While there will always be a rhyme or reason to explore your local jewelry shop in person, online jewelry shopping is sometimes the best method to get the piece you want. But with so many websites and advertisements to sort through after a quick Google search, how do you know which ones you can trust? And if you can't try pieces on virtually, how do you know if they flatter you?
Don't let the trials and tribulations of online shopping scare you from buying the fine jewelry you deserve. Consult our top tips and tricks and learn how to find the best online jewelry store for your needs.
Can You Buy Designer Jewelry Online?
The short answer—yes! Although it depends on the jewelry store you're buying from, almost any item available in-store is also sold online, from birthstone jewelry to engagement rings and everything in between.
But just because you can buy fine jewelry online doesn't mean you can trust any and all websites. There are plenty of companies that aim to scam you, so it's important that you do your research and follow our helpful tips as you shop for jewelry online.
Elements of A Trustworthy Online Jewelry Shop:
- Transparency
- Authenticity
- Contact information
- Variety
- Quality reviews
Why Should You Buy Fine Jewelry Online?
For some people, the most important consideration when shopping for fine jewelry is accessibility. Online jewelry shopping offers unbeatable convenience, as you can browse for hours at a time, all from the comfort of your own home. It's also an especially helpful alternative if your errand-running hours don't typically align with the store's hours.
Online jewelry shops are also known to offer a larger selection of designs than retail locations. Since an item you order online may come from a larger storage facility or flagship location, there are more options to choose from. If the store near you only has a few varieties to try on, you can head to the website to browse all of the metals, diamond cuts, stone colors, and sizes available to you.
Shopping for jewelry online can sometimes be the most cost-efficient option, as businesses often have lower overhead and offer exclusive discounts and deals throughout the year. If a piece caught your eye in the store, you can use the internet to check if the price ever drops within your budget before buying. These websites will also tell you if something is out of stock without you needing to inquire with an employee.
What Kind of Jewelry Can You Buy Online?
The best online jewelry store for you and your style will have a variety of designers and options, such as:
- Necklaces
- Pendants
- Rings
- Bracelets
- Earrings
11 Tips for Choosing and Shopping the Best Online Jewelry Store
If you're looking to buy fine jewelry online, it's important to understand the signs of a business you can trust. Check out our professional tips to determine the best online jewelry store for you:
Tip #1: Research the Seller
We've all shopped on a whim before, but the next time you're about to hit "add to cart" on a fine jewelry item, take a second to reconsider. Before you make such an important investment, you should always research the business. Authentic and dependable online jewelry shops will have easy-to-find information, a detailed history, and truthful customer experiences.
Start by taking a look at their website. Do they have an About Us page that shows their team in a positive light and explains their values? Do they make any promises that can be backed up by fact, such as a guideline for the superior quality of their diamonds or lifetime guarantees for the fine jewelry designs they sell? When it comes to picking the best online jewelry store for you and your budget, more information is always helpful to have.
Tip #2: Consider What You're Looking for Ahead of Time
When shopping for fine jewelry online, it's important to be well-versed in the vocabulary. Understanding exactly what you're looking for, whether it be a unique Sabel birthstone ring or a stack of bangles or bracelets, will help you sort through lower-quality websites. Learning important buzzwords, as well as doing cross-research on the average price of pieces similar to what you have in mind, will help you find an online jewelry store you can trust.
Before you shop online jewelry, make sure you're specific in your search. Familiarize yourself with background information on these specific design elements to avoid scams and find precisely what you want:
- Metals: sterling silver, yellow gold, platinum, white gold, rose gold, and more
- Gemstones: colorful gemstones and timeless diamonds
- Stone cut: refers to the proportions, symmetry, and overall polish of a gemstone
- Shape: used to describe the overall shape of a gemstone, like oval, pear, round, and more
- Gold karat: a way to measure the purity of gold that takes weight, durability, and color into consideration
- Setting: refers to the metal base that holds a stone in place, such as the prongs of a diamond ring
- Clarity: often dictated by a diamond grading scale, clarity measures a gemstone's purity based on internal and external flaws and blemishes
Tip #3: Check the Customer Reviews
Anyone who has a way with words can paint a business into a pretty picture—it's the real-life customer reviews that tell us the truth. Well-run stores that sell high-quality fine jewelry will have a slew of online reviews backing them up. Reviews tell you, as a new shopper, that a previous customer loved (or disliked) a design so much that they had to come back and write about it.
Reviews can be found either on individual product pages or your preferred search engine. If you Google the company or a specific location, you can find an entire review section filled with real customers sharing their compliments, questions, and concerns. This is the easiest way to spot red flags in online jewelry shops.
