Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings - Internet VS. Retail

Retail Jewelry Stores A common belief is that allOtherwise they may lose interest in the sale and
jewelers are out to get you and that you're goingsay "No Thanks!". Be honest and fair with them
to pay too much for a diamond or engagementand you may be surprised at how helpful they
ring. This is true for all industries and businesses,can be. Internet Jewelers
not just the jewelry industry. There are goodOk I know you have been waiting for this, so
businesses and there are not so good businesses.here it is… Yes you can buy a diamond
There's always a chance to pay more than youfor less on the Internet! You'll also save the sales
have to when buying a car, electronics, jewelry,tax. But you need to know that not all Internet
or whatever. The key is to do your homeworkjewelers are created equal and you really need to
and find a jewelry store that you know isbecome familiar with whom you are dealing with.
creditable; sometimes a referral from a friend isLets start with some important issues. First, you
the best place to start. Now it's true that mostshould know that most Internet jewelers don't
jewelry store prices will start off listing higher thanown their own diamond inventories. What they do
many of the on-line businesses, but you have tois create computerized lists from diamond
consider all things. Who will size your ring when itwholesalers and suppliers from around the country
needs to be done? How much will it cost whenand place these lists on their websites. Now the
you have it done? How long will you be withoutproblem with this is that these Internet jewelers
your ring? There is a huge amount ofhave never seen the diamonds that they sell so
convenience when buying local because manythey don't know what they are giving you. If you
jewelers do all their work in-house. This means nosee a diamond listed on their site and ask them to
waiting and sometimes you can actually havedescribe it to you they have to call the supplier
your ring sized or altered on the spot. Imaginewho owns the diamond and have them describe it
proposing to your girlfriend and then telling her sheto them first so they can describe it to you.
has to wait 2-3 weeks before wearing it becauseThat's fine as long as you are aware of the
it has to be shipped back to the on-line jewelerprocess. Now, there are Internet jewelers who do
for sizing!own their inventories and actually hand select the
Other benefits are the warranties that comediamonds that go on their website.
along with the purchase from a local jeweler. IThe benefit is that these Internet jewelers have
had a customer come to our retail showroom notthe ability to weed out problem stones because
too long ago with a ring he bought from Bluenile.they get to see the diamonds before they buy
He brought his fiancé in to be fit for the ringthem for resale. Allow me to give you an
and we sized the ring for $75.00. 2 weeks laterexample of a problem diamond, take an SI1
she came back and said that she chose to havediamond for instance. By definition, an SI1 diamond
the ring sized too small and needed to be sizedshould not have imperfections that can be seen
again. Another $75.00! Now they're up to $150 into the naked eye. However, I've seen GIA
additional fees and they've only owned ring 2certified SI1 diamonds with imperfections that
weeks. Imagine the expenses you'll accumulatewere plain as day when viewing the diamond to
over the lifetime of the ring! Another issue is thethe naked eye. How does the Internet jeweler
replacement of missing diamonds; today'sthat's selling computerized lists of diamonds know
engagement ring styles are very complicated andwhat kind of SI1 he/she is selling? They don't!
can be set with intricate diamond combinations.That's why its important to choose an Internet
These tiny diamond accents are prone to fallingjeweler who owns their inventory and hand picks
out. When you need to have a small diamondeach diamond personally. The benefit is that you
accent replaced you could pay $75.00 to $150.00can call them and ask them to describe the
in repair costs. Do you see the repair costs addingdiamond to you to be sure that it's not a problem
up? Most local jewelers value your business; indiamond. When wholesalers have problem
effort to keep you happy they'll take care of anydiamonds that retail jewelers and Internet
costs associated with the upkeep of your ring. Ifjewelers (that own their inventories) won't buy,
you think I'm being one sided don't worry, I havethey list them on Internet websites because
a lot of positive things to share with you aboutthere's nobody to verify the problem.
buying on-line also.In the end you suffer because you unknowingly
One of the other benefits of shopping locally isbuy the problem diamond. What's the solution?
