6 replies to this topic

[DetroitEE]

Hi all,

I recently began looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I stopped into Kay yesterday, talked to someone there and looked at a couple of diamonds just to get my feet wet. I started doing some research, and I am now considering purchasing the ring online from a site i.e. bluenile or eternity or something similar. Here are my concerns about purchasing online:

1. My main concern is that my girlfriend will almost be embarrassed when people ask her where I got the ring to say "oh he bought it online." Of course, I know that I will get a GIA stone that is good quality, but others don't know that, and I don't want to ever put her in the position to have to "defend" the reasons I purchased her ring online.

2. The saleswoman at Kay talked about their diamond-loss policy, where if the diamond were to fall out of the setting and be lost, they would replace it for free. I know no such policies or warranties exist from online sites (do they?). Is this kind of coverage even necessary? Is it difficult to knock a diamond out of its setting?

I am kind of torn about this. The deals online seem to be great. I am looking for a round 5/8 carat diamond with F or G color, VS1-VS2, excellent cut, excellent symmetry. The diamonds I was looking at with these specifications seem to be around $2k (without the setting), and I have a feeling, based on the rings I looked at in Kay in this price range, I would not be able to get the same deal if I were to purchase locally, whether it be from a large chain store or a local jeweler. Any input about my concerns about purchasing online would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[denverappraiser]

Locally owned stores are almost always better than the big chains both in terms of the merchandise and the prices. How much better will depend on where you live and what jewelers are nearby. I point out that most of the online folks are nothing more or less than a jeweler that set up shop in someone else's neighborhood and who is advertising to a national audience. If you've got a good retailer nearby, by all means consider giving them your business but if not, there's a big world out there.


1) He searched the whole world for the perfect stone and finally found it at a store in Seattle (or Florida or Texas or wherever you end up). Don’t you love it? … The ring is designed by Joe Schmoe and it’s just lovely, don’t you agree? … I don’t know where he got it, but isn’t it great? ... Can you believe that man - Instead of buying the first thing he could find at the mall he searched the world for the best possible stone at the best possible price because he said I deserved the very best he could get for his money. Swoon.

2) Assuming you’re planning on insuring the piece, this would be a covered loss under your regular insurance policy anyway. Far more serious risks are loss and theft of the entire piece by the way. If it's properly set, it takes quite a bit t knock a stone out of the settting.

Neil

Edited by denverappraiser, 08 February 2010 - 10:26 AM.

[DetroitEE]

Thanks for the advice Neil, I guess I should check out the locally owned shops before assuming that their prices would be similar to the chain stores.

[diamondsbylauren]

Great advice given by Neil.
I'd add that when you get these loss guarantees, part of the deal is that you have to meet certain requirements about bringing in the ring to be inspected periodically.
Plus there may be other caveats...

Generally speaking, a four or six prong Tiffany will make it very difficult to knock a stone out of the setting.
There would have to be a very hard knock, or damage visible prior to the stone falling out...generally.


I agree that it can sound very romantic if your intended tells folks you searched all over the world for the ring!

[davidelevi]

Check the local stores, but also check the online ones. Not unlike Kay and Zales, there are big online "chains" (Blue Nile to mention one), and there are smaller, specialised outlets that offer a far higher level of service with comparable costs and equivalent guarantees/consumer protection.

On the "disreputable online purchase" with the best will in the world, I don't think any of her friends is going to find a ring bought at Kay's particularly romantic or indicative of great care being taken.

[DetroitEE]

Thanks to everyone, great advice. I stopped into a local jeweler today and found that the prices were indeed much higher than comparable diamonds I was looking at online. I think I will most likely end up purchasing one online.

[jan]

DetroitEE, on Monday, Feb 8 2010, 12:57 PM, said:

Hi all,

I recently began looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend. I stopped into Kay yesterday, talked to someone there and looked at a couple of diamonds just to get my feet wet. I started doing some research, and I am now considering purchasing the ring online from a site i.e. bluenile or eternity or something similar. Here are my concerns about purchasing online:

1. My main concern is that my girlfriend will almost be embarrassed when people ask her where I got the ring to say "oh he bought it online." Of course, I know that I will get a GIA stone that is good quality, but others don't know that, and I don't want to ever put her in the position to have to "defend" the reasons I purchased her ring online.

2. The saleswoman at Kay talked about their diamond-loss policy, where if the diamond were to fall out of the setting and be lost, they would replace it for free. I know no such policies or warranties exist from online sites (do they?). Is this kind of coverage even necessary? Is it difficult to knock a diamond out of its setting?

I am kind of torn about this. The deals online seem to be great. I am looking for a round 5/8 carat diamond with F or G color, VS1-VS2, excellent cut, excellent symmetry. The diamonds I was looking at with these specifications seem to be around $2k (without the setting), and I have a feeling, based on the rings I looked at in Kay in this price range, I would not be able to get the same deal if I were to purchase locally, whether it be from a large chain store or a local jeweler. Any input about my concerns about purchasing online would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

You could still buy a stone online but get a quality stone at a competitive price from your friend in the business with an actual store as well. Some stores have online sites as well. Even Tiffany has a website.

On the loss policy at Kay, I would make sure that you get an insurance policy which will cover loss and theft. Sometimes in the mall store they stress this will replace policy but fail to tell you that it doesn't cover mysterious disappearance or abuse. That is alot of loop holes to not cover your ring. The salesperson also tries to make it sound like they will cover anything, but try to use it and you will find that there are conditions. If you have it insured, which is a minimal amount of dollars, it is covered. Don't depend on warranties. Get it insured.

The only problem with Blue Nile is that they never see the diamond you would purchase from them and can't really tell you what the stone actually looks like. Go with a company that will view the stone for you and send you photos and light performance analysis. That way you get the best of both worlds. A diamond at a competitive price, and you don't have to be embarrassed because you purchased a quality diamond.

You can actually even get a hearts and arrows ideal cut diamond well within your budget. Something like this one that also comes with a 100% upgrade policy in the future with no restrictions. Can't get that from BlueNile or Kays.

http://www.dbof.com/jewelry/round-ideal-he...ws-62-ct-si1-g/