Tip #4: Look Into Their Return and Shipping Policies
Buying fine jewelry is an investment—but what happens if you end up not liking the piece once you see it in person? Before you click purchase, make sure you've investigated their return and shipping policies to the fullest extent. A dependable online jewelry shop will clearly display its policies without hiding tricks in the fine print.
When it comes to the details of a return policy, there should be at least an online option, if not an in-store return. Depending on the retailer, some will offer complete returns for all kinds of diamond rings and necklaces, some will have certain designs outlined and excluded from general returns, and others may only accept items in exchange for store credit. Each business will have its own rules and regulations for how many days out from a purchase they will provide a money-back return, whether it's 30 days, 90 days, or longer.
Quality online jewelry shops have an air-tight shipping system so that you can trust your digital purchase arrives safe and sound. Are the items shipped with priority overnight shipping to avoid any lost packages along the way? Is a signature required upon delivery? Determine the answers to these questions before you choose to ship your stylish designs.
Tip #5: Understand Your Sizing
Determining your perfect sizes before making a final purchase is essential, but how do you know what will fit if you can't try them on first? From pearl rings to gold chain necklaces and everything in between, having a general understanding of the sizes that work for you will help streamline your online jewelry shopping experience.
In order to guarantee that a jewelry piece fits, start by searching for the provided size charts either on the website or within a specific product description. High-quality jewelry businesses tend to follow the same standard measurements, so you can often refer to an existing piece in your jewelry box to see what will fit. If necessary, you can also go to your local jeweler for professional sizing or remain at home and use online hacks to find your ring size.
When it comes to tennis bracelets or designer items like the Roberto Coin 18K white gold solitaire necklace, an inch or two really makes a difference in how the design suits your stature. To find the best proportional fit, lay your favorite necklace or bracelet out in one straight line and measure with a flexible measuring tape. After getting that number, you can more accurately determine the size of the item you're searching for on the online jewelry shop.
Tip #6: Look for Authentication
Sure, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—but not when it comes to the fine jewelry you spent your money on! There are a few ways to check out the authenticity of an item, either in its product description or in person once it arrives. Look closely for design details, such as maker marks, manufacture identity stamps, and serial numbers.
If you suspect an item you've ordered from an online jewelry shop may not be the real deal, there are a few tests you can perform. We recommend hovering over the design with a strong magnet—if it sticks, it's made from cheap metal and not gold! You can also always take a gemstone or pearl jewelry design in for an expert to assure you that it's real or, in a worst-case scenario, a fake.
Tip #7: Compare Prices with Other Online Jewelry Shops
Buying a once-in-a-lifetime design is a big deal, so it never hurts to do extra research when it comes to the price tag. Looking through multiple reputable online jewelry shops to see their comparable products and what each one goes for is a good way to set your budget and expectations at the correct level.
But, just because something is cheaper on one website doesn't mean it's the only right choice for you. Make sure you're purchasing from a store that coincides with our other tips: good reviews, return policies, and authentic quality.
Tip #8: Contact the Business
The best online jewelry stores have an easy-to-follow way to contact them—and they should be responsive to boot! Customer service, whether it be an online chat or a phone number with a real person on the other end, is the best way to get all your questions answered in a timely manner. This can be a tell-tale sign of whether a business is high-quality or not.
Tip #9: Do They Offer Repair Services?
Professionals understand that accidents happen. While none should occur in the item's transit, online jewelry shops understand that surface-level damage can occur in your everyday life, whether you left it on in the shower or banged it against something by accident. As you purchase, poke around to see if the company offers its own repair services, as this is a sign that the store’s jewelers really know their stuff.
Tip #10: Does the Purchase Come with Insurance?
Jewelry insurance is a good idea for anyone buying an item online, as it protects the owner against potential theft and damage. Some of the more reputable online jewelry shops offer different levels of insurance with purchase to give you peace of mind for the most valuable designs.
For instance, Fink's offers insurance policies for diamond studs, pendants, and engagement rings to try to help keep your jewelry safe and in good condition for years to come. This diamond Lifetime Guarantee is what sets us apart from our low-quality online jewelry shop competitors.
Tip #11: Inquire About Official Paperwork
All fine jewelry purchases, from trendy stacked bracelets to wedding bands, should arrive at your doorstep accompanied by official paperwork and itemized receipts. In these papers, there should be grading reports for every colorful gemstone or dazzling diamond in your design. These documents should be kept on hand for any personal jewelry insurance and records. If these do not show up with your item, you should inquire with the company's contact information to see why.
It doesn't matter whether you're browsing for your dream double halo diamond engagement ring or a special bangle set because every fine jewelry purchase should feel special—even if it occurs online! With so many counterfeits and fakes out there, it’s important to learn what to look for in a business. The next time you browse, use these 11 tips to find the best online jewelry store for you and your needs.
