CAVEAT EMPTOR!  Lawsuit Index No.: CV-040561-19.  My experience with this "business" Simon Ardem, Inc. a.k.a Aline & Bel Limited, and the principal owner Ardem Aslanian was the worst single attempted business transaction I have ever experienced.  I am leaving this review for anyone who may be in the same situation.  I encourage and invite you to come forward as I have filed a lawsuit against Simon Ardem, Inc. and Ardem Aslanian.  Please follow the lawsuit and feel feel to contact me for more information.  In summary, I filed a lawsuit on 11/22/19, served both defendants on 11/29/19, both defendants defaulted and an inquest before a judge is now scheduled for 3/4/20 @ 9:30am, Part 12, Room 123, Cal # S-19-QU-017208. I have also filed a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs.  They are currently investigating the business practices of Simon Ardem, Inc. and Ardem Aslanian.  My complaint reads as follows: "I agreed to purchase a loose solitaire diamond for an engagement ring.  On 11/18/19.  I paid $5,000, by personal check, as deposit to Simon Ardem, Inc. (jeweler).  On 11/20/19 I returned to Simon Ardem Inc. to pay the balance of $32,900, again by personal check, made out to the business entity, but Principal Owner (Ardem Aslanian) rejected that check stating it was too high an amount for one payment, and asked me to give him a check for $8,900 instead.  I obliged and he rejected that check too, this time because it was made payable again to the business name.  He then asked me to write a third check but to make it payable to him personally.  Again I obliged and the next morning he demanded that I pay him the remaining balance of $24,000 in cash.  I told him I was not comfortable with that and I cancelled the transaction.  He refuses to return my deposit and has made numerous threats and attempts to extort another $32,900 from me and my fiancee.  He continues to refuse to refund my deposit monies and has even stated that he does not have it and that he does not know what I'm talking about, even though I have a cashed check and the money has been withdrawn from my account.  Needless to say, he also has the diamond, and has indicated that he sold it to someone else. I repeatedly sent text messages to the business owner requesting a refund of monies paid and he has refused since 11/21/19.  Last night he threatened me with lawsuits and attorneys fees, etc." This is who you're dealing with, people!  I realize he has a lot of good reviews, but I'm guessing many are fakes and/or made under pressure.  Ardem Aslanian sent me an invitation to review Simon Ardem, Inc. after our very first meeting, when there was no mention or discussion of doing business yet.  Although he did offer a "sweet treat" in exchange for my review.   Simon Ardem, Inc. and Ardem Aslanian also lied stating that he repaired four rings for me, at a cost of $1,400 and $1,850.88.  I assure you there is absolutely no truth to this, and look forward to bringing this to the judge's attention on 3/4/20.   I SHOWED Ardem Aslanian four rings to ask his opinion on which one I should give to my fiancee as a promise ring.  They were all brand new rings and I never left them in his possession (except one for a simple cleaning), I certainly did not need or request any repairs.  I have requested the video surveillance footage from his office to corroborate these facts, and am waiting for Defendants to produce said footage, which I assume will never actually materialize. When I visited Ardem's office on 11/20/19 to pay the $32,900 balance and he rejected my personal check, demanding cash, I told Ardem that I will not be paying cash, especially since he was refusing to provide any receipts.  Even his girlfriend wife, Cynthia, commented "he never listens".  I've also requested the audio recordings from his office, which he said he records and keeps of all his customers, but something tells me I will never see those either. Once I secure a judgement in civil court, I intend to expose Defendants for questionable business practices. Contact me for more info. read more

