I’ll confess: I have an online shopping habit. I’ve spent many an evening pouring over the pages of zappos.com while sipping chardonnay. Too many sips, and 4-5 business days later I end up with some really peculiar and definitely impractical shoes delivered right to my front door. This is why I only drink-and-shop in cyber-stores that offer free shipping and have a very relaxed return policy. My husband has the male version of an internet shopping fetish, which drove him to impulse-purchase a new car on EBay a couple years ago. This is not that unusual in and of itself, but the thing that made it interesting was that the car was located several states away from us. This required him to buy two very expensive airplane tickets for us to pick up his great bargain and drive it all the way home. Practical? Not so much. But he gets points for spontaneity.
Given this spotty family history, you may be wondering if you should really seek guidance from me about shopping online for an item as significant as a diamond. Here are two reasons to heed my advice: 1. I did extensive research on the topic, in order to make the process a little bit easier for you (I hope), and 2. I haven’t had any chardonnay today…yet. So here are a few tips and resources to help make your diamond buying experience rewarding and safe. If you navigate the web wisely, you will be able to purchase your ideal ring at an excellent price.
Be an informed customer
Consider getting a guide book such as The Diamond Ring Buyer’s Guide before you shop. The more you know about the four C’s, the grading scale and certification process, the better equipped you will be to get the best bling for your buck.
Comparison Shop
Search various online retailers in order to get an idea of what a fair price for your gem should be. Helpful comparison tools include the "build your ring" and "compare diamond rings" features that most online stores offer. They should give you free quotes (if they don’t, look elsewhere) without any obligation to buy. Many sites allow you to save your comparison rings so that you can consider several options at once.
Reputation Matters
Shop with an online jeweler who has an established reputation for good business practice (one way to check on this is to make sure that they have a satisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau). I recommend Whiteflash.com, which is the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and is consistently rated highly by customers and media publications. Whiteflash, and other highly regarded online jewelers like it, can often offer you prices that are as close to wholesale as you’ll get anywhere. Make sure that whatever company you choose offers at least a money back guarantee. They also must provide you with a GIA loose diamond grading certificate or equivalent for your diamond.
More Tips
Click here for more tips on buying a diamond, either online or in person.
Happy Hunting!
Debi
