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