Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry

I was very happy when we first visited Christopher and his store. His designs were exactly what I was looking for in terms of my engagement ring. He has wonderful modern yet classy designs. I knew right away the ring for me. Christopher and his staff have been very helpful throughout the whole process. Any time I need to come back to get our rings cleaned or updated, no problem! I highly recommend Christopher! more

Christopher and his team of artists create wonderful, timeless pieces. I am a repeat costumer, ten times over. He will even make you a latte while you wait! I am a huge fan! more

I knew that I wanted to get my now fiance a ring that would be both antique style and modern/fancy. \r \r I looked online at lots of sites, and I did see some rings that were nice looking. However, after thinking about it, I decided that since this was an engagement ring, and not just any jewelry, I wanted to have one custom made. So I did some more searches online, found Christopher Duquet, saw the huge list of great reviews he's received, checked out his website, and knew that this was the route I had to take. I'm happy I did.\r \r Throughout the process, I worked with Christopher via email, which was very helpful. The times I went to his store to pick out materials, Christopher was a pleasure to work with. The time frame to make the ring was kind of tight too, but Christopher was able to get it done on time, and it is an amazing ring. I was so happy when I saw it. \r \r My fiance absolutely loves the ring, and I would definitely recommend Christopher Duquet to anyone around Chicagoland buying jewelry. Thanks Christopher for an amazing ring and service! more

and just perfect for me!! more

and found it here. I honestly will not purchase high quality jewelry anywhere else. Perfect engagement ring (twice!!) and perfect personal experience. Honestly - I know very few things for real and one is this store and how perfect everything is and I do not say that lightly. My finace is still swooning and we cannot wait to go back for the wedding bands. Christopher - thank you so much for everything! more

From the moment I decided I would propose to my love I knew that I wanted to design a ring for her. My first attempt at finding a jeweler occurred at a store on Jeweler's Row in downtown Chicago, where a man eating a chubby sandwich dismissed the design idea and tried to get me to buy an existing ring. I passed on shaking his pastrami paw, conjured a mental napkin in my mind, and decided what I needed was a small, local jeweler who was actually interested in discussing what I wanted, sans Italian sub.\r \r Enter Christopher Duquet, one mere train stop from my home. If you've read reviews about the shop, then you know that Christopher and his staff are shimmery superstars. Believe what you hear about their reputation for quality, communication, customer service and affability. Not only did Christopher take the time to talk about my design, and work with me to develop the perfect ring for my girlfriend, he did so enthusiastically. Creating a unique and special ring was just as important to him as it was to me. \r \r And the final product is a stunning reflection of his ""my work matters"" philosophy - deep blue sapphire center stone that dances like cerulean streams in the sun; six graduating diamonds down each side; 14K gold band with bevel setting; a delicate, open scroll work design; and an inscription in Gaelic that Christopher somehow managed to fit on the ring by employing some deft and artful cratsmanship. \r \r Along with his exemplary work and clean eating habits, I think it's also important to mention that Christopher is a man of his word. The ring actually came out to be a bit more expensive than originally estimated. But when I first talked with him about what I wanted and how much I was looking to spend, he told me he could make an amazing ring with those conditions in mind. And even though I would have gladly paid more after seeing how beautiful the ring came out, I paid exactly what Christopher promised. I didn't even have to say anything. He just told me we agreed on a price and that's what he was charging.\r \r I cannot recommend Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry highly enough, especially if you are looking to create something original. Take the time to stop by Christopher's shop and believe me, he will take the time to make sure you get the ring you imagine. And he won't do it during lunch.\r more

I was looking for something unique and beautiful for the engagement ring. I didn't want to buy something that had been made a million times. At the same time, I did not want to pay a ridiculous premium for custom design work. After reading several amazing reviews for Christopher, I decided to stop in. All the 5-star reviews? Well, they're true! This place is something special. He helped me to design a ring that perfectly fit my specifications and came within my budget. Throughout the entire process, Christopher was always available to answer any questions that I had. When designs/updates were promised, they were always delivered on time. His staff is also very professional, knowledgeable, and willing to help in any way they can. As for the finished product... the ring is absolutely perfect. The craftsmanship is superb, and the design has drawn nothing but rave reviews. It perfectly fits her personality and style, which was exactly what I wanted. If you're looking for high-quality jewelry with amazing service, look no further. After my experience here, I don't want to go anywhere else! more

