Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
October 1, 2010
My Dad's getting married again, and he's searching for a wedding ring for my soon-to-be step mom. He asked me what I think about buying a diamond at an online jewelry store. I didn't really know what to tell him. I think it's safe because it seems to be the growing trend and I guess if it were really that risky we would have heard about dozens of scam stories. On the other hand I don't personally know anyone who bought a diamond ring online and I don't want to tell my dad it's fine without really looking into it first. Can anybody provide some guidance? Thank you.
October 7, 2010
Depends on what online jewelry store you're using. Here are a few tips for buying diamond jewelry online:
1. Look for a reputable, accredited seller. You can do that by browsing online sites that post customer reviews and testimonials.
2. Try and find out as much as you can on diamonds and diamond jewelry. The more informed you are the less likely it'll be that you'll get ripped off. Look at online websites for information on a diamond's 4 C's (cut, clarity, color and carat weight), on the various precious metal aspects and on jewelry designs and styles. The best thing for you to do is have a look at online diamond price lists. That way you'll have a clear idea of how much your selected diamond jewelry should cost.
3. Before you make your purchase, I always recommend having a look at local jewelry stores. Check out their jewelry decide which items you're interested in, get an idea of how the jewelry would actually look and that it suits you.
4. Establish a clear budget. Make sure that whatever jewelry you choose will fit into your budget. Establishing a budget before shopping will lower the chances of your going overboard and spending too much of your hard earned money,
5. Make sure that the site's payment options are secure. Check that the site guarantees your privacy.
6. Insure your purchase. Most people don't bother with insurance, they don't like the idea of paying a few extra bucks on the chance that their purchase will get lost or damaged during its delivery. I always recommend insuring your selected purchase. Diamond jewelry isn't a cheap commodity, better to pay a few extra dollars and be safe. If you're not sure whether the site you're buying from offers insurance, contact customer support and ask them what the procedure is on insuring their products.
7. After you've completed your order, print out a receipt and keep it someplace safe. I've heard all sorts of stories about people who've bought diamond jewelry online, didn't receive their purchases, and when they called customer support the representatives told them that there was no record of the sale and they could not prove otherwise.
8. Track your order by calling customer support or through the site (assuming that the site offers a 'track your order' option). That way you'll know exactly when your order was shipped, when it is supposed to arrive, etc.
9. Contact the online jewelry store's customer support as often as you need. Don't be shy about calling customer support and asking their representatives any question that may have.
10. After you've received your item, check and see that it is in perfect condition. I suggest you take your diamond jewelry to a local appraiser. Have him take a look at your items, make sure that there are no loose settings, that the clasps are secure, that there are no loose diamonds, that there are no visible scratches or dents in your jewelry's metal, etc.
11. Consider having your diamond jewelry appraised and insured against loss, theft or possible damages.
October 5, 2010
Hi. It's actually a good thing to shop online if you do it in a safe place - meaning you make sure the shipment policy is safe, i.e. the diamond is shipped with FedEx or another secure delivery company, make sure you get a certificate from a legitimate lab, make sure there is a return policy and a privacy policy and finally, make sure if your diamond ring gets lost or damaged en route, the online jewelry shop has some sort of policy for this too. If your dad shops at a place that respects all of these policies, the risk is minimal and there are several advantages to doing your diamond ring shopping online. For instance you really have time to shop around conveniently and consider each item for as long as you like and compare different products from different online jewelry shops, which is something you really can't do when you shop at department stores.
Another advantage is that the value is often higher because online retailers don't have a lot of the expenses that brick-and-mortar retailers do, a lot of those expenses can be enjoyed by customers- they can get the latest product for real bargains.
I'm a big advocate of online shopping of any kind. and I think that when you shop for a diamond engagement ring you really want to take your time and compare different diamonds and wedding bands and styles for as long as you want, and investigate the nitty-gritty details that you may not have felt comfortable asking about at a mall.
October 3, 2010
Buying a diamond ring online can be risky but it can also be totally safe, if you buy from a good source and look out for certain things. I haven't ever bought jewelry from an online jewelry shop, but one of my best friends has and he was very happy with the buying process. He's sitting right next to me and kind of dictating:) Here's what he says:
Congratulations to your pop!
Make sure the jewelry-shop he buys the diamond ring at has a secure transactions policy, a return policy and sends you a certificate from a well known diamond assessing lab, such as the GIA or the AGS, (make sure the lab doesn't have another name that sounds similar)
