Purchased an Opal ring made by Lauren Wolf. It was lovely when I first picked it up. Needed it resized and didn't mind the $250 resizing cost. The resizing process was very strange, multiple resizing tools were used, leading to confusion. The ring was resized incorrectly, so they offered to resize again. Generally at this point, the fee for resizing should be refunded. During the process the ring was resized incorrectly several times. There was no communication through out the process. After the ring was resized correctly, the Opal came back damaged and there was a flaw in the band. There was no communication about anything, the customer service is severe lacking, especially for a luxury goods dealer. The entire experience has soured my view of Esqueleto, I will never refer anyone, if I know anyone who is thinking of purchasing through them o would strongly suggest against it. read more

I've been meaning to write a review here since my husband and I had probably the worst jewelry-buying experience ever about a year ago. He bought me a ring that, within one week, looked terrible. Banged up, bent, and like I got it out of a gumball machine. A friend commented, "thats new? I thought you had it for years." When I contacted them and explained my issues the sales person was insanely condescending and rude. I was actually shocked that a place in business in this area had this level of customer service. They repeatedly accused me of lifting weights in the jewelry. I assure you I put it on and typed on a computer. I don't wear it because it looks horrible and makes me mad. Sounds like multiple other people had a similar experience. My advice? Go somewhere that actually cares about their product and the people they sell to. I would literally never recommend this place to another person in my life. Overpriced, bad quality, rude. read more

Wanted to love it, but the opposite happened. Terrible service. I approached with a warm and interested demeanor, ready to find something to purchase. I grew up in the Bay Area and said that I didn't know the place was there. The woman behind the counter looked up and said with annoyance, "now you know," before going right back to what she was doing. I walked out shortly after that, completely uninterested in sticking around. Very rude, unwelcoming, uninviting, unfriendly, unhelpful, unapproachable... I can't find anything redeeming. Beautiful jewelry is in abundance these days. Spend your money somewhere else. Looks can be deceiving. This is an excellent example of that. Plenty of reviews speak to the lack of consideration for paying customers. They're correct. This business doesn't belong in the East Bay. read more

I was brought to Esqueleto's Oakland Location by a friend where I tried on a beautiful Vintage engagement ring and sent a picture of it to my boyfriend to give him a hint. In November of last year (2023) He surprised me with a proposal and said same ring in London. Suffice it to ay I was ecstatic and so surprised. Unfortunately this is where the happy story turns into a nightmare. After a month of wearing the ring, a diamond fell out in December. I reached out to Esqueleto immediately to report it and see what could be done. I was met with criticism of how I treated the vintage piece and told after the fact that it was more delicate and I would need to be more careful going forward, but they would make the repair if I paid for it. Mind you, never during the sales process were myself or my Fiancé made aware of the delicacy of vintage pieces or that it couldn't t be treated like any other Engagement ring. I brought it in for repair in December 2023 and didnt receive it back until Februrary of 2024, at no point did I receive an update until I myself reached out. After picking up the ring I was so terrified to wear it that it just sat in the box. In March of 2024 I moved to Colorado to be with my Fiancé full time and slowly started to wear the ring once a week but only for activities as strenuous as working at a coffee shop... despite the infrequency of wear ANOTHER DIAMOND FELL OUT. At this point I am in tears and terrified to reach out to the boutique after what I was put through during the first break of the faulty piece. This ring that should be a symbol of the happiest moment of my life is now just a source of anxiety and sadness. I took the ring back from Colorado to Oakland in person in the hopes that the business would do the right thing and take back the faulty item that broke twice in less than a year and cost $5,000. No such ownership or customer service was rendered. At this juncture the boutiques has the ring and after much back and forth the options they have presented are; to return the broken and faulty ring to me as is, to repair it for the second time and return it to me and me be terrified to wear it for the rest of my life, or to give us store credit where we can't trust the quality of the merchandise and have been treated poorly. I am at a loss I don't want the ring and I don't ever want to deal with anyone here ever again. I am devastated during a period in my life when I should be the happiest and planning for the future. I would never treat a patron like this and I am in shock that I have been made to feel this way. read more

Esqueleto - Faulty Ring - Jewelry Near Me - Oakland, California

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I go back here again and again. The people are wonderful, believe in artistry, and have a passion for the craft. I've officially run out of fingers so they need to start selling extra fingers for all the gorgeous rings I buy. read more

