| Wow, what a great concept of buying diamonds | | | | pretty easy to understand but when it comes to |
| online! Who could have thought of such a novel | | | | the Cut it starts to be more complex. |
| idea? The person who came up with the idea of | | | | Tip #2 - Diamond Grading Reports Are a Must- |
| taking loose diamonds and putting them on the | | | | There are only a few different diamond grading |
| Internet must be a genius! Imagine buying | | | | reports that will help you when buying diamonds |
| diamonds online, it's never been done before! Or | | | | online. GIA, AGS, and GCAL would be the only |
| has it? | | | | reports that I would feel comfortable |
| Back to the future! | | | | recommending for buying diamonds online. I say |
| If we went back in time about 100 years ago, | | | | this because these diamond grading reports do |
| the cutting edge of retailing was a big thick book | | | | have a "Cut Grade" which is extremely valuable |
| that most households had and in addition to the | | | | when making a blind purchase like this. There is a |
| Bible, this was probably the most read book in | | | | slight difference how they go about doing this but |
| most homes. When a new edition of this book | | | | I would tend to prefer the AGS and GCAL |
| was distributed, everyone couldn't wait to get | | | | reports because they directly measure the optical |
| their hands on it! Inside of this book was a whole | | | | efficiency of the diamond. |
| world of new and exciting concepts never before | | | | Tip #3 - Judge an Online Retail Like You Would a |
| seen by many of its readers. People could find | | | | Local Diamond Jewelry Retailer- For a number of |
| good quality farm implements, the newest of | | | | years I was a traveling Sales Rep for a |
| appliances, and even entire houses. The book? | | | | Manhattan based jewelry manufacturer. Because I |
| The Sears catalog. | | | | needed to visit many jewelry stores on a daily |
| R. W. Sears was not the first person to have a | | | | basis I ended up being able to quickly "size up" a |
| catalog and offer goods through the mail. The | | | | jewelry store after visiting many hundreds of |
| concept goes back hundreds of years. But it was | | | | diamond jewelry stores. Some of the key |
| Sears that improved on the system and he built | | | | indicators were the decals on their front doors |
| an empire on this form of retailing. | | | | indicating membership in different industry |
| What is the attraction of buying diamonds online? | | | | associations, the information listed in their yellow |
| Probably the most obvious reason buying | | | | page ads, the diplomas / awards that were |
| diamonds online has become more commonplace | | | | hanging on the walls, or the quality and quantity of |
| is because of the lower prices of diamonds online | | | | the diamond jewelry that were in their |
| to comparable diamonds being offered at local | | | | showcases. You will need to do a similar judgment |
| diamond jewelry stores. But an important safety | | | | about any online diamond retailer that you are |
| element to buying diamonds online is the GIA | | | | considering. Don't be fooled by a lot of pretty |
| diamond grading system along the diamond | | | | pictures and graphics because in a matter of 45 |
| grading reports that most diamonds come with | | | | minutes anyone could put up a website that could |
| these days. | | | | look exactly like the best of the online diamond |
| The Wild West of retailing? | | | | retailers. Pay careful attention to the "About Us" |
| The Internet is an amazing place, you can travel | | | | page, it can tell you a lot and read all of the fine |
| the world without leaving the house! Just as you | | | | print on the "Policies" page. Try to stick with the |
| have to use judgment in where to shop in the | | | | big, well known online diamond retailers. |
| "real world" you also need to use proper | | | | Tip #4 - Decide on Your Budget- If you have a |
| judgment of where to shop when buying | | | | clear idea of what is a comfortable amount to |
| diamonds online. The Internet is starting to mature | | | | spend on your diamond(s) then it will help you |
| but there are still some basic things you must do | | | | make decisions on what will be the most |
| to avoid having an online transaction turning out to | | | | important qualities you need to have in your |
| be a bad experience. | | | | diamond(s). With the 4Cs when you adjust one of |
| You need to be a smart consumer! | | | | the Cs you can then adjust one of the other Cs. |
| I say this because we are dealing with a product | | | | Your money will always be well spent when you |
| that is like buying a TV but it is also not like a TV. | | | | try to keep the Cut of the diamond as high as |
| Huh? OK, I'll explain, if I am looking to buy a new | | | | possible within your budget. |
| TV, I'll go to the electronics store, learn about all | | | | Tip #5 - Use a Credit Card- By using a credit card |
| the features, compare the pictures of each TV, | | | | it will give you some protection in the transaction. |
| and find a nice model that I like. I might buy it in | | | | The credit card companies do give you some |
| the store or I'll write down the model number, I'll | | | | additional clout if you need to solve some |
| check around at other stores, and then check the | | | | problems if they are encountered. Some of the |
| pricing on the Internet. The way you shop for | | | | big online diamond retailers are now started to |
| diamonds starts off the same but it become | | | | offer a bit of a discount if you use a wire |
| difficult to "shop around" because there are no | | | | transfer because it saves them the price of a |
| model numbers. TVs are made so that every | | | | credit card processing fee. If you feel comfortable |
| model comes off the assembly line exactly the | | | | with the company, then you could save a few |
| same. Because diamonds are all a bit different you | | | | additional dollars. |
| will need to do your homework before you go | | | | It will require some work on your part to make |
| think about buying diamonds online. | | | | this process of buying diamonds online a satisfying |
| 5 Tips for buying diamonds online - | | | | and rewarding experience. It is possible for just |
| Tip #1 - Get a Working Knowledge About | | | | about anyone to do this. |
| Diamonds- This does not mean that you will have | | | | Diamonds might be forever but it doesn't need to |
| to become an expert about diamonds but before | | | | take forever to learn how to buy diamonds online. |
| you consider buying diamonds online you should | | | | Do your homework and good luck! |
| understand the basics. Three of the 4Cs are | | | | |