How to Safely Buy Jewelry Online: Everything You Need to Know

Did you know the first engagement ring is believed to have been exchanged in 1477? Now, buying jewelry is as common as shopping for groceries!

Luckily, the days of spending hours browsing department stores for the perfect jewelry piece to add to your collection are over. Internet shopping is an easy way to make the most of your time. However, you’ll need to know how to safely buy jewelry online. 

When buying jewelry online, knowing how to protect your purchases is a crucial part of shopping. If you’re unsure how to safely buy from an online jewelry store, keep reading for the best tips and tricks. 

Find a Reputable Store

Before you start shopping, you’ll want to find reputable websites to buy from. As a rule of thumb, any brick-and-mortar store with an online website is generally safe to purchase from.

However, there are also independent stores and jewelry makers selling online, expanding your options.

In order to ensure a website is reputable, it should have all its contact information readily accessible. This includes customer support emails or phone numbers and a mailing address.

You’ll also want to comb through the website to validate its legitimacy. Checking out the company’s history or About page is a great indication of how legit it is. Also, be wary of any typos or sketchy web addresses.

If you have suspicions or are unsure about the validity of the jewelry store website, err on the side of caution before putting in your payment information.  

Read Reviews

Another way to help you find safe websites to make purchases on is to look into the online customer reviews of the website. 

These provide valuable and unbiased insight into the brand and quality. Consumers will comment on the quality of the jewelry they received if there were any issues with shipping, and whether customer service was helpful.

Reviews are a valuable tool, as they’re real-life people who express their opinions. However, if the website has only positive reviews with no four or three stars, they may have forged accounts to leave positive reviews. Again, using your best judgment is crucial. 

Preferred Payment Methods

Once you’ve found a few sites that look legitimate, you’ll want to look into their payment methods.

If they only accept one or two methods of payment, this can be a red flag. Instead, reputable sites will have multiple options to choose from, ensuring you can make the smartest, safest purchase. 

Also, you should never use your debit card when making online purchases. Because this money comes straight from your bank account, you can’t dispute the charges like you can with credit card companies.

Similarly, if you give your debit card information to a scam website, this means they can use the information provided to make unauthorized purchases with your money. Again, as this money comes directly from your personal account, it’s harder to dispute and get the funds back.

Research Your Options

Next, you’ll need to do research before buying any jewelry online. Because you can’t look at options in person, determining what kind of metal, gemstones, and grade of jewelry you want is crucial to making an informed purchase.

For example, if you’re buying a gold ring, knowing the differences between karats ensures you buy the best choice. 

Similarly, paying attention to the descriptions offered on the website is a crucial way to ensure you get the product you’re paying for. If you want a silver bracelet, make sure it’s not hidden in the description that it’s actually silver-plated.

Set a Budget

Once you’ve done the necessary research and found the best choices, you’ll need to set a budget to ensure you don’t get sucked into spending more money than you initially wanted.

This is why researching is a crucial step in the process. Knowing the average price of what you’re considering will help you when comparing jewelry prices to find the best product. 

Setting a budget also helps you narrow your options. If you have an unlimited price range, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the number of choices to browse through.

Similarly, it also helps you decide on what types of jewelry you’re interested in purchasing.

Take Sizes

Before you make a purchase, you’ll need to measure the size of the jewelry you intend on buying. This mostly pertains to your wrists and fingers, as necklaces come in standard lengths. You can find a necklace chart online to help you decide where you’d like the pendant to fall.

When measuring your fingers, you can take a piece of string and wrap it around your finger, marking where the ends meet. Even if you think you know your size, your measurement can vary by finger. Making sure you check before purchasing is crucial. 

You can then lay this next to a ruler to help you find how long the string is. You’ll then find a converter online to help you convert the millimeters to ring size. This is crucial when purchasing any type of ring, from wave rings to engagement bands.

You can measure your wrist the same way using inches. Many bracelet sizes are available in inches, and depending on the material and closure method, you may want to size up slightly.

For example, if the bracelet has a clasp, using your regular measurement may work out fine. However, if the bracelet rolls or stretches on, going slightly larger will help the bracelet fit over your hand. 

Check the Return Policy

Before you make the purchase, you’ll want to review their return policy. This is essential, especially if you’re unhappy with the purchase after it arrives.

If a brand has no clear rules surrounding returns, it may be best to avoid purchasing. After all, you don’t want to be stuck with a piece of jewelry you’re unhappy with, especially if you paid a considerable amount for it. 

You should also pay attention to how they refund money in instances of returns. Do they only offer store credits or exchanges? Or will they refund the money directly to the payment source? 

Paying attention to these details can help you shop safely online. 

Ask for Authentication

In instances where you’re purchasing high-end and fine jewelry, you should inquire about any authentication certificates or information. This helps ensure the product you’re receiving is what you’re paying for.

Letters of authentication provide necessary information about the piece you’re purchasing, verifying the material, weight, and karats it’s made of. 

Not only does this help you get peace of mind when purchasing, but if you choose to sell the piece later, having the certification of authenticity is an extremely valuable tool to have handy. 

What Are the Warranties Like?

You should also look into the warranty policy when making expensive jewelry purchases online. These can help protect you in the event the product is poorly made or defective.

For example, if you buy a necklace but the clasp is broken, ensuring you can send it back for a new one is essential to protecting your purchase.

Similarly, for high-value and expensive items, some brands and sellers offer extended or lifetime warranties. This means if at any point the jewelry breaks, you can send it back and have a replacement sent.

Ensuring you look into these policies is crucial before making a purchase. Many reputable brands offer lifetime or extended warranties because they know their products are high-quality, so the likelihood of them breaking or deteriorating is slim.

Save Information

Finally, when you do make a purchase, you’ll want to save all the information about your order. This includes your order confirmation, ID number, and shipping information as it becomes available to you.

In the event that something goes wrong, having this information on hand is crucial to help rectify the situation. 

Be sure to take screenshots of the confirmation page after you place the order and save the email that gets automatically sent after making a purchase. 

Safely Buy Jewelry Online With These Tips

Shopping online has so many perks. What’s better than getting to browse from the comfort of your couch?

However convenient it is, online shopping can be dangerous. Keeping these tips in mind will help you minimize the risk of losing your hard-earned money while shopping.

If you found this guide to safely buy jewelry online informative, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you can find more technology tips to help keep you safe when shopping online and fashion advice to help you look your best.