An engagement ring has always been one of the most important
things a man would buy in his lifetime; the quandary has always been where
exactly to buy the ring, where you can be sure of getting a high-quality
diamond ring, all for a price that won’t empty out your pockets and accounts
completely.
In the
past, diamond sales were done exclusively in-store, with salespeople hovering
around your back and trying to convince you that every diamond ring would be
perfect for your bride-to-be. The prices of the diamonds were usually very
high, no thanks to the high markup that the stores had to fix in order to cover
their overhead costs. Today though, online shopping provides a perfect
solution, enabling you to browse through vast offerings, analyze the features
of each, and decide on and buy the perfect diamond engagement ring from home,
all at an affordable price, because they have only a small fraction of the
overhead that physical stores do. Despite the obvious advantages conferred by
buying your diamond engagement ring online, care still has to be taken, and
there are some tips and guidelines you should follow to get the best possible
deal on a high-quality diamond engagement ring:
Diamond Certificates
A variety
of jewelry labs gives diamond certificates, and this may cause some confusion
as you try to make sense of all the different acronyms and grades. A good rule
of thumb is to buy from stores that offer either American Gem Society (AGS) or
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certificates and their diamonds. These
labs are the world’s top jewelry labs, and you can be sure that whatever is
contained in their certificates is as accurate as humanly possible. Don’t let
yourself be carried away too far, though; keep it at the back of your mind that
diamond certificates do not add to the value of the diamonds, but rather just
certify the specifications of the stone. Some stores also offer their own
certification grades, but these should be taken with a pinch of salt for
obvious reasons. Lastly, although one can sometimes find some lovely diamonds
that lack certification, if you are not a gemstone dealer and are just looking
to make a one-time purchase, it’s much better to simply go for the sake of your
peace of mind for a certified diamond engagement ring.
Customer Service
Although
one of the advantages of shopping for your diamond engagement ring online is avoiding
the pushy salespeople you’d normally come in contact with at physical stores,
customer service is still an integral part of the online shopping experience.
What if you want to ask a question? Or do you want to quickly communicate some
change of mind you’ve had about certain specifications of the diamond? A good
store to shop for your diamond engagement ring online would have a number you
can call to communicate directly with staff. You can’t reasonably expect them
to be online 24/7, so be sure to verify their working hours and crosscheck the time
zones.
Return Policy
Read the online
store's return policy very carefully and ensure you get them to clarify any
part you’re unsure about. Standard return periods are usually between 15-30
days but you have to be aware of the nifty details: stores usually charge a
“re-stocking” fee that could reach the 50% mark. Again, clarify all the details
to know exactly what protection you have.
Secure Transactions/Privacy policy
In
today’s world of personality theft, hackers, and online fraud, it is important
to know the extent to which the store is protecting your personal contact and
financial details. Check and ask if the website has encryption features to
protect your data. Review their privacy policy to be sure they won’t be selling
your private information to marketing companies that’ll flood your inbox with
spam.
Shipment Policy
The
method via which your diamond engagement ring will be shipped is an important
consideration. Top carriers like FedEx, UPS, or Express Mail are fully insured
in the event of lost or damaged goods.
