Harby Jewelers of Jacksonville — Local services in Jacksonville

Where to begin...I find the most effective communication in written format is just to get to the point up front. So here's that portion:

If you're sitting on your couch looking at your phone wondering where you should take your jewelry business, look no further. This is the spot. Are you going to propose to your lady, and you need an engagement ring? This is the spot. Have you been married 100 years, and it's time to upgrade her ring for a centennial celebration? Wow, congratulations, but also, go here.

Here's the longer section. If you just need a quick recommendation, see above.

Harby Jewelers of Jacksonville worked with me while I lived on the opposite coast from them! Yes, California. They're responsive by email, kind in communication, BEND OVER BACKWARDS to meet your needs, and are a local family owned business. I had a horrible experience with, let's call them Jay's Jewelers, and it wasn't a tennis bracelet or set of earrings. It was my WIFE'S engagement ring. [cue sad music] We were devastated. Discoloring, terrible diamonds that had a cool feature where they'd just fall out, horrible soldering, you name it, we had problems with it. Enter Mr. Hugh Harby. He was a referral from a close friend that swore by him, and within two emails I knew I was in good hands. Hugh took a few details from us about what we wanted in a replacement ring. Within a few emails we had zeroed in on a ring, bands for later down the road, and even a special financing option that would allow us to pay as we go. It was seamless and easy. He was there helping us the whole way. We paid off the ring and I went right back to Mr. Harby when it was time to buy the bands. Financed them the same way. Seamless.

As a part of my story, we had a small hiccup where my wife's ring size got lost in emails somewhere, so we didn't confirm the size before we ordered bands. When they came in, they were too small. No matter. Hugh and I went back through emails and when he confirmed it was an honest error on their part, they covered the resizing and soldering of her bands and ring completely. It was completed within a week and showed up safely at our door via certified mail that required a signature. No issues at all.

Everything they have done since I started working with them has been professional, helpful, and kind. I've never even met this person face to face, but we have a great working relationship. When his mother passed, they sent out a beautiful email that actually made me tear up. I responded with condolences. THAT'S the kind of people these people are.

If I EVER have needs that require a jeweler's expertise, I have a guy now. Don't waste your time with a big box store. Nothing against them, I'm sure there are kind people within their walls. But nothing beats the personal touch of a jeweler who genuinely cares for their customers. This is that jeweler.

Mr. Harby, the Massey family owes you and your staff a debt of gratitude. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did for Lauren and me. We...

About 25 years ago, I bought my first diamond ring from Harby Jewelers. I knew next to nothing about diamonds except the “4 Cs”. I knew what the Cs stood for, but not how they figured into the look and value of the stone. Hugh took the time to explain it all to me and showed me examples of diamonds under a microscope so I could see exactly what he was talking about. I also learned pretty quickly that diamond grading is somewhat subjective. There are 23 color grades, 11 clarity grades and multiple cut grades. Then there’s the obvious carat weight and price point that makes choosing the right diamond a bit more complicated. Do the math and you can understand how hard it can be to choose the right diamond for you.

Now, 25 years later, I wanted to get my wife a larger ring for our 25th wedding anniversary. I called Hugh, told him who I was and what I wanted to do. He remembered me, (I had also bought a necklace there for her 10th anniversary), gave me some new information and offered me some options. There have been a couple of fairly major changes in the way diamonds are graded from when I bought my first diamond. He had 5 or 6 stones shipped to him that fit the description of what I was looking for. He had looked them over before I came to the office to visit and explained to me what he thought about each one of them. He explained the new methods and criteria used to grade stones today vs 25 years ago. I remember in comparing 2 of the stones, both of which had the same clarity rating, he showed me under the microscope how he thought one of them looked better than the other simply because of where in the stone the flaw was. Both had a similar flaw, but because of the location, one was clearly more visible. This knowledge and attention to detail made me feel comfortable that I was getting the best looking diamond and value.

I later looked online and found identically graded stones for about the same price so that further convinced me that I had made the right choice.

At the time, I wasn’t sure if my wife wanted to keep her original diamond or trade it towards the new one so Hugh was very flexible and offered options either way depending on what she decided.

I feel very comfortable working with and buying from Harby Jewelers. For value, personal attention and a nice experience, I don’t think I could have picked a...

I bought an engagement ring at Harby Jewelers in November of 2020, and they have my highest recommendation. Admittedly, I have not been a customer of many jewelers, but I can say with total confidence that Harby Jewelers provides a world-class consultative and buying experience. When I mentioned to my family that I was in the market for a ring, my uncle recommended Hugh, citing his fair prices and great selection (he has purchased jewelry from Hugh for more than 30 years). So, I set up an intro appointment to get some more information.

Hugh greeted me at the door and spent two hours with me, going into great detail about diamond shapes, sizes, colors, and clarity; answering all of my questions; all while assuring me that we would find something within my price range that would be special. I never felt pressured to overspend or go outside of my comfort zone. Hugh catered to my every concern, and I could tell he really took joy in the experience. This was a man who loved his work — and it made me so excited to make this purchase with Harby Jewelers.

Months later, when I was ready, I went to pick out a diamond. Hugh rearranged his entire schedule to meet with me early on a Saturday, so that I wouldn't raise any suspicions with my now-fiance. He had brought in a wide selection of diamonds and we picked the best one. While every diamond he showed me was gorgeous, his trusted expertise helped me make the best choice for my money. Once I had the ring picked out, Hugh also accommodated my every request — like overnighting the ring to me in Austin, and working with me to get it resized to perfection once I had popped the question. Needless to say, the proposal went wonderfully and I can't thank Hugh enough. I've certainly found my...