Prior to visiting Christopher's store, i had visited another jewelry store looking for engagement rings and was not comfortable with my experience. I felt like the staff at the other store were a bit pushy and tried to talk me out of a ring that I was drawn too and thought would be the style that my girlfriend would enjoy.\r \r After that experience, I had the thought to look in Evanston, since I work there, and try to find something that would be easy for me to get to. I searched online and found all these wonderful reviews for Christopher's store and thought it would be worth a try. The one thing that most drew me to look into it more was the idea of creating a unique, one of a kind piece. I knew that would be so much more meaningful to my girlfriend, as opposed to buying something out of a case in a store. \r \r As is stated by so many others, upon my first visit to the store I met both Christopher and Villi and they were incredibly warm, welcoming, and patient to help me through the process. I had some general ideas that I brought with me and Christopher immediately starting sketching ideas and asking me questions. He answered all my questions and assured me that he would work within my budget to make the ring come to life. \r \r The entire staff made the process so much fun and meaningful. This was especially good for me as I had never previously purchased jewelry of any type and was not very confident about what I was doing. They answered questions, gave suggestions, and treated me as though I was just as special as a first-time customer as someone who had been coming to them for years.\r \r I absolutely give Christopher and his staff the highest recommendation for purchasing a unique and personalized engagement ring and am certain that they would work wonders with any other jewelry. \r \r My fiance and I are looking forward to going back and purchasing the wedding bands. more

From the moment I walked into Christopher Duquet's Fine Jewelry in Evanston, I realized I wasn't in your typical jewelry store. From the high quality of the pieces on display, to the laid-back, non-pushy approach, to the superior craftsmanship in the work – Christopher, and his staff, made a stressful situation a breeze. \r \r When I walked in to Duquet's for the first time, I fumbled around the engagement ring section for a few moments before Christopher himself guided me through the process. He was very patient, very knowledgeable, and most importantly wasn't trying to push any sort of design, diamond, or price on me. He very simply put it ""it's completely up to you.""\r \r I was given only one small criteria from my bride-to-be on what she wanted in an engagement ring – it had to sparkle. Upon hearing this, Christopher and I started to design – from scratch – my wife's engagement ring. To be able to tell everyone I helped design my wife's ring and that its one of a kind – is an added bonus.\r \r To the engagement ring itself – I cannot begin to tell you how many hundreds of compliments she has received. Everyone, and I mean everyone, believes it to be absolutely amazing and gorgeous. To see the smile on her face every time someone compliments her and her ring makes me feel really proud. The quality of Christopher's work is amazing! Every detail he nailed and the ring is exactly what she wanted and to answer your question – boy does it sparkle! \r \r When it came to picking out bands for both of us, it was a no-brainer on where to go. We picked out a simple band for myself, but my wifes band matches perfectly with her engagement ring – making a very complimentary pair and make it sparkle even more...\r \r The whole experience was nothing short of perfect. The prices are very competitive and reasonable. \r Christopher and his staff are very knowledgeable, very nice and considerate, and do one heck of a job. They also offer free services for re-sizing and cleaning. I highly, highly recommend Christopher Duquet and his staff. You will not be disappointed!\r more

After an around the world search for engagement rings which took me to Jeweler's Row, the suburbs, Indianapolis, and even to a few online jewelers I found myself in Christopher's shop one early Saturday morning after a highly regarded recommendation from a colleague. The recommendation was spot on! Christopher and his team were professionals through and through. Being fairly new to buying high end jewelery, he and his team were with me every step of the way. They were attentive during the whole process and took the time to thoroughly understand what it was that I was trying to accomplish in the design. Christopher and his team took me through the design process, the pros and cons between white gold vs. platinum, and the selection of the perfect diamond. The end product came in within budget and was absolutely stunning. Needless to say, my fiancee loves her engagement ring. I look forward to working with Christopher again and will be back soon to design the wedding bands. more