I used to really love this place. My husband bought my engagement ring from here and several other memorable pieces. Unfortunately, one of the items he purchased, a pair of earrings, broke. We looked on the website, and it appeared the repair would be easy since the company boasts "longevity" of items and "we are happy to repair it. Please contact us at the location where your piece was purchased." Plus, the earrings were only three years old. We arrived, and the sales associate was preparing an item to be shipped, glanced up, and said, "Hey." We approached the counter; she appeared annoyed and sighed, "can i help you?" I told her i had items that needed repair and handed over my Esqueleto box. She opened the box, looked at the broken earrings and told me they weren't purchased there! I probably should have left at that point, but I didn't. We produced the electronic receipt, and she was still skeptical. She then told us they were old, like I should expect my jewelry purchased from there to break after three years. She quoted us $30 for the repair and we advised the website doesn't say there will be a cost. She laughed at us. Once the earrings were fixed a different sales associate helped us. She said the repair was $60! She could only apologize and say they provide the best quotes possible at the store, and it is up to the studio. It should be noted, there wasn't a warning that the price could increase once the studio receives it or phone call once the studio received the earrings advising repairing a post would cost more money. The quoted $30 price was on the original receipt the only person surprised by the doubled price was me. So they have lost a longtime customer and now I'm just worried about my other jewelry purchased from them because if something breaks I will not be seeking repair from them. read more

I woudn't consider ever again buying here. I entered the store to buy my first ever engagement diamond ring. I was alone in the store with 3 sellers, and told them my budget. I was convinced to buy a ring that was over my budget, I paid for the ring and for resizing it and got a message about a week after that it's ready to pick up. I was very suprised to discover the diamond ring does not come with a certificate, as no one ever mentioned that before, and when I asked the seller that was at that time in the store to get one, her answer was ''you need to trust us''. I had a bad feeling and went to check it - the diamond is real, but apperantely I paid too much for the ring. The store's way to ''try'' to fix the bad taste they left me with, is to give me an appraisal, which is very much not objective and I definetly didn't take. This is your world of trade, and a certificate is basic thing you get when buying a diamond. If your customer doesn't get one you need to disclose it before jumping on a sale! Terrible experience. read more

OMG. A visual delight with ceramics jewelry and so much more. Love the people who work there and the items are original and beautiful. What a gift giving treasure. read more

I am so bummed -- I recently got engaged and am looking for a super unique ring. I was so excited to look at pieces and try them on, I went in with a friend. We asked to see a ring or two and said we wanted to see more. The woman seemed super annoyed with us the whole time and after we looked at a couple of things she turned around and walked behind the desk and pointedly started scrolling her phone and pretending we weren't there, even as we identified other pieces we would like to see. I left feeling really awful about the experience, a bucket of cold water on my excitement and genuinely sad to miss out on their gorgeous selection as I will not be spending money there. read more

Beautiful rings, great customer service. I just had a great time picking my ring. They answered all my questions and I was able to try each ring I asked for. read more

Oh thank goodness for Esqueleto and their amazing engagement rings. Incredible designs, especially if you're looking for something "alternative," not super traditional, or not overpowering/ clunky. We had STELLAR customer service from LK, who was so lovely and patient. When I told LK I wanted a low profile ring, LK knew exactly what I meant, showed me those exact types of rings and answered my millions of questions. They let you look at a few at a time so you can really compare the rings to each other. I never felt rushed to hurry so they could help the next customer and I never felt pressured to make a choice. They understand that this is a big decision ($!) that warrants lots of window shopping and that you need time to shop around and compare rings & prices. The place is very upfront about pricing and helps you take pictures of the rings, their prices, and the item code. This makes it so much easier to keep track of final prices, makes it easy to compare prices, and makes it easy for your partner to go back without you and get the exact ring you want :) Thank you LK! read more

Esqueleto - Post-engagement! - Jewelry Near Me - Oakland, California

Gorgeous selection of jewelry. The sales people are welcoming and full of great suggestions without being pushy. We love this place! We are ordering a beautiful wedding band and can't wait to keep visiting them for special occasions. read more

Customer service was non existent. I was there for 15 minutes and completely ignored by the two staff. There were two other customers in the store but they were not actively being attended to. read more

