The Diamond Specialists

OK! I’ve been doing business with Russell and Jeannie for over 30 years, from designing custom jewelry, sizing jewelry to restringing pearls to selling unused gold. That should give you an idea about how good they are — reliable, honest, trustworthy. Quality work and good prices!
I have referred many to The Diamond Specialist too, friends, family. My son bought the engagement ring and wedding ring he custom-​designed for his fiancé from The Diamond Specialist in platinum! It is beautiful 8 years later. Woo hoo!

I love my custom designed wedding ring! It exceeded our expectations. Russ was great to work with and translated our ideas into a beautiful work of art. It made our wedding day extra special. Russ has our wholehearted recommendation! Mahalo, Russ!

Russell and his staff are excellent. He will provide a comprehensive, no pressure diamond «education» session. The low key atmosphere and the piles of paperwork on the back room is actually very reassuring — you feel like you are supporting a small local business. Almost everyone I know has bought their diamond through Russell.
When my white gold setting lost its Rhodium finish less than a year after receiving it, Russell and his team were awesome about replacing it with palladium. Then, when my fingers expanded due to a couple of pregnancies, Russell resized and cleaned my ring, free of charge. I would have gladly paid! That’s customer service for you. I would wholeheartedly recommend at least stopping my the Diamond Specialists when shopping for a ring, if not buying a ring from them.

Okay… in all honesty, if you are interested in buying the perfect ring for your other half, THIS is the only place you need to stop! Russell Oshita personally assisted me along the entire process with unbiased opinions and absolutely no pressure! Even if you are just in the beginning stages of looking and want to learn about diamond cuts, color, etc., you can attend a 60-​minute presentation with them. It will be well worth it in the long run!!!
Due to my job, I only had a small window to get the perfect ring figured out, but with guidance from Mr. Oshita, things went very smoothly! During majority of the entire process, I was deployed in the Pacific Ocean and this challenging task went more smoothly than I could ever have imagined. He had given me a list of diamonds that are available and the specs for each so that I could do the research for them on my own time. Within a week of me selecting the diamond I wanted, he ordered it, thoroughly examined it, and reassured me that it was an amazing choice! Next, he showed me a selection of settings and ring styles and stated that he would be able to customize anything if I could get him the design. I went with a setting he already had on his website and he stated that he could create a life size model before he created the actual ring. Based off of his genuine customer service throughout everything thus far, I told him he had my complete trust and to go ahead with the setting and final process for the ring! To see a picture of the ring didn’t do it justice. The ring is more than I could have asked or wished for! To understand how appreciative we are, here is the fiancé’s opinion…
Actually, when Sean first proposed, I was shocked! It was such a surprise that we were hugging for a while before he actually asked if I wanted to really see the ring. Oh. My. Gosh! It was so perfect! I dropped hints before about what type of ring I wanted, but half the time Sean doesn’t listen… but he hit this nail on the head! Everything from the band, the cut of diamond, and the halo, was my ultimate dream ring! I know my fiancé, and I know he couldn’t have done it all on his own… haha. So I thank Russell for helping him to make this moment so perfect for us. Marriage isn’t about the ring itself… but a super sparkly, just-​as-​I-​dreamed-​of-​ring definitely doesn’t hurt the marriage either! ;)

My fiancé and I came here yesterday to have my diamond engagement ring inspected. I had left it somewhere overnight, but gotten it resized elsewhere. The shop where I resized my ring mentioned that the laser inscription in the diamond was not on our paperwork. We were a little worried about that, so I emailed Russell about this, and he responded in a few hours that we could stop by free-​of-​charge if we called to set up an appointment. My fiancé called to set up an appointment, and we were able to stop by on the same day.
Russell quickly informed us that we only had the appraisal information, and that the certificate might have the laser inscription information. He entered our report number and printed out the certificate, and sure enough, the number in the diamond matched the number on the certificate! We felt so relieved! He even took the time to show my fiancé the inscription.
We also looked around at the wedding bands, and they had a nice selection with the option of ordering additional styles. They even had engagement rings on-​site! Russell showed us a few wedding bands, and explained the pros/​cons of the different metals/​styles.
Overall, I had an extremely pleasant experience from the time that I had initially emailed Russell to when we left the shop. He gave us a lot of good advice, and we will definitely be back for our wedding bands! Highly recommend!
PS: This location is right above Kuru Kuru Sushi. From Kuru Kuru, you can take the stairs, and then turn right. It’s a few doors down from the top of the stairs.

Russell came recommended to me by 3 people who are completely unrelated. When we went to see him, he was not what we expected. He was not a «sales» person, but truly a diamond specialist. He gave us lessons on cut, clarity, color & carat. He showed us what to look for under the microscope, against the light, and taught us about standards of the different certifies. He even recommended we shop around — & we did, but came back to him because of the value. He wasn’t «showy» or pushy like most/​the other sales people. He never made us feel like we should buy from him, but in the end, we got the best price for the diamond we wanted through him. Bottom line = best deal, best customer service, no flash & dash. I’d recommend The Diamond Specialists in a heartbeat — in fact, I already have.