10 years ago I designed my first set of wedding rings with a jeweler in Chicago. I wasn't sure what I wanted at the time, but my husband-to-be and I worked with the jeweler and came up with a design that seemed to fit. I was uncomfortable with anything that was ""typical"" or ""too flashy"". I was searching for something really unique and artsy. I was given three diamonds from my husband and his family (two handed down from his mother), so I felt a bit limited in my design options for the ring. Once the ring arrived, I loved it because my husband proposed to me with it, but I knew deep down that it didn't fully represent me. After ten years of wearing my rings, I decided to redesign them for my 40th birthday. I read the glowing reviews about Christopher Duquet's work, so I ran in one day to see what he had to say about working with existing stones. We sat down and began what would be a six month process of sketching and talking and sketching and emailing ideas about the new ring design. Christopher had great ideas and he worked really hard to understand mine. His humor and patience were endless as we worked for months to create my new ""masterpiece"". I am so grateful to Christopher for working with me through the many different design ideas I had, without any attitude or impatience or frustration. When the ring was initially complete and I went to pick it up, I wasn't happy with several of the details. I took it home anyway, confused by the outcome and the excitement of actually having my ring with me after quite a few months. Two days later I emailed him expressing my upset, and he quickly responded and said that it was no problem, he would be happy to take the ring back and make any needed adjustments. When I picked up the ring for what would be the final time, I was thrilled by the outcome. It is just how I had sketched it, dreamed about it and described it to Christopher. I thank Christopher and his artists for their endless patience and their flexibility to see my vision and help me to make it real. I recommend Christopher Duquet not only for his artistry and craftsmanship, but also for his patience and dedication to customer satisfaction. more

I visited a lot of chain stores and you can tell that all the rings are mass produced and nothing special. A co-worker of mine told me about Christopher and how you can go to him with an idea and he'll make a reality. Well, this he did and then some! I came to him with a few simple ideas and with no real knowledge of engagement rings. He made me feel comfortable from the start and walked me through everything. I loved being able to choose & change things along the way to get to what I really wanted in a ring. You are able to see all your decisions put together in a Cad drawing to see what the final product will look like. My fiance & I love that her engagement ring was specifically designed and made for her. You can't put a price on that. Christopher came up with the perfect ring! more

Working with Christopher and Villi was great from start to finish. We decided to visit the store after searching online and reading some great reviews, and we were impressed as we walked in. The store is great and had such a nice selection compared to all the boring old chain stores. Plus, the service was excellent. We always felt welcome, and all of the questions I had were answered without hesitation. They were more than happy to educate us on both the diamond buying process as well as the ring production process. Villi was very patient with me as I tweaked the design of the ring throughout the process. They were both very honest and not pushy in any particular direction which was great. It was awesome to see the ring in each step of the process and the end result was beautiful! The diamond looked better than I could have imagined, and the ring itself was both unique and well-crafted. Christopher was the only jeweler who had the full bezel design that my fiancé wanted (among tons of other great rings). My fiancé was very pleased with the ring and we couldn’t have been happier with the decision to go with Christopher Duquet. We will highly recommend them to anyone who is looking to purchase an engagement ring or other jewelry, and we will definitely be back in the future for our wedding bands! more

Getting engaged doesn’t happen every day. I wasn’t about to leave one of the most memorable moments of my life to chance. When it came to the engagement ring, I wanted it to be a special and unique expression of my love. I researched many jewelers and stores and found the most favorable reviews to be for Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry Design. From the moment I walked in, Christopher and his staff were supportive and patient with me as I explored the options available. Christopher and Villi treated me with respect and spent time educating me about the differences in the metals and the stones prior to my decision. I couldn’t be happier with the ring, the engagement day was incredibly special and everyone compliments my wife on her rings. We went back to Christopher Duquet for our wedding bands and once again, Villi and Christopher worked with us and spent time helping us work through the options available. The creativity of the staff and the selection available is far more refined than other jewelers I’ve encountered. Christopher and his team do not simply sell jewelry, they design pieces that are unique and beautiful that will last a lifetime. Thanks Christopher, Villi and the whole Duquet team, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! more

My fiance and I had an excellent experience here. The experience of designing our own ring was worth it without even considering the exceptional service and friendly faces. I was particularly impressed with how laid back and easy they made the design process. It was a huge comfort to be able to see the solid model and wax model before we committed to the ring. Villi helped us through the whole process and they definitely earned their money. Thanks, Villi. more

