Come in before you know anything
Most people walk in with no idea what they are looking for, and that is completely normal. You do not need to arrive knowing the difference between a halo and a solitaire, or what carat means, or what she would actually want. That is the conversation, not the prerequisite.
Bring a photo of something she has pinned or mentioned. Bring nothing at all. Either works.
The questions we will ask you
What is she wearing now, and what shape is it — round, oval, princess, emerald, pear? Yellow gold or white? Diamond, or would moissanite suit her better? Solitaire, halo, or stones down the band? Do you know her size, or do we need to work that out without her noticing? Is there a matching band now, or later?
And the one nobody likes asking out loud: what are you comfortable spending? We would rather know at the start and show you the right tray than walk you past things that were never on the table.
Moissanite, and why we bring it up
Moissanite is not a fake diamond, it is a different stone. It throws more coloured fire and costs a fraction. Some people love it. Some can pick it out across a room. We will put one next to a diamond under the same light and let you decide, rather than deciding for you.
Made instead of bought
If nothing in the case is quite it, we make rings. Bring a drawing, a photo, or a description and we will draw it with you at the counter. Nothing is made until you have said yes to the design, and a custom ring takes about one to two weeks.
Layaway, and taking your time
You do not have to put it on a card. Layaway means we set the ring aside and you pay it down at your pace, which is how a lot of people buy for a date that is still a few months out. SNAP financing is there too. Come and ask what suits your timing.
Sized here. Fixed here. Always.
This is the part the chain stores in this mall cannot match. We size the ring at our own bench, usually the same day. When a prong wears in five years, or it needs replating, or she wants it resized — you bring it back to the same counter and the same people. It never goes in an envelope.
What it costs
Prices move with the metal market and with the piece itself, so we would rather show you than quote you down a phone line. Come and see what is in the case, try it on, and we will tell you exactly where it sits. Layaway and SNAP financing are both available.
The cases change week to week, so the pictures here show the kind of thing we carry rather than a particular piece. Come and see what is in today.
Questions we get asked
I have no idea what I am doing. Can I just come in?
That is most people, and it is genuinely fine. Come in with a photo of something she has liked, or with nothing at all. We will ask the questions and narrow it down with you. There is no exam at the door.
How do I find out her ring size without asking her?
Bring in a ring she already wears on that finger and we will measure it. Failing that we can work from a photo of her hand beside something of known size, or size it after the proposal — which we do at our own bench, usually the same day.
Should I buy a diamond or moissanite?
Depends on her, and on you. Moissanite throws more fire and costs far less; a diamond is a diamond. We will show you both side by side under the same light rather than pushing you one way.
Do you offer layaway on engagement rings?
Yes, and SNAP financing as well. Plenty of people buy this way for a date that is a few months out. Come and ask what suits your timing.
Can you make a ring instead of me buying one from the case?
Yes. Bring a drawing, a photo or just a description and we will draw it with you at the counter. Nothing gets made until you approve the design, and it takes about one to two weeks.
What if it needs resizing later?
Bring it back. We size, replate, re-tip prongs and repair at the same bench that sold it to you. It never gets posted anywhere.
Looking for something in particular?
Tell us roughly what you are after and we will tell you whether it is in the case, or whether it is something we would make for you. Either way you will not waste a trip.
Come and look at the cases
No appointment, free mall parking, and the same bench behind the counter that repairs everything we sell. We are inside Orland Square Mall, Mon–Thu 10am–8pm, Fri–Sat 10am–9pm, Sun 11am–6pm.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm.
Pendant and charm work brings customers in from Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Oak Forest, Homer Glen and right across the south suburbs.