Convince me to buy online....

[diamonddave5]

Right now my budget is $12-14k (started at $8k before I knew what anything cost) and after seeing dozens of stones with a jeweler--and finding the SAME stone 20% cheaper online after looking up GIA cert #s--I'm thinking I have to go online. My jeweler has me close on a very very nice 1.5ct EX/EX/EX SI1/I eyeclean round stone. With custom setting, he says I'm looking at about $13,100-$13,300 ($12k for stone, $1.3k for setting). Getting an SI1 or SI2 in H or I, I can get all the way up to 1.8-1.9ct for <$13k for the stone. I really dont think I can spend $14k for a 1.5ct when I can get a 1.85ct online for the same price.

I guess I'm just worried about getting the stone and not being happy with it. I know all the PS vendors have good return policies but it is really intimidating to wire someone $14k for a diamond, sight-unseen. What do you all think? I buy everything else online; am I just being paranoid?

Also, has anyone used Eternity Diamonds? They are a PS vendor and cheaper than just about anyone. I have found stones I've seen here in person in Chicago on there for 20% less.

 

[webdiva]

Right now my budget is $12-14k (started at $8k before I knew what anything cost) and after seeing dozens of stones with a jeweler--and finding the SAME stone 20% cheaper online after looking up GIA cert #s--I'm thinking I have to go online. My jeweler has me close on a very very nice 1.5ct EX/EX/EX SI1/I eyeclean round stone. With custom setting, he says I'm looking at about $13,100-$13,300 ($12k for stone, $1.3k for setting). Getting an SI1 or SI2 in H or I, I can get all the way up to 1.8-1.9ct for <$13k for the stone. I really dont think I can spend $14k for a 1.5ct when I can get a 1.85ct online for the same price.

I guess I'm just worried about getting the stone and not being happy with it. I know all the PS vendors have good return policies but it is really intimidating to wire someone $14k for a diamond, sight-unseen. What do you all think? I buy everything else online; am I just being paranoid?

Also, has anyone used Eternity Diamonds? They are a PS vendor and cheaper than just about anyone. I have found stones I've seen here in person in Chicago on there for 20% less.

Plane ride Chicago to NY. $200. 20% off on diamonds = priceless. Consider yourself convinced. Contact ID Jewelry and ask them to pull in your final contenders. They'll match Eternity.

 

[swingirl]

Something like this?

http://www.eternitydiamonds.com/1.72-I-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-AGS-104057769004/ds-670428/

They have a good return policy.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Convince you: It is cheaper. Buy from a vendor with positive reviews on PS and you are very safe. Make sure they have a good return policy in writing on their site. Check your selected stones with us. Very safe.

 

[diamonddave5]

Convince you: It is cheaper. Buy from a vendor with positive reviews on PS and you are very safe. Make sure they have a good return policy in writing on their site. Check your selected stones with us. Very safe.

How is Eternity? I have two I've found via them for $11,100 and $11,500. Cant find all that much about them on PS yet they are the vendor with the most diamonds when I search via PS.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Convince you: It is cheaper. Buy from a vendor with positive reviews on PS and you are very safe. Make sure they have a good return policy in writing on their site. Check your selected stones with us. Very safe.

How is Eternity? I have two I've found via them for $11,100 and $11,500. Cant find all that much about them on PS yet they are the vendor with the most diamonds when I search via PS.

A few PSers have bought from them and had good experiences. I believe they are a drop shipper though and cannot provide as much information about the diamonds as other vendors, though. Have you used the search function, upper right? Search "eternity diamonds" and you can reach threads about them.

For deals I would typically recommend ID Jewelery. Call and ask to speak to Yuketeil and tell them you are a PSer looking for a sweet diamond deal.

 

[jfmiii]

Convince you: It is cheaper. Buy from a vendor with positive reviews on PS and you are very safe. Make sure they have a good return policy in writing on their site. Check your selected stones with us. Very safe.

How is Eternity? I have two I've found via them for $11,100 and $11,500. Cant find all that much about them on PS yet they are the vendor with the most diamonds when I search via PS.

