Where can I buy wedding bands *in person* in the Austin area?

October 30, 2012 2:48 PM

Where can I buy wedding bands *in person* in the Austin area?

Ordering wedding bands from the internet is not working for me -- they don't fit right and they somehow look very different (and uglier) than they did online. Maybe this shouldn't be a problem, but it is, and I would like to go to an actual store and purchase ones that I like.

I live in the Austin area. I'm not looking for anything really expensive, because we're saving up for something rather important, and I'm not dead-set on any one kind of material. In fact, I'd prefer a place where they're not going to try really hard to upsell me $10,000 rings. We're a gay couple and are planning to tie the knot in NY.

Thanks in advance for your help.

posted by fugitivefromchaingang to Shopping (7 answers total)

JC Penney's Jewelry counter? Is that too low-end?
posted by andreap at 4:00 PM on October 30, 2012

In general, I'd hit South Congress. Love or Uncommon Objects.

For Celtophiles like myself, I'd go to Things Celtic. We used Claddagh Rings.

If you've got a free weekend, go to the Texas Renaissance Festival, and by a ring you like from a craftsperson. They have lots.
posted by Mad_Carew at 5:50 PM on October 30, 2012

http://www.kirkrootdesigns.com/

Bought my wife's engagement ring there even though I bought the stone on the interwebs (Laser Scans of the Geometry!)... They treat you like your spending $10k even though I spent much less... Free cleanings anytime we need it.. all around good people.

We had some local friends make our wedding rings... they pounded out some silver bullion that I had and we acid etched a celtic wave design into them. We also wanted to in-set sapphires (one of each of our favorite colors) but the pure silver is too soft to hold them.
posted by anthroprose at 6:10 PM on October 30, 2012

I'd recommend Kruger's on Congress near the Capitol. In a past life my ex and I bought our rings there. They were professional -- not at all flustered by a same-sex couple -- and bent over backward to get me the ring I wanted with a limited budget and very specific ideas of what I wanted (I brought them my own non-diamond stone, too), and it actually worked out to less than I thought it would be. I'd do business with them again.
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:19 PM on October 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

It's a wee bit cliche, but Tiffany & Co. was nothing but excellent when my partner and I bought our rings from them earlier this year. It looks like there is a location in Austin at The Domain. Dealt with them over the phone at first, then at the Seattle store, then at the Denver store. Everybody was extremely helpful. We wound up with 4 mm platinum bands. Modern looking shape/proportions, traditional material, very beautiful and classy and exactly what we wanted. There was never any upsell at all. We explained what we were looking for and they were very helpful in showing everything they have. Didn't blink either on the phone or in the stores at the same-sex couple aspect at all. My partner has had his ring resized twice already (downsized, no charge in the first 90 days) and it's very easy to just ship it to them (which we did the first time) or stop by a store for them to deal with the return shipping (which we did the second time). I'm not clear on your price range, but MeMail me if you're interested to know how much these rings were.
posted by jroybal at 8:08 PM on October 30, 2012

We got our wedding bands, in white gold at Costco. They're great, inexpensive and they were comfortable.

At least check out what they have.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:19 AM on October 31, 2012

There are James Avery locations all over town. I've never shopped for wedding bands, but I've been in there for other things, and I've liked the service and quite a bit of the jewelry.

If you go to the one on Anderson Lane, you can go have a delicious celebratory burger at HopDoddy!
posted by Brody's chum at 11:17 AM on October 31, 2012