I recently worked with Ardem in purchasing an engagement ring and am so happy with the result that I know I have now found my jeweler for life. My experience was phenomenal from beginning to end. Ardem was helpful in accommodating my schedule to setup an initial appointment, was able to make multiple time changes for follow ups and still came in excited to help me search for the right diamond every time. He was incredibly knowledgeable, had multiple options for me to choose from and was very transparent about what sizing & pricing he would be able to offer for my wishes. We made a CAD image of the ring design together & Ardem's ability to make minute but impactful design adjustments really made this a custom, tailored experience that led to this ring really shining. I simply can't stress enough the level of service that I received and how much faith I have in Ardem's ability to deliver on what he promises. We texted constantly and he was always available to pickup the phone when I was nervous & checking in on progress. I even had to move up my proposal date by two weeks on a last minute emergency and Ardem was able to expedite his process & get me the ring in time. Don't take a moment to look elsewhere, Ardem will help create & deliver jewelry to exceed your expectations. read more

Working with Simon Ardem directly (instead of with a jewelry store) was the best decision my fiancée and I ever made. My fiancée and I recently got engaged and I had gone to Simon to design the perfect unique ring for her. That process was incredible and the ring he created was not only flawless, but priced extremely fair. A few months later, my fiancée decided she wanted to change something on the design of her ring and I contacted Simon to see if he would be able to help us out again. He was once again fantastic! He takes the time to really listen to us and help create exactly what we are looking for. He made the changes to the ring quickly and it came back looking amazing. We love the fact that we have a designer who we can speak to directly about any questions we have. He is also designing our wedding bands for us. We wanted unique bands that are unlike the "cookie cutter" ones found in most jewelry stores. Working with Simon is a far superior experience than attending a jewelry store. At a jewelry store you only have a small selection to choose from and you do not get the same personal attention, knowledge and creativity that Simon provides. I would highly recommend Simon Ardem to anyone! We cannot thank him enough. read more

I have been meaning to write this review for a while now...The reason why I haven't is simply because I really do not even know where to begin with how happy I am with my engagement ring, wedding bands and of course the service. First, Simon was amazing to work with. Him and his wife were always such a great pleasure to sit with when I would go to pick out my bands or make any deposits etc. Now that I am married and dealt with so many people from so many different vendors, I have to say this was one thing I NEVER had to worry or stress about. Second, I get complimented on my rings every single day and every time I hear how nice my ring is all I can do and smile from ear to ear because of how perfect it really is. Hearing it doesn't ever get old. Lastly I would recommend Simon to anyone and everyone.....You really won't be disappointed he will go above and beyond for you or for a loved one. I will also attach a picture of our rings! read more

Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. As soon as I tried on the (amazing) ring, I knew it was "the one" - and the gushing compliments I get about it reaffirms that feeling. Ardem was incredibly helpful and knowledgable throughout the entire process. After going to a few shops where we felt a little like we were being pressured with flashy sales techniques, Ardem's honesty and transparency was a much needed breath of fresh air. He is also incredibly responsive when we've emailed or called, and answers all of our (I'm sure very overbearing) questions promptly, patiently, and thoroughly. We are so glad that we found this gem of a boutique, and have such a trustworthy source for our wedding bands and anything else we need in the future! read more

Simon Ardem is one of the most genuine people you will meet in the jewelry industry. I went to him to have an engagement ring made and he helped every step in the process. For someone making a large jewelry purchase for the first time, it can be a little over whelming. Simon put my nerves at ease with utmost professionalism and patience. My fiancée wanted a ring that was different, something with modern day style but that was unique. Simon designed and created an absolutely stunning ring for my fiancée that we both love and are sure we won't see anywhere else, unless it was created by Simon himself. Simon Ardem has my future business, as well as my recommendation to my friends and family, and anyone else with jewelry needs. Thank you Simon! read more

A friend referred me to Ardem and I could not have had a better experience and outcome. Ardem is a true expert and pro in his field and I had complete trust with using him. I was searching for a ring for a 25 year anniversary and spent time looking for rings and pricing them out at the high end stores (Tiffany and London Jewelers). Ardem was extremely helpful working with me to design the ring and was very fair (if not more than fair) with his price. The quality of his work and his advice surpassed any jeweler and jewelry store I have ever worked with. My wife was in tears when she received the ring and could not have been more happy. Ardem receives the highest recommendation I can give. read more