A few PSers have bought from them and had good experiences. I believe they are a drop shipper though and cannot provide as much information about the diamonds as other vendors, though. Have you used the search function, upper right? Search "eternity diamonds" and you can reach threads about them.

For deals I would typically recommend ID Jewelery. Call and ask to speak to Yuketeil and tell them you are a PSer looking for a sweet diamond deal.

i too am wondering about eternity and have looked for reviews via the search function. i havent found much. however, what i have found is postive. maybe i will call IDJ. if what webdiva says is true--that they can pull diamonds listed on eternity--maybe that is my best bet.

 

[denverappraiser]

You’re already convinced.

The customary reason people shop online is the price and that’s your hot button. What you need convincing of is the credibility of the jeweler vs. the credibility of your jeweler at home vs. whatever ‘value add’ they are offering you. That’s a good question. Most of the Internet jewelers are no more or less than a jeweler that happens to be in someone else’s neighborhood. You are not doing business with ‘the Internet’, you are doing business with a particular company. Research them with the same sorts of approach you would any other company. Google them up and read what others have said about them. Ask your friends/neighbors/coworkers. Check the BBB records in THEIR town. Look for records in places like ripoffreport.com and the like. Search their name here in the forum. Read carefully through their website and promotional materials and read carefully the terms and conditions. Visit the showroom if they have one and look around. Talk to them on the phone, on the email, through the chat functions. You’re not shopping for a diamond here, you’re shopping for a jeweler. THEN you’ll be shopping for a diamond. It’s certainly possible that the right jeweler for you is nearby and that’s certainly an advantage if they are. For most people, the same deal is worth paying more if you can do it at a local merchant and I'm a huge fan of supporting your neighbors when you can. How much more is the tricky question. That’s up to you. There are some first rate outfits that advertise online and expanding the acceptable geographic range beyond your local driving distance adds a LOT of people to the list of possible choices.

Incidentally, all of your concerns about returns, what happens if it doesn’t grade out as described, what happens if you or she don’t like it, what happens if you have a craftsmanship problem et.al. apply to the local stores too. Hold them to the same standards, check them out before you buy from them and read their t&c’s with the same critical eye. Just being close doesn't make them good any more than being far away makes the other guys bad. It’s not the address that makes the good stores good, it’s the character of the people behind the counter/keyboard that you’re looking for. Get that right and everything else is easy.

 

[webdiva]

i too am wondering about eternity and have looked for reviews via the search function. i havent found much. however, what i have found is postive. maybe i will call IDJ. if what webdiva says is true--that they can pull diamonds listed on eternity--maybe that is my best bet.

Most jewelers do not carry a ton of stock, it's expensive. They pull diamonds from wholesalers "on memo". Most jewelers have access to these same wholesalers, incl. internet jewelers. Internet Jewelers like James Allen have a low profit margin like 5-10% on top of the wholesale price. Other members have used IDJewelry, and they have matched the lowest internet price and been very helpful with settings.

 

[maiell1]

I as well was very nervous buying online but spent a lot of time searching and searching. I had enough confidence in my purchase and dealings with Whiteflash. Originally convinced with BlueNile my journey brought me to WF. I bought the diamond on the photos and analysis they sent of a virtual stone I picked out. Also, I took my time till I found an amazing stone with a great HCA, ASET and other stats, I have a post on here you can check. Now if I didn't like it I would have to pay to send it back but I had some faith in the GIA and HCA states. My original plan was a 1.5 but ended up with an excellent 1.39 that visually is only about 0.2 mm off most 1.5's but was well within my budget final total 13,500 after discounts. I also wanted G colour and VS 1or 2 as didn't want to worry about eye clean.

When I searched PS, Whiteflash was always cheaper for the same virtual stone at other Jewelers and they had a much larger selection of bands to work with. Also, had a $75 off sign up deal online. In the end it took time and searching but I have a ring ready to be picked up today a FedEx.

So what is my final disclaimer on faith in buying online and why was I so nervous.... I live in Australia and by time I see the ring in person any return policy will have been long past and my mom who picks it up will see it first and so that is what I rely on. So as they say go with reputation and thank all the experts on here ahead of time because they helped to instill the faith.

Good luck.