the ability to see and examine the diamondsWork with an Internet jeweler that can hold the
before buying. A big misconception is that alldiamond in their hand and inspect it for you. Or
diamonds are graded exactly the same way andwork with a smaller yet trustworthy Internet
that an SI2 on-line is the same as an SI2 in ajeweler who has a pulse on all the suppliers that
store. Truth is that every diamond is uniquelythey work with so they can verify the validity of
different and some diamonds are better thanthe diamond grade. The larger Internet jewelers
others even if the grades are identical. There arelike Bluenile undoubtedly have a harder time
good VS2's and there are bad VS2's how do youweeding out the problem diamonds because they
know which one you have? I'm assuming ofsell so many diamonds from these published
course that you know what a VS2 is, if you don'tvirtual lists. You're diamond purchase is just
you can visit The Real Scoop on Buying Diamondsanother number to them while the smaller
and I'll be happy to explain it further to you. YouInternet jewelers can spend more time with you
really need to see the diamond first hand and lookon the phone answering your questions and
at it under a microscope to be able to comparesorting through their diamonds. Another benefit to
one to the next. You can have two diamondsshopping online is the lack of pushy salespeople to
graded exactly the same but one may be poorerdeal with. As with many retail environments you'll
a version of the same clarity grade because itoccasionally run in to the hard-core salesperson at
was graded by two different people withlocal jewelry stores. If you're the type of person
different opinions. This of course greatly affectswho likes to move at his/her own pace and
the value of the diamond and you're not aware ofdoesn't like to be pressured then the Internet
it unless you see them first hand. Shopping locallyjeweler is a great option. If you find an
empowers you by allowing you to compare oneinformative site you'll have the time to gather
diamond to next in real life situations. Now if youinformation about diamonds at your own pace
say "That's all well and good but I still want thewithout the pressure of having to make a quick
best deal I can get" and the bottom line price isdecision. You'll also cover a lot of ground very
still you're biggest concern then simply be honestquickly because you can compare thousands of
with the people you're shopping with. Truth bediamond prices with the click of a mouse.
known, most jewelers are flexible in their pricing.Shopping locally can be a long laborious process
You just have to communicate your needs withwhile spending hours at each location before going
them properly so they know where you stand.on to the next store.
They don't read minds and if you want the bestIf you choose to buy your diamond online require
deal you can get for a diamond then say that toseveral things from your Internet jeweler. First is
them. You can't get what you don't ask for anda no-frills return policy, the standard for an
nobody is going to volunteer this unless you askestablished and creditable Internet jeweler is 30
for it. If you tell the local jeweler that you havedays. Next is gemological certification, this is
been shopping on-line and you want them toimportant because you want to be assured that
match the price, they'll probably do it.the diamond is graded as fairly as possible. I would
The best strategy is to bring the Internet listingonly choose the Internet jewelers that display the
from the website that you are shopping with andBBB-Online Seal. The Better Business Bureau is a
give it to the jeweler. Ask them to show you agreat consumer advocacy group and won't allow
diamond of the same size, clarity and color, thisany website to display the seal unless their
way you are comparing apples to apples. In someidentity has been verified. They'll also remove the
cases they'll match the price and you'll get theseal if the Internet site is abusing the use of the
best of all worlds including warranties, service,seal or is using unfair business practices. In the
price and convenience. There are no magicalend you'll have to decide what's more important,
formulas or pixie dust that allows one on-lineprice or guarantees. Some people would never
jeweler or retail jeweler the ability to buy abuy a diamond from an Internet jeweler and
diamond for less than their competitors. Retailerssome hate shopping locally. There are no secrets
and on-line jewelers pay the same amount for aor shortcuts but you have to take the time to
diamonds and the going rate is the going rate. Sounderstand that there are pros and cons to both
your local jeweler has the ability to sell theoptions. Nobody can say what's best for you and
diamond at the same price as the Internetyour fiancé but you.
jeweler, you just have to give him reason to. TheGood Luck Shopping and feel free to contact me
best advice I can give you is "Don't make themfor any information about diamonds or diamond
jump through hoops"; if they're going to give youengagement rings!
a great deal don't make them work hard for it.Andy Moquin President - Andrews Jewelers Inc.