How hard was it for you to buy a diamond online?

[Gypsy]

On RT we frequently have to talk folks over the jitters of buying a diamond online and some never feel comfortable with it.

It was not something I ever had to think twice about though. Although my center stone is from a BM it was also purchased before anyone but BN really did online. And I was a PS for a couple of years before my first online purchase (only because of lack of funds though).

Did you need to be convinced or were you gung ho?

 

[davi_el_mejor]

On RT we frequently have to talk folks over the jitters of buying a diamond online and some never feel comfortable with it.

It was not something I ever had to think twice about though. Although my center stone is from a BM it was also purchased before anyone but BN really did online. And I was a PS for a couple of years before my first online purchase (only because of lack of funds though).

Did you need to be convinced or were you gung ho?

Gung Ho! I've never bought a diamond in person.

 

[yssie]

I found it easy to buy online too, but I'd bought pricier stuff online before without problems - furniture, mostly, and I also lurked for quite a long time before joining PS so when it came time to go shopping it wasn't a new idea.

My only real requirement is a goon-proof return policy - and last time I made an exception it came back to bite me, so lesson (really!) learnt!

 

[Echidna]

I was pretty easily convinced, but FI took a little more convincing. We were buying a RB though so once I explained buying by numbers and images and plots my engineer was sold.

Like Yssie, I lurked for a long time (a year maybe?) and checked out all of the vendors so I knew the drill. During the lurking, my sister got engaged and I helped them obtain a custom BGD ring before I ordered my own BGD stone and Sholdt (via Pearlmans) setting.

I should also point out that we were both buying from overseas (US to Australia) as well as online. There was a bit of worry from our families that we were getting ripped off (though everyone was too polite to come out and say much) but once they saw the goods everyone raved about how great we did and how they shouldn't have been so worried I think the parents needed the most convincing!

 

[zoebartlett]

I had lurked on PS for a long time before finally registering and posting. That definitely helped ease any worries I had about possibly buying online. That wasn't really even a consideration before I learned about PS. By the time we were ready to purchase my engagement ring and wedding band though, I felt comfortable doing so online.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

By the time I found PS, I had had enough negative experiences with jewelers that I was ready to try something different.

 

[ksinger]

Easy as pie. When we were looking for engagement diamonds, I had read enough good about BN, to know that buying online was not all that risky. We got my e-ring diamond through them, and chose "by the numbers". The stone I got was even better than I hoped, so who could complain? I have since purchased online from 2 other vendors with an online presence, and have been quite happy with my purchases.

I'm like so many others here, I require a large selection, or rather, a very specific selection, and many B&Ms don't have that, not to mention that for the most part, I know more about diamonds now, than the salespeople at the stores. There are very few stores in my area that can provide what I want, or who are willing to deal with customers like me (an educated buyer). And quite frankly, the B&Ms have too much markup on their stones. I'm all for supporting local businesses - and I do when I have stones mounted or jewelry made - but I can't justify paying the premium on the stones. If I needed expertise to pick out a decent stone, maybe, but I don't, so....

 

[atroop711]

I didn't think twice about buying online. It wasn't really buying online because I called the vendor and had lots of communications over the phone and email before the purchase was made.. but yes it was sight unseen. I trusted the vendor (WF)

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

I was registered for about a year before i made my first online purchase (wedding ring from ID), only because my now husband wouldn't purchase my engagement ring online. He has now seen the light with my awesome earrings that I purchased a couple of months ago from BGD. Neither purchase was hard to make for me as I was confident with the vendors I had chosen to deal with. As long as the dollar stays strong I can't see myself buying diamond jewelry from here in Australia.

 

[soocool]

At first I thought buying a diamond online was harder than buying a car or a house. But like any major purchase, you have to educate yourself, and this site and its members educated me. My nephew's fiancee at the time turned me onto this site after she became engaged because my nephew became diamond-ucated and bought her a knock-me-out ER online.

What I learned was that majority of mall jewelers carry less than desirable inventory at jacked up prices. The better jewelers, with the nicer stones, prices were off the wall. I was amazed at the beautiful diamond and setting I was able to get online at a phenomenal price and now will only buy my diamond jewelry online. Pulling the trigger (so to say) was most difficult that first time, but now is much easier.

