When it comes to buying diamonds, many are still undecided whether it is better to buy them online or physically at a retail store. I have decided to make this comparison to help you determine if shopping online is best for you or not. There are several factors that influence whether or not it is the best option, with some advantages and disadvantages for each. In this post, I will explain to the best of my ability the benefits and drawbacks of the two.

Certificate

Most online retailers only sell certified diamonds, either by GIA, HRD, or IGI. In many physical retail stores, most diamonds will not be certified. This is normal, as jewelers themselves are almost always certified raters, but it does not inspire confidence in some consumers. In all cases from a reputable jeweler, there should be no question about the quality of the diamond. However, certification costs money, and one advantage of buying certified diamonds over non-certified diamonds is that you will often find them cheaper. However, in general, purchasing certified diamonds is highly recommended, because while all jewelers can distinguish the clarity and color of a diamond, some may not as easily distinguish between faulty cuts and fluorescence grades.

Selection

You will have to visit many stores before you find the great selection you will find inside the store of the average experienced online diamond seller. The average jeweler usually only carries a fraction of the diamonds in a physical location by comparison. I would estimate that the average jeweler would have around a handful of dozens (usually fewer) of notable sized loose diamonds (noteworthy, I use a relatively strict definition of around 0.50 carats). The selection of less than a hundred compared to the thousands you would find online is where the online selection shows the most advantage. The wider selection makes it much easier for potential buyers to find exactly the diamond they want, whereas if the customer is inclined to shop at a retail store, the situation will often end with the buyer settling for a slightly different diamond. . than he could have wanted.

In the case of all online sellers, they are connected with a direct line to the miners, who buy directly from the miners. There are no unnecessary middlemen this way. Most jewelers rely on people buying from cutters and then selling them, so they don’t have direct access to such large lists, which only drives prices up, but more on that later.

One drawback to this huge selection, however, is that the average online retailer takes around two weeks to deliver, whereas when you visit the store you can pay on the spot and walk away with the item instantly. For the person who doesn’t want to wait, this can be an important factor. Many people don’t have the patience to wait that long for what they bought, which I find very understandable.

The ability to see in 3D

A new niche in online diamond shopping has recently emerged. This is the ability to look inside your diamond in 3D. For me personally, this is a game changer. I think that with this new technology, people can look inside the diamond even better than if they were holding it with a bow. Most diamonds have significant blemishes and these can be part of their beauty. When you buy a diamond online in 3D, you know exactly what you are buying. Perfectly angled macro shots under the perfect lighting allow even the most experienced diamond grader to grade inclusions better than methods used in years past.

While a customer may be happy at first after purchasing thinking they could get a great price, they may regret it later as they get to know the diamond more fully over the years. When he can see what you’re considering buying in such detail, he knows for sure what his purchase will be like and he’s sure never to regret it. Also, people who are new to gem shopping will find it much easier to learn what the physically visible differences are in the comfort of home rather than going from store to store.

Online return rates for diamonds purchased in 3D are extremely low.

Prices

Although the competition among gemstone and fine jewelry retailers is fierce, the competition among online sellers is even fiercer. You will be able to find much better prices online than in jewelry stores. Not only do the profits required for one or two more middlemen not add to the total expense (saving additional costs to the eventual end buyer), but since they order directly from the major suppliers, they don’t aim to make as much profit either. for its sale. When a store invested in a diamond years ago and is only now finding a buyer, it will try to make it worth the long wait, whereas an online seller usually has their flat fees. On top of that, online diamond sellers don’t require as many human resources to keep the operation running as they manage large stocks very efficiently. This again allows them to save you costs by giving you a very honest price for your diamond.

However, if you are flexible with your choice, you may find incredible prices in stores. You may find a diamond that a jeweler has bought for a very low price. Most people don’t mention a budget, but if you mention a budget, the people who work at the store you’ve visited will surely do their best to give you the best deal possible. To achieve this, you may have to visit many stores, but the chances are high that it will be worth it.

conflict free diamonds

When you buy diamonds online, you are buying from select companies that the world’s largest retailers have chosen to deal with. The diamonds owned by these companies consist entirely of diamonds that they themselves mined and cut. As they themselves also oversee all of their operations, there is no place for conflict diamonds to find their way to these companies. Although in my opinion you shouldn’t worry as the odds of conflict diamonds are extremely low when you buy them in stores, the only way to ensure that what you are buying is absolutely conflict free is to buy it from one of the retailers directly connected to these companies and nothing else than these companies.

-Isaac