First off, the service from Georgia is absolutely remarkable - she is so sweet and made the whole ring-buying process comfortable and painless. Secondly, this store continues to disappoint me because they price their jewelry in store a lot higher than what it is online. This has happened twice now for two rings I have looked at and for one of which I have purchased. This seems unethical and strange that you would price gauge your customers who go into the actual store. Lastly, we tried to return a $4k vintage engagement ring bought in the store because it just wasn't the one. Not only was my fiance not told about the really short return policy, but nothing was done to accommodate us other than a store credit. It's disappointing that the owner at this store would do so little for their loyal customers and have so little heart. I tend to root for the little guy, but in this case, I would rather buy jewelry from other stores that don't treat you like garbage for spending thousands of dollars in their store. read more

I have been in love with the store for years so I was thrilled when my fiancé chose a beautiful and unique 3 stone ring by Lauren Wolf from here for my engagement ring. That was over a year ago. Esqueleto sized the ring for me. Shortly after that one of the smaller stones became loose, they quickly fixed it for me and I haven't had any issues since. Now that we've set a date I've been looking for bands for myself and my partner. After seeing a beautiful ring by The Mania Mania posted on their Instagram I decided to stop in to see it but they didn't have at the the Oakland store. A shop employee, Wilson, was very helpful and ordered the ring to the store so I could try it on. When the ring arrived she spent time with me trying out different stacking options but I wasn't fully convinced. Today I came back to the store with my partner for both of us to try different options, again Wilson spent plenty of time with us showing us options and telling us about the artists and helping inspire the perfect combinations for me and band for my partner. She was also incredibly patient in helping me determine sizing for the 2 rings I want to stack with my engagement ring. (I'm a hairstylist so this is a challenge for me) I can not say enough good things about the experiences we have had here with thoughtful and pleasant staff. I think I finally made up my mind and am excited to take advantage of their loyalty program to complete my perfect stack. Hope to get many more pieces here in the years to come. read more

Esqueleto - Black diamond band and 3 stone ring by Lauren Wolf and champagne diamond archer ring by Katrina LaPenne (Nails by @honeyandcottonnailstudio) - Jewelry Near Me - Oakland, California

I fell in love with Todd Pownell's work at Esqueleto and worked with Sha-Ron to have a custom ring made. She did an amazing job of communicating with the jeweler about what I wanted and I couldn't be more happy with my ring. I used a stone I recently inherited from my grandmother and it felt so good to work with people who are so personable. I could not recommend them more. read more

Upon my most recent visit, I was extremely unhappy with the customer service. The available salesperson was rude and nearly scolded me in response to a simple question: "Can I try on this ring?" It was a busy day, so perhaps their response was rooted in stress or perhaps they took a look at the clothes me and my partner were wearing and decided we weren't worth their time. If you're looking for beautiful jewelry and stellar customer service, I highly recommend Marisa Mason around the corner. I will say that Esqueleto's customer service does vary from salesperson to salesperson. I bought a wedding ring for my partner a week prior and the person who helped me was great -- very knowledgable and willing to engage in conversation about finding the right ring. Esqueleto certainly is not without merit, but my most recent experience has lost them a customer. read more

I had to look up Esqueleto in an online Dictionary - The hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal. Yes there's a little Bone Room to this place, and a clear personal reminder of my days living in Northern New Mexico. What Esqueleto really represents is a cool curated boutique featuring a rotating assortment of artists, objects and jewelry. Every time I visit the Temescal Alley, I try to stop by Esqueleto and look around. I do wish there were some lower price points, but it's all beautiful and well considered. I particularly like the rock/crystals (thinking of my Son) and the Jewelry (thinking of Gayle). I also enjoy the artistic Ying and Yang of visiting Esqueleto and the nearby Interface Gallery during the same trip. read more

I used to frequently browse this store when I'm in the Temescal Alley area. The shop itself is beautiful and the pieces are unique. My main complaint is that the expensiveness of the items enables the owner to be exclusive with whom she wants in the store. In other words, if you are not white, you will not be welcome here. If you want to support an affordable (and inclusive) black-owned business, head over to Concept 47 across the street on Telegraph. read more

