William Lipovsky
Jewelry can be expensive, which is why many jewelry and department stores offer layaway plans, allowing customers to pay for items a little at a time.
By putting an item on layaway, you can lock in a discount rate and/or ensure an item isn’t sold out when you want it. Layaway plans are available in-store and online.
Jewelry store layaway programs allow you to pay for an item like a necklace or an engagement ring over time without first qualifying for financing. The store holds the item for you until it’s fully paid off, at which point you can take it home with you.
Here’s how jewelry layaway works:
- You make a small down payment, followed by regular payments until you’ve paid the full sale price for an item or items.
- Depending on the store’s layaway policy, the payments may be split evenly or you may be able to make payments in any amount you choose, as long as the full amount is received by the end of the layaway contract.
- The store holds your item or items and doesn’t allow them to be sold to someone else while you’re making payments. This allows you to lock in a sale price and ensure that an item doesn’t go out of stock while you’re saving up for it.
- Once the full amount is paid, you own the item(s).
What We Recommend
For the best general layaway terms — including online or in-store availability, little to no down payment, and low cancellation fees — consider shopping for jewelry at Day’s Jewelers.
Day’s Jewelers only has a few stores in the northeastern U.S., but it offers layaway for online purchases and it comes with very positive customer reviews.
Sears also requires a small down payment, though it only offers layaway for in-store purchases.
Comparison Table
See the table below for a quick comparison of the layaway terms offered by major jewelry and department stores, then select any store or scroll for more details.
| Store | In-store or Online | Down Payment | Payment Structure | Cancellation Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sears | In-store | 10% | Weekly or biweekly for 8 weeks | Varies by store |
| Day's Jewelers | Both | 10% | Varies; at least 10% per month | 20% if canceled after 30 days |
| The Jewelry Exchange | Both | 25% | Flexible (must make a payment within 90 days) | No fees, but refunds are store credit only |
| Since 1910 | Online | 25% (minimum $1,000 purchase) | Flexible (must be fully paid within 12 or 36 months) | Unspecified |
| Reeds Jewelers | In-store | 10% or $25, whichever is greater | Each payment must be $25 or 1/6 of total amount (must be fully paid within 6 months) | Vary |
| Helzberg Diamonds | In-store | 10% | Flexible (must be fully paid within 10 months) | No fees |
| SuperJeweler | Online | 10% | Equal monthly payments; must be fully paid within 24 months | Varies |
| Michael Hill | In-store | 25% in most locations | Flexible (must be fully paid within 3 months) | No fees |
| My Trio Rings | Online | Flexible | Flexible (must be fully paid within 12 months) | 25% fee (held as store credit for 6 months) |
| Serendipity Diamonds | Online | 25% (minimum $700 purchase) | 3 or 4 equal monthly payments | Free if canceled within 1 week; 5% fee thereafter |
| Shane Co. | Both | 20% | Monthly payments for 6 months | No fees |
| Kmart | Both | 10% | Biweekly for 8 to 12 weeks | Vary |
| Totaram Jewelry | Online | 20% | Flexible (must be fully paid within 4 months) | No cancellation for layaway orders |
The List
Listed below are the department and jewelry stores with layaway plans.
We gathered the information by researching companies’ policies online and by speaking with customer service representatives.
We’ve ordered the list starting with the best overall options.