 

[elrohwen]

My stone was inherited, so I haven't actually purchased a diamond online, but I've been thinking of what I do when I buy studs in a couple years. If I were going for an RB I think I would be fine with buying online - there is so much you can find out from the numbers that you can be assured the stone will be beautiful.

I'm looking for OECs, however, and buying online scares me. I'm very impressed by the ladies on the old stones forum who buy gorgeous stones off of Ebay! I can't decide if I have the guts to do the online thing or if I should stick to stones I can see in person (if I did, it would be through a vendor - ebay is too risky for my blood!)

 

[Lula]

By the time I found PS, I had had enough negative experiences with jewelers that I was ready to try something different.

Ditto this.

 

[athenaworth]

I've known for years that when I upgrade I would buy through BN (which was the only online vendor I knew of). I'd bought my tennis bracelet through them before and their service was awesome, so I knew I'd go with them for a diamond. I also understood the ridiculous price differences versus a B&M. I do wish I'd discovered PS before I made the plunge though because I would've probably gotten an even better deal had I utilized you guys.

 

[kenny]

I was very nervous, but maybe because I'm on the other side of 50.
I'm going to make a generalization and don my flame suit again.
I think younger people are more comfortable buying on line that older folks.
Exceptions or your personal experience do not vanish a generalization.
Generalizations are okay; they are numbers based.

My first purchase was rather modest but still I brought it to a jeweler and paid him to verify it was a real diamond and matched the report.
Later larger purchases were driven directly to GIA for report checks too.
I'm just not a trusting kind of guy but frankly that would apply equally to B&M or online.

Today I have a much higher comfort level but never buy without a GIA or AGS report and stick to vendors I trust.

 

[Lula]

I was very nervous, but maybe because I'm on the other side of 50.

My first purchase was rather modest but still I brought it to a jeweler and paid him to verify it was a real diamond and matched the report.
Later larger purchases were driven directly to GIA for report checks too.
I'm just not a trusting kind of guy but that would apply equally to B&M or online.

Today I have a much higher comfort level but never buy without a GIA or AGS report and stick to vendors I trust.

Yes, Kenny brings up a good point. Just because I feel comfortable buying online doesn't mean I would buy from just any online vendor -- I buy from vendors that have good reputations on this site. On the rare occasions I buy from an ebay vendor, I do my research beforehand and that includes learning from the experiences of the ebay-savvy folks on this site and on the site that-shall-not-be-named.

 

[TravelingGal]

I knew I wanted to buy online, but it still made me nervous. I think I used a credit card instead of wire transfer, just in case.

Now, it doesn't worry me at all. But back in 2006........

 

[onedrop]

Buying online was pretty easy for me. I tend to research a lot before making big purchases which is how I ended up here at PS in the first place. After joining and reading threads on RT and looking at finished products in SMTR, I knew that buying on-line would work best for me. With my first diamond purchase, trying to wade through a lot of stones to find the *right* one at a B&M would have been too labor-intensive and frustrating in my eyes. I also have to add that situations when looking in B&M for engagement rings, especially upscale B&Ms, left a best taste in my mouth due to poor customer service and in some cases being outright ignored. Buying on-line allowed me to connect with a reputable vendor that I knew could provide an excellent (in our eyes) stone in our price range, with fair upgrade and return policies and good customer service. I also felt that I would not be "ignored" as I considered my purchase, if that makes sense.

 

[Kaleigh]

I lurked for a long time before I posted on PS. By the time I joined PS , I had no worries at all.

 

[princesss]

It was really easy for me to take the plunge, but by the time I was in a position to buy, I'd been on PS for a few years. I knew which vendors I wanted to use, and I had a solid idea of what my taste in diamonds is, and who could cater to that. I used OWD for the two OECs I purchased, and was thrilled with them from the very beginning. I think that hanging around PS and getting a solid idea of what I like in a stone and what I don't made buying online a lot easier - if I wasn't sure what I liked, I think I'd be much more hesistant to shop online.