I love this store, its owner, and the art and jewelry--particularly that of the store's owner and goddess jeweler, Lauren Wolf. Ever since last Friday night, when I stopped in as part of the Temescal Art Murmur-esque event, I've been obsessed with a necklace I saw there--the large silver stingray goddess pendant necklace. I went and visited the necklace today to see if I still loved it, and the answer is and emphatic yes. As I left the store I had a confab with Santa and he says it'll be in my stocking. I love Santa. Lauren, the store proprietress, is friendly, smart, observant, with a great low-key approach to finding the right piece for a customer. She's new to having her own storefront, but she's already a successful jeweler--her jewelry is sold in 50 stores nationwide and celebrities, including Penelope Cruz, Brooke Shields, Debra Messing, and Karolina Kurkova, have worn her work. I will be soon, too--only 20 days til Christmas! Other jewelers featured at the store include Rebecca Overmann, Sarah Swell, Melissa Joy Manning, Mociun, Satomi Kawakita, T. Kahres, All For the Mountain, Jessica Winzelberg. There are also a couple of great local artists whose works adorn the walls. Esqueleto is one of the most exciting stores I've been to in a long time. Shop indie. Shop local. read more

Esqueleto - The necklace is mine!--Large Silver Stingray Goddess Pendant on 18" chain. - Jewelry Near Me - Oakland, California

I've popped in the Oakland shop many times over the years, to buy a few special gifts but mostly to feast my eyes on the wearable art. When my fiancé and I went in to look at rings, we had the honor of being helped by Laur. She was so patient and kind with our very different shopping styles, and it was obvious she truly enjoyed the process of helping us find the jewelry that spoke to us as individuals. We came back several times to try things on and think about it before making our choices, and Laur saved our favorites from previous visits and offered thoughtful new options we might not otherwise consider. Nothing about the process felt stuffy or pressured, but rather like she was the super stylish and knowledgable friend who you'd want to take ring shopping with you. We finally chose options we are both thrilled about, she was great about walking us through the process to get my fiancé's vintage band resized. Thanks Laur! read more

This place is fabulous! I went in today to look at engagement ring and to get my ring size. Sha-Ron was so helpful, knowledgeable and kind. There was a large selection at the shop, and I found several styles I loved. Most helpfully, Sha-Ron sent me a follow-up email with the rings I liked, pricing and additional info. I would recommend Esqueleto to anyone! read more

This place is dangerous place for jewelry lovers looking for unique pieces crafted by artisans (some local). If you're looking for that "bling-bling" effect, this isn't the place for you. Think more: laid back, bohemian California vibe. (The store feels like I've been transported to Silver Lake.) They also carry some housewares in addition to a curated selection gold and silver jewelry. The men's jewelry selection is limited but many of their pieces can be worn by everyone. read more

The jewelry here is amazing, but this 5-star review is mainly for Georgia, one of the employees. My partner and I were looking for wedding/engagement/whatever rings, and she took us under her wing like two fledging birds who have never bought expensive jewelry or stepped foot in a store with those price tags before. She made the whole experience approachable and fun, and made the ring I ended up getting even more special (my partner is probably coming back to get his ring later). So, come in for the unique and one-of-a-kind jewelry, but stay for the warm and effervescent Georgia!! read more

My fiance loves the selection here. They have nice things but be ready to pay a pretty penny for them. Most jewelry stores we've shopped at have had fair return policies but I was surprised by their lack of flexibility to return an expensive wedding band. My fiance loved the ring in the shop and then realized later that it just wasn't the one. The website said if returned within a week of receiving, the customer is fully refunded, however, a later email from their customer service account said that the return policy doesn't apply to in-store purchases being shipped. Usually impressed by the customer service/care for the customer at these types of shops so was bummed to hear that the same ethics aren't shared here. read more

DO NOT SHOP HERE. They are rude lairs and thieves. I went into this shop on January 25th and ordered a pair of earrings. I told them I was moving out of the country and needed them by a certain date and Alexis the manager said it wouldn't be an issue. Now - close to a month later, I'm moving and I have no earring and no refund. There would have been more fun ways to waste $200. Good riddance. read more

I decided to step into this little shop on a whim to look for a ring that my mom has been talking about since I was kid. I was in disbelief when I found the exact style I'd been looking for for so long! It's surprising difficult to find simple pearl rings with the right setting! Aside from all the fun and unique jewellery, the staff was amazing. The young woman who helped me out was patient, knowledgeable and just a joy to chat with. I will definitely be going back for future gifts. Thanks! read more

