Considering purchasing engagement rings online but worried about getting ripped by accidentally purchasing something inauthentic, or wasting your money? Or confused by the many options available on the internet?

When shopping for jewellery you might wonder whether you should engagement rings online or in-store. Shopping the web can offer a great experience, in fact buying engagement rings online can often be a far better and more convenient option than shopping on the internet. Here’s why you should consider it.

Is buying engagement rings online safe?

Sometimes people get nervous about shopping on the web but it’s often just as safe if not safer than buying from retail stores. Many sites selling engagement rings online have amazing photography which allows you to see the jewellery up close from many different angles alongside details of the jewellery and diamods such as cut and clarity. Shipping is also highly secure with insurances places on packages and discreet packaging so that you can enjoy peace of mind whilst waiting for your package to arrive.

Can I buy engagement rings online?

Yes you can, in fact it’s one of the best ways to shop with many different cuts such as round cut and solitaires available. You’ll also find some of the most competitive pricing on the internet.

Are they cheaper on the internet?

In many cases buying on the internet will save you substantial sums of money, often up to 40% of the cost of your jewellery. Without the overheads of a retail store, vendors who sell on the internet are able to substantially reduce the cost of their diamonds.

How to buy on the internet

There are a few steps you should follow before buying engagement rings online and a few things you should keep in mind. Here they are below:

Choose a reputable vendor

The first thing you should do is ensure that you find a reliable vendor with a good reputation. With such high value items it’s important to find a vendor that you can trust.

Verify certification

According to Temple and Grace diamonds should be verified by a lab certificate which will confirm that the diamond you are buying it the one that the seller is selling. Look for GIA or AGS certified diamonds as these are the most reliable labs in the world.

Evaluate the cut of the diamond

Make sure you look carefully at the cut and grading of the diamonds your thinking about buying before going ahead with the order.

Evaluate how clear it is

Zoom in on any photos provided on the internet and see if you can see any sign of blemishes. If you’re able to see blemishes on the web the you’ll definitely be able to see them in person.

Check the colour

If you’re after a white diamond then inspect photos carefully to see if it is nice and bright and white and doesn’t show any signs of discolouration.

Decide on the weight of the carat

The next thing you should think about after selecting a beautifully cut gem and ensuring you find one with no blemishes then you should spend your budget on carat.

Take your time

Before buying anything on the web make sure you do thorough research and make careful comparisons. You should also reach out and ask opinions from knowledgeable experts. Spend a lot of time searching through different retailers on the web to find the best deals and diamond options.

If you’re having trouble deciding what kind of cut you like from photos, attend a retail store and try some bands on to get an idea about what you like.

The rise of mobile technology has brought a surge of online shopping retailers. The popularity of online shopping has risen significantly in the past few years, to the point where physical retailers are in serious decline and online retailers are on the top of the market. The ability to access the stores from anytime and anywhere through the use of mobile technology has changed the consumer buying behaviour to all online.

Mobile technology has been used by consumers to discover new products, through the use of social media which is a perfect platform for online retailers to market directly to their demographic. This has increased online retailers brand awareness significantly. The consumer is also able to directly access the shop straight from the advertisement, rather than having to go in physically.

This contributes to the changing consumer behaviour of shopping online.

In addition to this, technology has allowed the consumer to organise their shopping in a visual way, allowing them to add, remove and update their cart with products they are interested in. This makes it easier for them to organise their shopping, as well as checking if products are in stock and tracking their products.

It is ultimately this ease of access that allows them to organise and check on their products right in front of them without having to leave their home that contributes significantly to their buying behaviour.

The retailers that are not able to switch to an online or hybrid version of their store are the ones in decline and who will fall. With the change in consumer behaviour so evident and leaning towards the online market, businesses must be able to change.

It is unlikely that consumers will ever return to physical retailers, and with technology that is constantly evolving, consumers will adapt accordingly.

Online retailers are not going anywhere but up.