If you’re looking for an engagement ring I highly urge you to use The Diamond Specialist.
I had a short time frame to propose, a family diamond that my mother had given me and a budget for the band. I made a reservation and visited them after leaving the Wedding Ring Shop unsatisfied with their production time and overwhelmed by their prices. Needless to say it was the right choice for me. I sat down with them and they understood my situation. They cleaned the jewelry I brought, showed it too me under the microscope, measured it and helped me decided which setting was best for the proposal. I’ll admit I wasn’t sure I wanted to give the go ahead but when she said it would be ready in under 2 weeks the decision was made. They also gave me the option if my girlfriend wanted to change the setting or band the would give me nearly 100% credit for the band I paid for.
They called 10 days later notifying that it was ready and I was amazed at what I saw when I picked it up. It was something I would be so proud to propose to my girlfriend with. Ok I’ll wrap it up. I proposed on the beach (so cliché), she was shocked and amazed then said YES!
I can’t thank them enough for the Ohana service they gave to me and everyone they help.
MAHALO MAHALO MAHALO!

Went to see the Diamond Specialist based on a recommendation and was not disappointed. Russell took the time to educate me about diamonds and the aspects that mattered most. We were able to work within my budget and find a ring that was better than I had hoped for. He was extremely prompt with his communication and was always looking out for my best interests. He was not pushy and did not force me to make any decisions I was not comfortable with. I did not go to look at any retail jewelers, but I am certain that I would not have received the service and care I got from Russell and his staff. I would recommend his business to anyone interested in buying an engagement ring. Even if you are just looking, take the time to set up a meeting with him. You will not regret it!

Thanks so much for all you patience in trying to figure out what I wanted in a diamond! I LOVE the diamond and setting. My husband and I both agree that this diamond is a good representation of our 27 year anniversary.
Thanks for your top quality service and product value. I feel confident that this purchase will be appreciated now and generations from now! Russell, you nailed it!

Awesome customer service! Super great attention to detail to make any special occasion unforgettable. Thank you Russ and staff!!!
Highly recommend for anyone looking for rings =)

It’s hard to find great customer service without high pressure sales people, but at the Diamond Specialists you will find excellent and personal customer service. I would definitely recommend Russell and his team before you even think about going to some of the other places in town or large retail stores. Buying local always pays off. Thanks to the Diamond Specialists Team!

This is the first place I went to look for a diamond, and really, it was also the last place that I needed to go. The experience was a hundred times better than I had been expecting. Russell gave me an hour-​long lesson on how to pick a good diamond, even though I was just a walk-​in (though I do recommend you make an appointment, since it’s a small shop). He’s very honest and he cares about getting people exactly what they want. He even has special tools to check the brilliance of the diamonds he gets.
Note that this is not a big store that has cases upon cases of preset diamonds; rather, it’s a smaller store that primarily sells loose gems and works with a jeweler to help you make custom settings.

Russell we are so happy we found you!!! Thank you for giving us a very informative class on diamonds and helping us figure out what kind of diamond we actually wanted. We felt so comfortable with you and didn’t feel pressured into buying anything. You’ve always given us excellent service! We are so happy we went through you. My fiancée loves her diamond ring! I always recommend friends and family to see you for there jewelry needs. :D

Resized and cleaned my rings in a few days. Dropped off on Friday and they were ready Monday. Super nice people that do amazing work.
Now if only I could talk my hubby into a new customized diamond. …

When it comes to a man proposing to his girl it is one of the most special moments and it may take quite a bit of preparation.
If you’re a romantic, spontaneous, or just over the top, purchasing that ring can be a little nerve wrecking. Well at least that’s what it was like for my husband.
When my husband and I started to talk about marriage I had the idea of what I wanted: how big it should be, how sparkling, what type of metal… But at the end of it all I knew I loved him and I trusted his style. I also knew he wanted the best!
We have been to many different places to look at rings. Mainly the infamous T&Co at different locations. None gave us the time or the service we were looking for. I mean, c’mon you’re spending thousands of dollars here!!!
We met Russell at a wedding expo and when my husband started talking to him, he was set on checking the Diamond Specialists out. We live on the other side of the island, but because of the outstanding service, he trekked it there. My husband would also sneak his way there after dropping me off to class.
The day of our proposal came and when my soon-​to-​be fiancé brought out the ring on the top of Diamond Head I was in awe!!! The shine was amazing and it was just gorgeous!!! The color, clarity, everything, was much more than I had dreamt of!
Great job honey and THANK YOU Russell!
Russell was so patient as my husband who asked a million questions and took care while making his final decision. He doesn’t push you into anything and he has the best interest of the client in mind.
After the ring purchase, the service didn’t end there. He continues to service us and ensures that the ring sparkles like the first time I saw it. He cleans and checks the prongs of my band and engagement ring and does this for free! You’ll be surprised at the luxury places that will charge you for this service!!!
To us Russell and his team gave us top notch service and continues to do so and we trust him with all of our diamond needs!!!

