accepted the deal. They have now had my ring for 5 weeks and I called to follow up last week and was told the ring was sent to store in Vancouver but was sent back to the shop as the band was not satisfactory to the manger i have been dealing with. I just couldn't believe yet another quality issue. Curious if they were ever going to call and tell me. Craftsmanship and communication is not at all what I expect after spending almost $8,000 on a ring. **UPDATE** After receiving an email from my fiancée, Spence offered to cover the extra cost and my ring was picked up yesterday. It is beautiful and I am so happy to have it back. read more

As with many on here, I definitely recommend working with Spence, at the very least in the downtown location as I've never dealt with their Langley location. Kim was very thorough and efficient throughout my buying process and understood that I needed to do my own due diligence before committing to the purchase. All in, I was very well informed, was never unduly pressured and even after spending a considerable amount of money I was actually happy with the purchase and my experience here. Thanks for everything Kim! read more

My partner and I had a wonderful experience thanks to the excellent customer service of Kimberly Chin. She was very informative when answering questions and would let us take our time, as opposed to mayn pushy salespeople that we spoke to earlier in the day. Thank you for making our special day comfortable and so much fun! read more

Spence Diamonds is awesome! High-quality diamonds and high-quality service. Kat at the front desk in Langley set up a time for me to come in and talk to Katie, the store manager. Katie then ran me through a very thorough description of all my options for the ring I was going to purchase and allowed me to pick out the perfect ring in my price range. I recommend Spence Diamonds in Langley specifically for those looking for a great customer service experience and a stellar product. read more

I'm reposting my review because my first one was flagged for not containing a firsthand experience despite the fact that it did. So let me again tell you about my *firsthand* experience. I visited Spence about 3 years ago to purchase an engagement ring. I'm not sure how relevant my experience is given the amount of time that has passed but I think there are a few gems in here to take home. I had researched a lot on diamonds and went into Spence after hearing their countless radio ads claiming that they sold visibly better diamonds at obviously better prices. Who wouldn't want that?! Now, I didn't just want any stone that I could get anywhere. I wanted a stone that sang, a bright stone that gave off tons of light and looked larger than it was. I knew that for the untrained eye, the best way to get what I was looking for was to get a stone that was graded by a reputable diamond lab, and that's exactly what I asked for. I asked the first salesperson I saw if I could get a 2ct round brilliant diamond graded AGS "000". I got a blank look in response. She had never heard of AGS (FYI AGS is one one of the best diamond labs). Weren't these the diamond experts!? I then asked her if I could instead buy a GIA "excellent" stone. She replied that she could get that for me if I really wanted to, but that I didn't need it because their stones came with a Spence Certificate. She went on a bit about the Spence Guarantee. Her tone implied that she would prefer not to acquire a GIA stone for me, and that the stones they had were good enough. In the end, they told me I was probably better off going somewhere else to get what I wanted. But all I wanted was the best of the best, and I thought that's what they sold. Well, they offered to sell me what they *said* was the best. The issue, as far as I could tell, was that Spence sells diamonds that they certify themselves. That to me is a problem. Would you buy a house based on the inspection that the seller paid for? Would you buy a car from someone who said that they had their own mechanic inspect the car and that should be good enough? Would you trust a movie critic's opinion about a movie if their salary was paid for by the production company themselves? When you buy anything of value, it's a general rule that you have it inspected and certified by a 3rd party - someone without a vested interest, who can be unbiased and objective. DIAMONDS ARE NO DIFFERENT. Now that was my experience. Perhaps times have changed. Perhaps Spence is now selling stones that all come with an independent certification, and if so, that's great. If not, well, just be careful what you spend your money on. ---- So let me pass on what I learned. 1. Only buy a diamond that has been graded by a reputable lab. If you're going to buy from Spence, get that third party cert! 2. CUT is EVERYTHING. It determines LIGHT PERFORMANCE. A better cut stone looks bigger and looks whiter. No one will notice imperfections when the diamond is blinding them! If you are on a budget, you don't need a VS clarity or an F colour. Trust me! Check out: - Brightness - Light Leakage - Fire/Dispersion - Scintillation - Painting and Digging - Optical Symmetry 3. Educate yourself. GO READ "4 C'S AND BEYOND" on goodoldgold.com and you'll easily know more than the Spence salesperson that I encountered. Check out the forums on pricescope.com, or search the redflagdeals.com for other people's experiences at Spence. 4. ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Choose AGS over GIA. Accept no less than GIA. If a cutter has what they know is an inferior diamond, they will send it to a lab that is a bit more "generous" with their certs. Don't be surprised to have your EGL (yech!) certified stone retested by another lab to find out that they have a different opinion about your stone. A GIA "excellent" diamond may not qualify for an AGS "000" ideal grading, as their grading is much more stringent. Get that AGS cert if you can! 5. Results from GIA's Facetware Cut Estimator software is NOT THE SAME as a GIA Certification!!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 6. Get as much info as possible. Ask for the AGS/GIA cert. Look at the stone under magnification. Examine the symmetry under an IDEALSCOPE. Ask for an ASET image. Check out the results from a BRILLIANCESCOPE (although I read that this test can be "rigged") or an ISEE2 machine (Britton Diamonds has one). 7. Consider shopping online. Surprisingly, you'll get more info than you'll get from most stores! When I was looking, AGS stones were available at: - goodoldgold.com - whiteflash.com - briangavindiamonds.com Also check out bluenile.ca for GIA stones. Their signature ideal stones use their own in house lab, but also come with a GIA cert. I've given Spence 2 stars based only on my experience in their store with their salesperson. I cannot speak about the products they sell because I only had their word to go on. Feel free to msg me if you have questions =) read more

If I could give no stars, I would. I had the rudest experience by some 40+ year old blonde lady (she was wearing leopard print that day) that was SO rude! She kept talking over me (and I even said, "are you going to keep talking over me?!" to which she did apologize for after doing it for the last ten minutes) and was super condescending on my inquiry about fluorescent diamonds! I was asking based on curiosity and from what I've seen and accumulated in knowledge from other vendors but she flat out laughed in my face for being inquisitive! She scoffed and said "go ahead and buy a blue diamond then!". Whoa whoa there goes my business Spence! I was so close to considering them for a diamond but I will NEVER recommend them and I will tell everyone I know about my horrible experience. I definitely did not want to purchase a "blue diamond", but some online forums have said that fluorescent diamonds are not always milky, so I wanted to see for comparison like any inquisitive consumer; instead of addressing my concerns professionally, this lady was rude and condescending. The only reason this place even deserves one star is the petite gemologist man that was patient, kind and informative. Although he didn't recommend fluorescent diamonds, at least he answered my questions instead of laughing in my face just for asking! Some things that Spence could improve on is knowing about new online technology tools such as the patented HCA and AGA/NAJA tool, because when you try to BS me and say it's all a gimmick, then I'll start thinking YOU'RE a gimmick and that you really don't know what your competitors are doing. To a buyer, what's important to the buyer should be important to you, the seller if you want my business. You not knowing these tools and bad mouthing what I find is important alienates you the seller, not me the buyer because we just took our three carat diamond business somewhere else (we took it to Rodan Jewellers in Burnaby which was AMAZING!!! Best customer service ever, please read my review on Rodan!). Spence will never get a recommendation from me based on this experience although I did like that you can try on different rings freely. Heed my advice and go elsewhere! I have told everyone I know to avoid buying from this place (and good thing, because all my friends are in the late 20s-early 30s category that are getting married now!). read more