The Ins and Outs of Buying Jewelry Online

Posted in FASHION by admin On July 31, 2012. No comments

It doesn’t matter if you are looking for the latest in costume accessories or investing in fine jewelry, buying online can save you serious money. Online jewelry stores save money in rent, staff, utilities, security and these saving can be passed on to you through reduced prices.

Your first decision should be: are you interested in buying costume jewelry or fine jewelry?

Buying costume jewelry online is very easy. There are thousands of sites offering the latest trend pieces at reasonable prices. Costume jewelry requires less research and care than fine jewelry. Pieces often only last one season of wear and tear so remember you get what you paid for. As most buyers like to update their costume accessories with each season this may not doesn’t bother you as the prices are so low you can afford to update regularly.

One thing to look out for is the shipping times. Many online retailers save money by using the bargain basement shipping. If you want to bet your items while they are still in fashion make sure you select a store with reasonable shipping times or look for a site which is located in your country, this should save on lengthy international delays.

Purchasing fine jewelry takes more research and care, as all big investments should. While purchasing fine jewelry online does make it more convenient it can also be more of a risk if you do not do your research on sellers and products.

Be sure you know what you are buying.

Diamonds: always remember the 5Cs. Carat is the weight of the diamond. One carat is equal to 1/5 of a gram. Clarity refers to the lack of imperfections in a diamond when viewed under a microscope. Colour refers to the amount of dicolouration in a diamond. A clear diamond is best as it allows more light to pass. Cut refers to the way the diamond has been cut by the diamond cutter. Certification to show the diamonds are real and their grading.

Gold: It is important to understand how gold is measured. There is a difference between carats and karats and different regions have different stands. This is important to note if you are buying gold items from sellers in another region.

Terms like filled gold, gold plated and layered gold should all be understood.

A reputable store should be willing to back up their products with a certificate. For diamonds this is particularly important.

Research your seller. It is just as important to know who you are buying from as it is to know what you are buying. Read the about section or the website, do a search on the company name and read any reviews which pop up. If there are lots of complaints about a site this should be an obvious red light for buyers.

Does the store have a returns policy? If not there maybe a reason and this could be another red light. Jewelry can often come down to personal taste, if you are buying the piece as a gift you want to know they can return it and get an item they like.