Sears
- In-store or online: In-store[1]
- Down payment: 10% of the overall purchase amount[1]
- Number of payments: Every week or two weeks, to be completed within eight weeks[1]
- Cancellation terms: Varies; check with your local store for details.[1]
- Shop online
- Find a store
Day’s Jewelers
- In-store or online: Both[2]
- Down payment: 10%[2]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but you must pay at least 10% of the purchase price each month[2]
- Cancellation terms: If canceled after 30 days, Day’s will keep 20% of the deposit.[2]
- Shop online
- Find a store
The Jewelry Exchange
- In-store or online: Both[3]
- Down payment: 25%[3]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but you must make a payment within 90 days of establishing layaway to avoid cancellation. Item must be paid off within six months.[3]
- Cancellation terms: No cancellation fees, but refunds for layaway are given as store credit only.[3]
- Shop online
- Find a store
Since 1910
- In-store or online: Both[4]
- Down payment: 25%; minimum purchase amount of $1,000 to qualify for layaway[4]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but you must pay in full within 12 months to avoid interest or choose 36 months for equal payments.[5]
- Cancellation terms: Not specified
- Shop online
- Find a store
Reeds Jewelers
- In-store or online: In-store only[6]
- Down payment: 10% or $25, whichever is greater[6]
- Number of payments: Each payment must be at least $25 or one-sixth of the total amount, whichever is greater; must be paid in full within six months.[6]
- Cancellation terms: Vary by location[6]
- Find a store
Helzberg Diamonds
- In-store or online: In-store only[7]
- Down payment: 10%[7]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but payments must be made at least monthly and you must pay in full within 10 months.[7]
- Cancellation terms: No cancellation fees; payments made in cash will be refunded as a check.[7]
- Find a store
SuperJeweler
- In-store or online: Online only[8]
- Down payment: 10%[8]
- Number of payments: Equal monthly payments; must be paid in full within 24 months[8]
- Cancellation terms: Varies by item[9]
- Shop online
Michael Hill
- In-store or online: In-store at select locations[10]
- Down payment: 25% in most locations; may vary by location[11]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but must pay in full within three months[10]
- Cancellation terms: No cancellation fee[10]
- Find a store
My Trio Rings
- In-store or online: Online only[12]
- Down payment: You choose[12]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but you must pay in full within 12 months.[12]
- Cancellation terms: 25% cancellation fee held over as store credit for six months[12]
- Shop online
Serendipity Diamonds
- In-store or online: Online only[13]
- Down payment: 25%; minimum purchase amount of $700 to qualify for layaway[13]
- Number of payments: Three or four equal monthly payments; paid in full within four months[13]
- Cancellation terms: Free if canceled within a week, 5% fee if canceled after one week[13]
- Shop online
Shane Co.
- In-store or online: Both[14]
- Down payment: 20%[15]
- Number of payments: Monthly payments for six months; you can pay it off at any time, however.[15]
- Cancellation terms: No cancellation fees[16]
- Shop online
- Find a store
Kmart
- In-store or online: Both[17]
- Down payment: $10[17]
- Number of payments: Every two weeks, to be completed within eight weeks for online layaway and eight or 12 weeks for in-store layaway[17]
- Cancellation terms: $5 service fee and $15 cancellation fee for eight-week layaway; $10 service fee and $25 cancellation fee for 12-week layaway[17]
- Shop online
- Find a store
Totaram Jewelry
- In-store or online: Online only[18]
- Down payment: 20%[18]
- Number of payments: It’s up to you, but you must pay in full within four months.[18]
- Cancellation terms: Orders placed on layaway cannot be canceled or changed in any way.[18]
- Shop online
Jewelry Stores That Don’t Offer Layaway but Do Offer Financing
While there are several jewelry stores that offer layaway programs, there are some that don’t but have alternative financing options that allow you to pay for purchases over time.
We list these stores below, starting again with the best overall options:
De Beers
- Financing: De Beers offers financing through Affirm.
- Find out more
Jared the Galleria of Jewelry
- Financing: With the Jared Gold Credit Card, you can spread the cost of your purchase. Jared also offers Progressive Leasing and Affirm financing options.
- Find out more
Kay Jewelers
- Financing: With the Kay Jewelers Credit Card, you can spread the cost of your purchase. Kay also offers Progressive Leasing and Affirm financing options.
- Find out more
Fred Meyer Jewelers
- Financing: Its Platinum Preferred Card offers special financing. You can apply for credit both in-store and online.
- Find out more
Pandora
- Financing: The Pandora Credit Card offers special financing for six or 12 months. Pandora also offers financing through Affirm and Klarna.
- Find out more
Riddles
- Financing: With the Riddles Credit Card, you can spread the cost of your purchase following approval for credit by Wells Fargo
- Find out more
Ross-Simons
- Financing: With the Ross-Simons Preferred Credit Card, you can spread the cost of your purchase. It also offers financing through Affirm.
- Find out more
Tiffany’s
- Financing: Tiffany’s offers payment plans to give you interest-free financing; book an appointment online for more information.
- Find out more
Tous
- Financing: Tous offers financing through Klarna.
- Find out more
Zales
- Financing: With the Zales Diamond Credit Card, you can take advantage of special financing spreading the cost of your purchase over 6 to 36. Zales offers a zero-down special every day.
- Find out more
For more jewelry store financing options, we list the buy now, pay later jewelry stores.
Jewelry Stores With No Layaway/Financing Options
Some jewelry stores do not offer layaway or any other financing options — at these stores, you will need to pay the full amount of your purchase upfront:
- Cartier
- Costco
- Piaget
- Pomellato
- Sam’s Club