I was referred to Ardem by a work colleague after I told them about my search for an engagement ring. After going to a lot of stores and meeting with multiple people, Ardem was by far the most knowledgeable person I meet. I told him exactly what I wanted for cut, quality, and size and he was able to show me multiple diamonds that fit the criteria within a day. Ardem was very patient and explained all the pros and cons to me of each diamond. After reviewing the first round, I refined my search and he found me the perfect fit. He was genuinely interested in finding the perfect diamond for the ring. Ardem made the process simple and pressure free and I would recommend using him to a friend. read more

Great experience. I bought an engagement ring from him -- and when you're spending a lot of money, trust, fairness and experience are hard to come by in the diamond business. Ardem was all three. My now wife and I could not be happier with both the experience and the quality of our rings. He was significantly less expensive than any jewelry store we went to. In fact, he encouraged us to do do just that, confident in his pricing. We have since been back for another purchase and I 100% recommend him to anyone a bit overwhelmed with buying an engagement ring! He is patient, friendly and gets you comfortable with all you need to know about diamonds. read more

I was looking for a custom wedding band setting that is unusual and challenging to make and found my way to Simon Ardem via google searching. After a few phone calls with them I decided to have a custom ring made and boy did I make the right decision. My wife is so happy with the ring she just keeps looking at her ring and smiling. Enough said. Simon Ardem is now my go to Jeweler, what's amazing is they are 3k miles away. Would recommend Simon Ardem to everyone. read more

When juggling the stresses of planning an engagement and wedding, I never had to worry about the jewelry. From a professionalism and customer service standpoint, Simon was incredibly professional, reliable, and trustworthy. The quality of the product is obvious with the compliments that my fiance gets on a daily basis. Highly recommend Simon and consider myself very fortunate to have found him and to be a client of his. read more

Ardem is one of the most genuinely kind and professional people in this industry. His care for customers and passion for his craft make him an absolute pleasure to work with. He created the perfect engagement ring for my fiancé. So perfect we went back to him for our wedding bands which also turned out absolutely beautiful. I recommend him to all my friends and you would be a fool to not work with him. read more

purchased an Engagement ring from Ardem recently, Very happy with the ring. He was a very professional and personable person, the diamond was Gorgeous and the final engagement ring was beyond Perfect! He took the time to show me a number of diamonds of different sizes, color and clarity. I Highly recommend Ardem and his business in New York at 27 W 47th St. for All your needs!!! -Matt read more

Ardem is a trust-worthy and fair jeweler that I have been using for several years. He has been helpful providing me with ideas and suggestions for gifts and will give you honest feedback. He has great quality jewelry and I've been very happy with everything I have bought from him. I have recommended him to friends and family and everyone has had very positive experiences as well. read more

I have been buying diamonds from Ardem and Cynthia for over 15 years. I recently had my wife's engagement ring reset for our anniversary and we couldn't be happier - they are the the most personal and reasonable diamond dealers I have ever met. I have recommended them to my family and friends and they all agree they are the best. This ring is spectacular - thank you! read more

I came here for a bracelet repair for my wife and I was blown away by the service. Simon was extremely helpful and professional. He was able to repair the bracelet in a few days when other jewelers told me it would take several weeks to repair. The office was also very clean and conveniently located. I highly recommend Simon and will be sure to come back! read more

I went to Ardem by way of a friend's recommendation. I just picked up my ring and could not be happier! He created exactly what I was picturing in my head. I am super picky about my jewelry and Ardem far exceeded my expectations. He was also such a pleasure to work with and I feel like I have gained a friend. I cannot wait to create more pieces with him! read more

I can't express enough how incredible Ardem is! His selection is absolutely amazing and he will work with any budget! He really pays attention to what the client wants and does whatever he can to keep the client happy, even if it has to be custom made. I 100% recommend calling Ardem for jewelry! He and his assistant Ana are the best in the business! read more

Simon is the best! I had a basic idea in mind for an eternity band, but he helped take the idea to the next level and created something way beyond my expectations. He's great at keeping you updated in every step of the process and the quality of his work is fantastic. I'd highly recommend him! read more