4 Best Credit Cards for Jewelry Purchases (Dec. 2023)

Shopping for the right piece of jewelry — be it a diamond engagement ring or simple pearl necklace — can be daunting enough. Besides the high cost that may take years to save for, the quality measurements used by jewelers can seem arbitrary and overly complicated.

Adding to the complication is how to pay for the purchase. While your first inclination might be to write a big check or even hit the ATM for some big bills, those are actually the last options you should consider. Instead, by using the right credit card for your jewelry purchase, you will come out ahead in a number of ways:

• Pay no interest for up to 15 months (via 0% APR cards)
• Earn cash back on your purchase amount (via cash-back cards)
• Get free travel by earning air miles and points (via air miles cards)
• Build your credit rating when you pay off the purchase (via cards for fair credit)

I’m sure you read that list and thought, “Well that sounds great. How do I get started?” It’s actually quite simple: we’ve done the research and compiled below the cards that are best to use on jewelry purchases. Simply click on your card of choice to visit its official online application:

If you don’t have the money on hand to pay for the purchase, a 0% intro APR card is the way to go. By charging your jewelry purchase to such a card, you won’t have to pay any interest on the purchase for up to 15 months, giving you plenty of time to pay off the purchase without accruing interest:

Chase Slate Edge℠

at Chase'ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0

Our Review »

• Start off strong with 0% Intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. A variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% on balance transfers and purchases after the introductory period ends.
• Lower your interest rate by 2% each year. Automatically be considered for an APR reduction when you pay on time, and spend at least $1000 on your card by your next account anniversary.
• Raise your credit limit. Get an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time, and spend $500 in your first six months.
• All for no annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Slate Edge℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more
• Member FDIC

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% Intro APR on Purchases 18 months	0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 18 months	20.49% - 29.24% Variable	$0	Good/Excellent

+See more 0% Intro APR cards »

If you plan on paying off your jewelry purchase right away, you’ll want to consider using a cash back card. Wouldn’t it be nice to get 1% — or even 5% — cash back on such a big purchase? Not to mention, a nice one-time cash bonus just for using the card? With all that extra cash, you might even be able to thrown in those eye-catching gold earrings you thought you couldn’t afford. Here is the best cash-back card to consider:

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

CASH BACK RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.9/5.0

Our Review »

• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice - now with expanded categories, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
• Newly expanded categories based on Bank of America customer feedback! 3% cash back on Gas (to now include Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations) and Online Shopping (to now include Cable, Streaming, Internet and Phone Services).
• If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
• 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases	0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days	18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers	$0	Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

+See more Cash Back cards »

What’s even better than a shiny new silver bracelet? How about a free trip to Hawaii? Or a few nights at the Ritz? Cards like the following are offering ridiculous air miles and travel points that you can use on any airline and at any hotel:

Discover it® Miles

at Discover Card'ssecure website

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.8/5.0

Our Review »

• UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
• Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
• Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
• Terms and conditions apply

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months	0% Intro APR for 15 months	17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR	$0	Excellent/Good

+See more Air Miles cards »

OK, so you may have noticed that the aforementioned cards all require a good-to-excellent credit rating for approval.  What if you have a so-so credit rating — are there options for you? Sure there are. This card in particular not only approves those with imperfect credit, but also features a sweet 0% APR deal and significant cash back on your purchase:

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0

• No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
• Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
• Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	30.74% (Variable)	$0	Average, Fair, Limited

+See more Fair Credit cards »

Your sales rep at Kay or Zales will undoubtedly try to convince you to sign up for a store card to finance your purchase. After all, it’s their job to get you to sign up for it, and they may make a nice bonus if you give them all your personal details to apply.

If you’re considering this option, there are five things you’ll want to ask first. In fact, we’ll save you the trouble and answer these questions before you even have to ask them:

• “Will I go 15 months without paying interest?” (Probably not)
• “Will you give me a 1-5% cash bonus on this?” (No)
• “Will I get a free trip to Hawaii out of this?” (No)
• “Can I get approved with bad credit?” (No)
• “Can I use this card anywhere else besides this particular store?” (No)

These days, some store credit cards may offer special financing or purchase rewards, but read the fine print. Your typical retail financing deal will include deferred interest, which means you’ll need to pay off your entire financed amount before the end of the promotional period or you’ll be charged interest on the full amount.

Of course, these answers can all be “yes” if you use a traditional credit card to make your purchase like the ones mentioned above. Not only will traditional credit cards get you big bonuses for your jewelry purchases, but they can get you rewarded for all your other purchases as well.