Online Engagement Rings

Types of Online Engagement Ring Merchants

There are several different places on the internet to buy engagement rings. Different types of merchants offer different styles, benefits, and bargains, and you should always investigate different options before selecting your specific ring.

Online Jewelers

Most mainstream engagement ring jewelers maintain websites with expanded selections of their typical styles and selection. When your local store does not have the available ring, you can often find it in a different size, slightly altered setting, or different carat weight on their website. Some online jewelers will even let you Design an Engagement Ring with your specific choices of stone size, shape, and setting. Many of these websites also offer online-only sales and include deals such as free shipping and generous return policies. Generally, these online sites are as reputable as the physical stores they represent, but always investigate them as you would when initially Choosing a Jeweler.

Exclusive Online Jewelers

More and more small jewelers are turning to exclusive online sales in order to expand their businesses while shrinking overhead expenses. Because they do not maintain physical stores, these exclusive online merchants can often offer high quality engagement rings at lower prices. This is also a way for a small business (often a single craftsman or a family-run business) to compete with larger stores by offering their products to a wider geographical range.

Online Auctions

Many engagement rings are available through online auctions. When buying an engagement ring at an online auction, however, always thoroughly investigate both the ring and the seller before placing a bid. Verify the ring’s quality, ask about return policies, and check the seller’s integrity before agreeing to a sale. Always try to view multiple pictures of the ring as well, to get as good of a visual inspection as possible to avoid potential scams.

Wholesale Online Dealers

Wholesale engagement ring dealers are similar to exclusive online dealers in that they do not operate a physical store and can thus offer their rings at substantial discounts. The difference, however, is that wholesale dealers often have a limited selection of styles, perhaps even rings that have been discontinued by other manufacturers and are now available at even greater savings. They offer less customization or alterations to their rings than actual jewelers.

Precautions for Online Engagement Rings

When buying engagement rings on the net, there are several precautions you should take before handing over your credit card numbers. First, always thoroughly investigate the merchant before proceeding with the sale. The first indication of a quality merchant is a professional, quality website: misspellings, missing images, and poor organization may indicate a less than desirable dealer who does not pay as much attention to quality as possible. Second, investigate the business through the Better Business Bureau to insure that it is legitimate and has not had multiple complaints filed against it.

Once you are satisfied with the merchant’s integrity, you must examine the engagement ring itself. While this is easy in a physical store, with online engagement rings you must rely on photographs and the posted statistics (grade, color, clarity, etc.) of the ring in question. The merchant should be able to provide you with the ring’s certificate once you purchase it, as well as other documentation about the stone’s authenticity. Because much of the information will be industry jargon, it is especially important that you are familiar with Judging Diamond Quality and terms such as Diamond Cuts, Diamond Clarity, Diamond Carats, and Diamond Color.

Before completing your purchase, you must investigate return options in case the ring is not as you anticipated. A reputable jeweler will offer a limited return policy in writing, as well as provide you with shipping insurance (perhaps at a small additional fee) to protect your purchase.

For couples with limited retail options, online engagement rings are a great alternative for finding the perfect ring. A much wider variety of rings can be found online than in any physical store, and with careful investigation and savvy shopping, couples need not fear making such a monumental purchase online.