If you’re in the market for a diamond, I highly recommend going to The Diamond Specialists in Kahala. I can almost guarantee that this will be your last stop. After my fiancé asked me to marry him, we went into high gear in pursuit of an engagement ring. No, he didn’t propose with a ring for fear that he would pick out a style that I wouldn’t be in love with but I was ok with the fact that I would be involved in the selection of my ring.
We visited a number of stores which included the store with the iconic turquoise box and a wedding ring superstore in Honolulu where I did find a couple of styles that piqued my interest but I am picky by nature and felt like I needed to keep looking and keep my options open as this was a very important and sentimental purchase (and $$$ purchase if you ask my fiancé).
I came across an ad in a local bridal magazine for The Diamond Specialists and looked them up on Unilocal.After reading all the positive reviews, I decided to make an appointment. Our first visit was nothing like what we experienced in the other stores. The shop does lack the bells, whistles, glitz, glam and bling like the rest of the places we went to so I knew they were all about business. Russell schooled us on the four C’s and the tricks of the trade. We went from ignorant to highly educated diamond shoppers in a matter of 45 minutes. We were so impressed that Russell took the time to explain the elements of diamond selection first instead of just trying to ring a sale.
After our initial visit, my fiancé, who is highly cautious when making big purchases, was sold on purchasing my ring from The Diamond Specialists. Needless to say, Russell gained our trust and respect. The following weeks after our first appointment, we worked closely with Russell on the diamond selection and ring design. He was very patient and accommodated my picky nature and indecisiveness which I totally appreciated. I hope I wasn’t too much of a «engagement ring-​zilla»! I finally gave my stamp of approval on a design that was inspired by a ring that I saw at the wedding ring mega-​store on Kapiolani at the fraction of the cost and with our own little personalized touch. The hardest part of the process was waiting for the finished product as I was super excited to show my new bling off to my friends and family. Little did I know that my fiancé and Russell were in cahoots with each other which allowed my fiancé to secretly pick the ring up without my knowledge. On bended knee, my fiancé asked me marry him again — this time with a beautiful ring that I absolutely love! Thank you Russell and the rest of the staff!

This is probably the only jeweler I trust and do business in Hawaii. I first met Russell and his staff at a wedding expo a long long time ago.
I bought several different jewelry for gifts, sold some jewelry, and custom made jewelry as well here.
Russell educates you about jewelry especially diamonds. He doesn’t try to push you into buying things or rushes you. He gives you an excellent service and explains to you thoroughly. I bring my ring here for cleaning once in a blue moon and he doesn’t charge a fee which I don’t feel it’s right. It’s a business after all.
This place is located outside of Kahala Mall near the stairs or elevator Ewa side.

My sister recommended visiting a few stores during my search for an engagement ring and I’m glad I did! I’m a happy customer and would recommend Russell and The Diamond Specialists to any family and friends.
The first stop was at a popular stop in town. Though their customer service was good enough, I was glad to leave — high pressure, didn’t have an opportunity to see everything I wanted, and felt like they were telling me only what I wanted to know. I was bummed, especially if the rest of my search was going to be like this.
I Unilocaled a bunch of places and seeing the reviews decided to stop by. I was a little skeptical at first. I had solicited plenty of feedback and read quite a bit on the internet, but within the first 5 minutes I realized I had to throw out misconceptions and that I had a lot to learn.
Russell took his time explaining everything to me and I liked his easy-​going style. I left with the intention of visiting another store out of due diligence but changed my mind and came back. The entire process was smooth and there was no rush — just over 2 weeks from the first visit, to picking diamonds, to picking up the ring. I plan on having wedding bands done here, as well as purchasing any future jewelry.

Aloha all,
I’d like to share our experience with Russell from over 15 years ago.
The Diamond Specialist came highly recommended so we called and made an appointment. (We’re on the other side of the island) When we got there, Russell introduced himself and we told him what we were looking for, including a budget.
Russell brought out a selection of stones and we selected what we wanted and then a simple setting that my fiancée (now wife) chose.
Russell taught us the finer points of diamnonds and we were extremely happy with his service.
Cleaning, checking the settings etc, are all part of normal maintenance of a ring.
FWIW, after almost 17 years the ring is still fine.
Treat it carefully and it will give you years of service!
Mahalo Russell,
Rob and Dawnie Souza

Since my last review, I’ve visited TDS on numerous occasions, all for one thing — ring cleaning! Sunscreen, sand, doggy shampoo, car wax, you name it — my ring has been exposed to it! My rings take a beating, which necessitates visits to TDS at least twice a year for a professional cleaning and polishing. Since we purchased my rings from them, the cleanings are always complimentary.
Russ, Jeanie, and staff are always pleasant to chat with and provide excellent customer service each time I visit them.