Pieces that you will definitely NOT find in mainstream stores. Appreciate the uniqueness of various artist collected under one roof. What my kid and I oohed and ahhed about: Neolithic spears, vintage stacking rings, rad-looking earrings, Brooklyn-designers (awesome!) - spotted pearls, precious rocks and crystals, braided leather bracelets, industrial pieces - lots of one of a kind jewellery. They also have framed art work by local artists. Support Local Shops. Be cool. Be hip. Check out hipster alley. read more

Ooof. Protect me from the things that I want. Which is everything in the entire store. read more

Esqueleto - I slipped and fell on this druzy ring. Whoops? - Jewelry Near Me - Oakland, California

Five stars - so original of me, but everyone else has it right here, so what can I say? A beautiful selection of wares from some amazing local artists. Collection is well curated and the sales associate was helpful and friendly (and cool headed), even when the smaller sales floor got a little jammed this past weekend. As far as selection, they do have a great range of prices, from $75ish and on up. Beautiful, dainty necklaces and stacking rings abound, so head there if you're looking for some good options from local artists. All in all, an easy place to drop a good portion (or the entirety) of your paycheck. Will definitely be back. read more

Gorgeous boutique filled with the jewelry and art of local artists - piles of gorgeous things!

Came here to purchase my wife a ring for our wedding anniversary. The store is very small, but has a lot items inside. When we arrived, the staff was busy and they let us know they would be with us in just a moment. My wife and I took a look around and got a good idea of what she was looking for. Eventually, when it was our turn, Mari helped us out and was very helpful. She worked with another employee to provide my wife with the best possible options. Finally, after spending 20-30 minutes trying on rings and talking my wife chose one. We could not be happier with the final look of both rings together. We had the rings resized (wedding ring and anniversary band) to insure they were the correct size. The cost for our resizing of the two rings came out to $100. However because they have a rewards program, (every 1k you spend you receive $100 back... aka 10%) it was free. I recommend this store for those who would like something a little different from the every day cookie cutter look. read more

I purchased several rings and Sha-Ron was SO HELPFUL! She guided me through the process and was super patient and knowledgeable! Big Fan of Esqueleto and Sha-Ron! read more

Found this great spot post-Bakesale Betty bliss. Beautiful jewelry, planters, and pretty home goods. I could easily spend my entire paycheck here! read more

Beautiful selection of jewelry, but what makes the experience so inviting is the customer service - helpful, informative, realistic, and not pushy. read more

We were looking for some unique wedding bands and were so incredibly lucky to stumble upon this place. The staff here is so down-to-earth and helpful (none of the "stuffy" vibes that some other jewelry stores can have). They have so many pieces from a ton of really cool designers. We had such a fun time picking our items and absolutely LOVE how they turned out. Thank you, Esqueleto-this totally exceeded our expectations and we couldn't be happier with our rings and our experience! read more

This shop has a beautiful assortment of jewelry and wonderful artwork as well. Each individual jewelry designer has a tiny section so that you can immerse yourself in their style a bit. It's a pretty magical spot. I've also loved the artists they've put up on their walls, and their ceramic artists as well. I keep my eye on both this place and Metier for jewelry inspiration. read more

I'm absolutely sure that this is the most adorable little shop, but all of that seems fuzzy at this point. Once I got to the glass case, nothing else mattered. WOW. Gorgeous bohemian fine jewelry. If I were a person looking for a gorgeous non-traditional engagement ring for another person, this would be the first place I would go. And the people are so nice, even when I asked a million questions and didn't even buy anything. WOW. Did I say WOW? I mean, WOW. read more

I love this store. Every time I make it to Temescal Alley, I have to go in! It has a great assortment of beautifully crafted jewels. I want everything in store! Great housewares and objects too. Really great selection and the place to get an engagement ring that is unique. read more

Seriously this place is like Nirvana to me. I'm very weird and picky about jewelry. I am not a diamond solitaire or pearls kind of gal. Everything here is unique and amazing. Many things made by local artists. And artists they are. There's not a piece of jewelry here I wouldn't die to own. I'm so appreciative that this place exists and I must say, whoever curates this collection is a (&(*&%$# genius. That is all. read more