October 12th, 2011 
Photo Credit: diamondonnet.com
I imagine engagement ring shopping to be a daunting task, which is why I’m so glad to have not been a part of the process when it came time for my own engagement. At the risk of sounding like a huge sap, I’ll say that I’m lucky enough to have found a truly wonderful husband that spent almost six months tracking down the perfect engagement ring. Not only was I totally and completely surprised when he proposed, but I was also elated with the ring.
From what my husband has told me, there are dozens of diamond vendors in downtown Boston alone, many of which have been in the family business for the past hundred years or more. A great deal of these jewelers have very good reputations, but ultimately, the best place to buy a ring, in our humble opinion, is Leon Ohanian and Sons, located on the seventh floor of the The Diamond and Jewelry Building immediately adjacent to the DSW Shoe Warehouse in Downtown Crossing. They have provided me with what I believe to be the only diamond ring I’ll ever own, and I couldn’t be happier.
Photo Credit: libprop.com
It would probably be hard to know about this place without first receiving a recommendation, because the Diamond and Jewelry Building is rather complicated and intimidating to a typical Downtown Crossing shopper. Once inside Ohanian and Sons, however, you’ll be put at ease knowing that you’re working with a family that has been operational since 1919 and will educate you on the four C’s of diamond shopping (color, cut, clarity, carat) and track down the perfect diamond for you, all for a very reasonable price.
We do most of our work with Gregg, but the rest of the staff is equally friendly and helpful. They’ll also recognize you whenever you stop back in, be it to browse or simply to get your rings cleaned. One of the perks of buying a ring from Ohanian and Sons is that you get free ring cleaning for life from the store. You can stop by anytime during their normal business hours and they will buff out any scratches on your band and steam clean your diamond until it shines bright enough to blind people. They’ll also re-size the ring for you for free if you find that the ring you first ordered doesn’t fit well.
Photo Credit: city-data.com
Ohanian and Sons has five-star reviews across the board on Yelp, and so I know I’m not alone in my appreciation for their work, their products, and their services. They also have a constantly-evolving thank-you card wall of notes from happily engaged couples and wedding and birth announcements of people who bought their rings at the store. When you’re making a tremendous investment such as an engagement ring, it helps to know that there are plenty of customers that thought highly enough of the store and the experience to keep in touch after their engagement.
WHERE:
Leon Ohanian and Sons
387 Washington Street (between Bromfield St & Franklin St)
Boston, MA 02108
Ph. 617-426-0558
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Summer (July-August) – closed on Saturdays
Winter holidays (December) – call for store hours
[...] Heather Friedmann is a full-time working mom who loves being kept busy. She holds an undergraduate degree in French and Francophone Studies and Environmental Studies… Read full site [...]