It’s never been easier to buy an engagement ring, but buying the right engagement ring that’s worthy of your money and a place on your beloved’s finger for the rest of their life? Well, that’s a little trickier.
The internet has dramatically increased the number of options people have when they’re looking for an engagement ring, but unfortunately, not all of them are created equal. Some simply don’t have the kind of inventory you need, while others treat customer satisfaction as a distant afterthought.
The good news is that there absolutely are reputable, trustworthy online jewelers out there, and figuring out who they are is more straightforward than you might think. We’ve put together a cheatsheet of information that you can use to assess an online jeweler; if the one you’re looking at gets a tick for all of the following, then you can be reasonably sure that you’re working with the right business.
Their Range of Options
Some people have a clear idea of the precise type of engagement ring that they’re looking for. Others want to browse and see which one grabs their attention.
A good engagement ring company will cater to both. They’ll have an extensive inventory that includes hundreds of engagement rings, which will allow browsers to peruse the offerings, and increase the chances that people who know what they’re looking for will find it. Ultimately, while it’s possible that you’ll find what you’re looking for from a jeweler that only carries a small number of rings, it’ll be less likely than when you choose to work with one that has hundreds to offer.
The Jeweler’s Experience
There are some industries in which young businesses really can be the real deal, but the jewelry world is not one of them. Experience counts for a lot in this world, since, well, there’s much to know about jewelry, and it can take a long time to acquire it.
Plus, businesses that have a long history in the jewelry industry have essentially proven that they know how to delight customers. After all, this is a famously competitive industry, and any business that doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing won’t last long. In general, the longer they’ve been in business, the better — if they’ve been around for seventy years or more, then there’s every chance that they’ll still be around seventy years in the future, since whatever they’re doing is clearly working.
Staff Knowledge
It’s possible that you already know everything there is to know about engagement rings, but in all likelihood, that won’t be the case. Most people simply don’t have enough experience buying engagement rings, so they need a little bit of help from the experts.
Reputable jewelers can be considered engagement ring experts — and they will be more than happy to share what they know with you. They should make it easy to contact them with any questions you may have, as well as provide a timely, detailed answer.
Custom Jewelry Design
Some people find the precise engagement ring they’re looking for as soon as they land on a good engagement ring website. Others search, and search, and search, and still can’t quite find the one that’s right for them.
This is where custom jewelry design comes in. The best businesses don’t just sell quality engagement rings; they’re also happy to work with you to create a custom piece that’s exactly what you’ve been looking for, if necessary. Their process will involve providing personalized designs, tailored materials, and expert craftsmanship. Even if you don’t need this service, it can be reassuring knowing that you’re buying from a business that offers it, since it can demonstrate that they’re truly experts in their field.
Payment Options
Some people believe that they have to make a compromise between the engagement ring that they want to buy and the engagement ring that the amount of money in their bank account will allow them to buy.
The best engagement rings are investments that’ll pay off again and again in the form of sentimental value and memories, and the best jewelers want to make sure that every customer has the best possible chance of getting their hands on the right piece for them. To achieve this, they won’t just offer multiple payment options, but also provide no-interest financing if necessary. That means that customers can get their hands on the engagement ring they love and pay for it over a number of months.
Customer Reviews
We said above that experience counts for a lot — if the business has been around for decades, then that’s a good sign that they know what they’re doing. It also means that they’ll have had plenty of previous customers, and many of them will have shared their experience online. If a company has plenty of (genuine) positive online reviews from past customers, then that’s a reasonably good indication that you, too, will have a good experience.
In-Store Options
As odd as it might sound, one of the best signs that an online seller of engagement rings is reputable is if they also have a physical location. All too often, online jewelers only present minimal information about who they are, and that can raise eyebrows. If a business that sells online also has a physical shop, then they can provide an extra assurance that they’re legitimate. Plus, if you happen to live nearby where their store is located, then you can swing by and see their engagement rings in person before buying.
Commitment to Customer Satisfaction
This one’s a little harder to measure, but you can often get a sense of how committed a company is to customer satisfaction. You might see on the ‘about us’ section of their website that they not only value their customers, but have done so since their founding many decades ago, or you might find that they’ve put together a charter that outlines specifically how they work to guarantee customer satisfaction. That should give you confidence that you’re working with a business that genuinely cares about your experience.
