With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying
diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can
purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are
careful.
First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase
the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry
store.
The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead
costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices.
However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a
sure indication of a scam.
One of the best things about purchasing
online is the unlimited election. When shopping offline, you are
limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online,
there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and
consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot
see and have never met!
Before shopping, learn as much as you can
about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When
you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist
to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to
start shopping.
Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond
that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for
sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you
have found the
lowest price, start doing your investigation. You
know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve
found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from
actually purchasing that diamond!
Ask about the seller’s
credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong
to. View and print the seller’s return,
refund, and upgrade
policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and
mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews
on this particular company around the Internet. Also
check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.
Ask
for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as
GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase.
Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds
preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their
possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you
send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The
escrow
service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends
the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect
yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!
