How to buy fine jewelry online

If you’re looking to buy fine jewelry online, or at least to begin your research before stepping inside a jewelry store, knowing what to look for may seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. If you’re at home and want to purchase jewelry, where do you begin? 

Our safety tips for buying jewelry online can help you shop with confidence while protecting your personal information. 

Start with your local jewelry store

Start with your local jewelry expert. Many stores have their inventory online and are finding creative ways to sell their jewelry digitally.

If you have questions, most jewelers can be reached via email, phone and website chat, so check out their website or Facebook page to learn the best way to contact them. They are eager to help you.

Not familiar with the jewelry stores in your area? Type in the search term ‘jewelry stores near me’ into Google to see a list of jewelry stores near you, along with ratings and reviews of each. Make sure to work with jewelers that have high ratings & trustworthy reviews.

How to buy jewelry online

If you’re relatively new to online shopping for jewelry, there are a few quick tips to help you get the best shopping experience from your couch and make sure you are purchasing high quality jewelry that will last you a lifetime.

1. Know your jewelry. Researching and understanding jewelry helps to ensure you make informed decisions about quality, value, and helps you select pieces that best match your style and budget. Here are a few tips when shopping for new jewelry:
   1. Examine each of the 4Cs and understand how a gemstone's beauty and value are influenced by its rating in each category.
   2. Before buying gold jewelry, know the different types and colors of gold. Understanding these differences are can help you make an educated and informed purchasing decision to avoid any potential surprises.
   3. It's also important to check for gold hallmarks. The hallmark can provide important clues about the piece, such as where it’s from, its metal composition, and even how much it’s worth. 
       
2. Find the right jeweler or eCommerce retailer. Sounds easy, right? It really doesn’t have to be that difficult to find a credible jeweler online. Make sure you ask your friends and family for recommendations, check online for reviews (don’t forget social media) and check out the Better Business Bureau while you’re at it, too.
    
3. Check the certification for the jewelers' diamonds and gems. Most reputable sellers and jewelers will have the documentation to prove the quality of the diamond or jewel. For instance, these grading reports come from industry leaders such as American Gem Society (AGS) and Gemological Institute of America (GIA). If they can’t provide this documentation, you’re risking buying something that is fake.
    
4. Ask for real photos of the jewelry. Some e-tailers provide 360-degree HD videos to show exactly what the diamond you're considering buying looks like. However, if you’re dealing with a local jeweler, don’t be afraid to ask them to email you over a few images of the piece. Or see if they can do a FaceTime or Zoom call with you to show you other options. They’ll try to accommodate you as much as they can.
    
5. Read the fine print. Check out the contract and any additional costs that may occur. 

Additional online safety tips

Here are some extra safety tips to keep your account and personal information safe as you shop online:

• Protect your passwords: Use strong, unique passwords that include numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters. Don't use the same password for multiple accounts. You can use a password manager to help create and remember passwords.
• Use 2-step or Multi-Factor verification: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a verification code, in addition to your password. This can help further protect your online account by preventing unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.
• Use a credit card to make payments securely: Credit cards are more secure than debit cards because they offer more consumer protection. Credit/charge card transactions are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Cardholders are typically only liable for the first $50 in unauthorized charges. If online criminals obtain your debit card information they have the potential to empty your bank account.
• Use temporary account authorizations: Some credit card companies offer virtual or temporary credit card numbers. This service gives you a temporary account number for online transactions. These numbers are issued for a short period of time and cannot be used after that period.
• Secure your transactions: Look for the “lock” icon on the browser’s status bar and be sure “https” appears in the website’s address bar before making an online purchase. The “s” stands for “secure” and indicates that the communication with the webpage is encrypted. Also look for a broken key symbol indicating a non-secure connection. Some browsers can be set to warn the user if they are submitting information that is not encrypted.
• Be wary of potential scams: If the online offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Cyber criminals will look to take advantage of the volume of online shoppers to temp users to fall prey to online scams.
• Update software: Keep your antivirus, firewall, operating system, internet browser, and apps up to date.
• Back up data: Back up important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Secure your computer: Make sure your computer has the latest security updates installed. Check that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software are running properly and are receiving automatic updates from the vendor. If you haven’t already done so, install a firewall before you begin your online shopping.
• Upgrade your browser: Upgrade your Internet browser to the most recent version available. Review the browser’s security settings. Apply the highest level of security available that still gives you the functionality you need.
• Do not e-mail sensitive data: Never e-mail credit card or other financial/sensitive information. E-mail is like sending a postcard and other people have the potential to read it. Beware of emails requesting account or purchase information. Delete these emails. Legitimate businesses don’t solicit information through email.
• Ignore pop-up messages: Set your browser to block pop-up messages. If you do receive one, click on the “X” at the top right corner of the title bar to close the pop-up message.
• Do not use public computers or public wireless to conduct transactions: Don’t use public computers or public wireless connections for your online shopping. Public computers could potentially contain malicious software that steals your credit card information when you place your order. Criminals could be monitoring public wireless networks for credit card numbers and other confidential information.
• Review privacy policies: Review the privacy policy for the website/merchant you are visiting. Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be stored, how it will be used, and if it will be shared or sold to others.

After safely shopping for new bling online, protect your investment by obtaining personal jewelry insurance through Jewelers Mutual. It’s an affordable option that covers loss, damage, and disappearances. You can check your rate by clicking the button below.