Elro, when you're ready, definitely check out OWD! They were really easy to buy from, and had a great selection of OECs.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Before PS I had purchased diamonds online, but not substantial purchases.

I was a member here for a few years before actually buying and I picked out the diamonds on the WF site but did ALL my ordering & communication over the phone. I wanted to hear a REAL voice when spending $ like that. Also, as TGal, I used a CC rather than a wire transfer. It wasn't worth saving $50 or whatever amount it came to even though my bank was a credit union.

ETA - I had been planning to purchase from WF for a long time before contacting them, so I had watched and read positive experiences for a long period of time. That helped ease my concerns.

 

[Prana]

DH and I felt much better about buying online vs. BM. We knew we could get a better deal, and probably better quality as well. We definitely educated ourselves beforehand, though, and planned to take our time finding the right diamond. (We ended up finding it in 2 weeks!)

 

[risingsun]

I made my first jewelry purchase online ~6 years ago. It was a pair of diamond hoop from BN. The earrings didn't work out and I was able to return them without any problem. That eased my mind about onlilne shopping for jewelry. When I joined PS, I had reservations about buying my engagement diamond online. I spoke with a number of experienced PSers and the vendor, as well. The purchase was seamless. When I make a referral, it is usually to a vendor with whom I have had some personal experience, not necessarily a purchase.

 

[mary poppins]

After finding PS while researching about diamonds, DH (boyfriend at the time) was gung-ho about getting my engagement ring online. I was initially reluctant, but was convinced after listening to him and checking out PS. When we saw my ring from WF, we were amazed! I was still a little skeptical until I got the ring appraised and the appraiser agreed with the GIA report for the diamond. Thanks for helping my DH, PSers! We definitely got a better engagement ring than we otherwise would have without information on PS and your help with selecting the center stone.

I have since purchased my husband's wedding ring online and convinced a friend's boyfriend (now fiance) to purchase online, also. My friend was impressed with the knowledge her fiance gained through PS and is thrilled about her sparkly ring.

 

[HopeDream]

I was gung-ho, but I'm a twenty-something who's been on the net since I was 11. I also completed my first internet-facilitated purchase in 1998, so online buying for most of my major purchases is somewhat of the norm for me.

I think finding, and being involved in the PS community prior to my purchase definitely gave me more knowledge and confidence, but even if I hadn't found PS I probably still would have purchased my diamonds online.

With what I know now, I don't know if I could purchase a diamond offline, the numbers, ASET and IS images are very important to me.

 

[kittybean]

Neither DH not I had any doubts about buying diamonds online. It was definitely what both of us contemplated right off the bat. For him, he had had several friends who had bought their wives' rings online and raved about it (one of these was from WF!), and he knew someone who worked at BN. Shopping around at Tiffany's, HW, and Cartier also made him run screaming to his computer when it was time to buy my e-ring.

Since then, he and I have made about four or five additional diamond purchases online and never thought twice about them.

 

[Echidna]

I'm looking for OECs, however, and buying online scares me. I'm very impressed by the ladies on the old stones forum who buy gorgeous stones off of Ebay! I can't decide if I have the guts to do the online thing or if I should stick to stones I can see in person (if I did, it would be through a vendor - ebay is too risky for my blood!)

Ditto to all of that, Elrohwen! OECs seem to be far more tricky because everyone tells you to buy with your eyes. I went into some local estate jewellers asking about OECs and they promptly asked me whether I was in the trade I'm finding it hard to educate myself prior to purchase...

Princesss, thanks for the tip on OWD. They have updated their web images so they're larger and I think I'd be much more comfortable buying from them now. I love lots of the stones at JbEG but they don't seem to carry huge inventory for comparison (being a smaller business, obviously).

 

[Dancing Fire]

not a problem for me as long as i got all the information about the stone.

 

[katamari]

Not at all. As soon as I saw an asscher, I fell in love. There just weren't those in B&Ms in my area. Or, if there was, there would be one that wasn't really my style. I really can't imagine, either, justifying B&M prices--or B&M stone quality (in the case of some chain jewelers).