Shopping online for an engagement ring is a great option to take advantage of, and it has become easier than ever. Jewelers have begun specializing in selling engagement rings online because the demand has continually increased each year, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
You can virtually work with a jeweler to design the perfect engagement ring, or you can have the jeweler present you with various options to choose from. The choice is yours!
It’s important to make sure you choose the right jeweler to purchase your engagement ring. The local jeweler should be knowledgeable and helpful about designing your dream ring. Buying an engagement ring online often gives you the benefit of working directly with the ring designer instead of dealing with a salesman at a local jewelry store.
How to Choose the Right Jeweler
The best way to choose an online jeweler is to ask your friends, family, or local community if there is an online jeweler they recommend. Ask them about their personal experience when they purchased from the jewelry store. Getting a personal reference or hearing someone’s personal experience is a great way to determine which jeweler to use.
You can never do too much research when choosing an online jeweler to design your dream ring. If you don’t have any personal recommendations for an online jeweler, you should research reviews on social media and search engines like Google or Bing. Reviews, both good and bad, will tell you everything you need to know about the jeweler.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to the online jeweler to ask questions about their selection or their business, and pay attention to the type of response you get from them. Did they seem rushed in providing you with an answer?
Did they want to get to know more about what you’re shopping for and how they can help? You can get a feel for a jeweler based on how they respond when you reach out to them with questions or concerns.
Understanding the 4 Cs of Diamonds
When you walk into a jewelry store, you have the luxury of being able to look at a loose diamond to make your selection to set in your perfect engagement ring. Unfortunately, that’s not an option when you buy an engagement ring online.
That’s why you need to familiarize yourself with the 4 c’s of diamonds. If you don’t understand the different grades of color, cut, clarity, and carat of diamonds, you can easily purchase a diamond you’re not happy with.
Cut
The diamond cut is the most important of the 4 c’s of diamonds because this is where the diamond gets its sparkle. A diamond with a cut grade of very good or better will have the most sparkle. A diamond with a fair or poor cut grade will have the least amount of sparkle, which can also make it look small. Keep in mind that round diamonds are the only shape with a graded cut. Fancy shapes like ovals, radiants, marquise, etc have assumed cut grades based on their symmetry and polish.
Color
A diamond’s color is graded starting with the letter D. Diamonds with a color grade of D, E, and F are considered colorless and will appear the most bright white. The lower the letter grade is from D, E, or F, the more yellow, or warmth, the diamond will have.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is how many flaws or inclusions it has. There are many letters to determine the clarity grade of the diamond, so you’ll need to make sure you know if the diamond is considered flawless or included. If included, you need to know how many inclusions there are in the loose diamond stone, so you know how many imperfections it has.
Carat
A diamond is weighed by how many carats it has. A smaller diamond with an excellent cut can appear bigger than a larger diamond with a poor cut. That’s why it’s important to know the cut of the diamond and how many inclusions it has. We recommend purchasing a smaller diamond with a near-perfect cut, color, and clarity grade than a large diamond with flaws and a yellow color.
How to Select a Diamond Online
Once you familiarize yourself with the 4 c’s of diamonds, you can make a better decision about the type of diamond you’re purchasing. Ask to see pictures of the diamonds, including any certifications that the diamond has.
When shopping for a diamond engagement ring online, make sure the pictures show different angles of the diamond so that you can see what it looks like from all angles and in different lighting.
Ask online jewelers to provide you with the cut, clarity, and color grade of the diamond. This will help you decide on the right diamond to choose.
What You Should Know Before Shopping Online
Aside from the 4 c’s of diamonds, there are some additional tips you should know before you start ring shopping online.
Know Your Budget
Knowing your budget is arguably the most important question you should ask yourself before you get started shopping online. You don’t want to look at diamonds that you can’t afford. Know how much you want to spend and express that to your jeweler.
The price of a diamond will vary depending on its features. The higher the grade of the cut, color, and clarity, the more expensive the diamond will be, so it’s important to prioritize what features are the most important to you so that you know how much money you can spend for the diamond you want.
Don’t be afraid to ask the online jeweler questions about the price of the diamond. They should be able to tell you the factors that make up the ring's price.
Tip: Shop around and check the price of diamonds at more than one online jeweler to make sure you’re getting the best deal and the best quality diamond.
Know Her Ring Size
Another important tip you’ll need to know before shopping online is the ring size you’re shopping for. The last thing you want to do is purchase a ring that’s too big or too small for your fiancee to wear when you give it to her.
In case you need to have the ring resized after you purchase it, make sure you know the jeweler’s resizing policy. Will it cost more to have it resized, or is one resizing included with the purchase of the ring?
Know Her Style
We recommend having a style in mind before you begin online shopping for an engagement ring. Knowing the style of engagement ring you want to choose will help you and the diamond expert pick out or design the perfect engagement ring for you.
Does your future fiancée have a diamond stone shape in mind? Does she prefer a round diamond? What about a fancy color diamond that is untraditional from the rest?
Knowing her style before you start online shopping will help you and the diamond expert choose the perfect diamond engagement ring online for her.
Final Thoughts
Many online retailers have ready-to-ship options with diamonds pre-set in mountings. These rings may be easier for some to shop if they need vi compared to choosing a loose stone and setting since they are already finished pieces.
If you’re ready to get started, fill out our engagement ring inquiry today, and one of our jewelers will be happy to help you design your perfect engagement ring! If you’d prefer to get some inspiration or if you need a ring as soon as possible, take a look at our pre-set ready-to-ship engagement rings.