When I wanted to propose to my wife, I had a good idea of what I wanted, and it involved the ability to cast metal into a unique shape. I had searched for 'custom jewelery', and to my dismay this seemed to mean the same thing: pick a setting, pick a stone or stones, and the marriage of those two became a 'custom' ring. That didn't work for me, my setting was in my head, and I needed to find someone who could collaborate with me from the beginning. Then I found Christopher Duquet, and when I saw he used the lost wax method of casting jewelry my heart raced – exactly what I needed. Not only was Christopher able to do it, he was excited about the project as both a challenge and a concept. We doodled some shapes on paper, and I came back the following week to get started. We took out play-doh, and working on an enormous scale, started to fashion a very unique, meaningful ring like nothing he or I had ever seen before. We continued this process every Saturday for the subsequent six weeks until in the end, there was a platinum band, embedded with diamonds, cradling a Tahitian black pearl. This ring looked like you could have conceivably opened an oyster and found it lying inside, born of nature vs. fashioned by man. During our weeks together Christopher and I struck up a terrific working relationship that shows in the final piece. For our wedding bands, Chris delivered in spades. Sarah's is a companion to her engagement ring, together they cradle the pearl in an embrace of diamonds and platinum that gets commented on daily. Mine is loosely based on a mobius strip, and echoes the organic curves of Sarah's set. Chris also created a set of white gold and diamond earrings that call to mind the diminishing rings of a nautilus for Sarah. Can you tell we were married by the sea? You would be pressed to find a fine jeweler as experienced and creative in the country, let alone here in Chicagoland. I feel very lucky that he and his wonderful staff could see my dreams become a reality. more

Christopher is one of the most thoughtful and professional merchants I have ever dealt with. His knowledge of the business is exceptional. I purchased a gift for my wife and she loves it. Christopher's design was very pleasing and well thought out. I could not have asked for a better person to help me. Thanks Chris. Pros: Excellent to work with Cons: NONE! more

I first met the Duquets 17 years ago when they designed my wife's engagement ring and my wedding ring. Many times since then I have come to them with a vague idea for a present for my wife or more often than that a blank look on my face with no ideas at all. They always come through and make me look good. Recently, I wanted to get my wife a bracelet for a special occasion. We talked and Chris created a gold and diamond bracelet that compliments the other jewelry he has designed for her over the years. He did this quickly and within budget. My wife was thrilled. Their designs are always unique and elegant. I trust them, I trust their taste, they are good people to work with. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Pros: Unique ideas, unique designs, good people more

I first found Christopher Duquet Jewelers more than ten years ago when I went with my sister to pick up a gorgeous ring he had designed for her. I was immediately attracted to the beautiful displays of rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc. I couldn't wait to become a client. The first piece Chris designed for me was a necklace using the solitaire from my mother-in-law's engagement ring. The design he created set off the solitaire beautifully. I couldn't have been happier. Just this weekend, I picked up a diamond station bracelet that Chris and his staff helped design. It more than exceeded my expectations. I absolutely love it. It was a pleasure working with Chris and his staff. They are very professional, courteous and LISTEN to you, whether you are discussing design or price considerations. Come take a look at his store. You won't be disappointed. Pros: Excellent Service, Superb Craftmanship Cons: None! more

I am a jewelry lover from way back, since I was a little girl. I have long admired excellent craftsmanship and design and delighted in acquiring special pieces to treasure over the years. I have gone to Chris for many years now, and have sent many friends to him as well. I have brought in pieces of jewelry I had not worn for a long time, that needed a new design, and I have recently brought in some stones from pieces of jewelry that had been left to me by loved ones,and about which I had strong feelings. Chris has always been quite sensitive, attentive, and creative in his designs. I am far from his biggest spending customer, but you would never know it by how I have been treated. He has spent as much time and energy and effort reworking my pieces and setting my stones as he has with anyone else with whom he has worked. If you have a specific timeframe or deadline, just be clear about it and Chris will honor it. I treasure the pieces he has made for me and recommend him very highly. Pros: friendly, personalized service more