DIAMONDS AND JEWELRY

Consumers have begun flocking to online diamond and jewelry stores like never before.  And why not?  The best online stores offer you an incredible selection with thousands of items to look at; prices that beat traditional retail stores; free shipping direct to your door; and no sales tax to pay.

The secret is getting out.  Online diamond and jewelry sales continue to set records each year, with no stop in sight.  Armed with secure websites, certified diamonds, and satisfaction guarantees, buyers are voting with their checkbooks and choosing online diamond and jewelry stores more and more.

When selecting an online diamond and jewelry store, you want to consider a few factors.  Some of these include:

•  Selection.  Some stores offer thousands of items, while others offer just a few.  You'll want to shop at a store with a large enough selection that you can find what you're looking for.

•  Cost.  Even among online stores, costs can vary.  You want to find a store that has consistently low prices, passing their savings on to you.

•  Customer Service.  From return policies to free shipping, learning centers and knowledgeable staff, you want to shop at a store that caters to their most important client - you.

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best diamond and jewelry stores online today.  We hope you find these reviews helpful in your next jewelry purchase!

 

 

Blue Nile is the world's largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry.  In fact, Internet Retailer Magazine reports that Blue Nile is bigger than the next three largest online jewelers combined.  This is no accident; since their founding in 1999, Blue Nile has built its success on a strong tradition of quality and service unmatched by their competition.

The Blue Nile website is organized in a very straightforward, easy to understand layout.  Across the top of the home page, you are provided with quick links to Engagement, Jewelry, Watches & Accessories, Gift Ideas, and Education.  Along the left side of the page you also have quick links to Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets, and the ability to shop by material - Diamonds, Pearls, Gemstones, Platinum, Gold, and Silver.  As if this wasn't enough, Blue Nile also provides you with the ability to search for loose diamonds, or shop for gifts by price range.

Once you've selected a type of jewelry, you further refine your selection by type and price.  For example, if you select Necklaces, you can choose from 15 different types including diamond, pearl, and gold.  You also select a price range, so you don't have to waste your time sifting through dozens of items you're not interested in.  This process is simple and intuitive.

The selection offered by Blue Nile is staggering.  Their single warehouse sells as much jewelry as nearly 200 stores combined.  With this much inventory, Blue Nile can afford to offer jewelry at prices that are often 30-35% lower than their competition.

For those interested in engagement rings, Blue Nile is actually the largest seller of engagement rings in the U.S.  To achieve this notable ranking, they offer an extensive selection of engagement rings in classic settings.  For those interested in something more unique, Blue Nile also provides a comprehensive "Build-Your-Own-Ring" process.  With scores of settings and over 60,000 loose diamonds to choose from, you can be confident that you can create the perfect ring for your special bride.

To ensure the quality of their diamonds, every loose diamond sold is accompanied by a grading report from either GIA or AGSL, independent diamond grading labs with the most stringent grading scales.  This gives you, the consumer, an independent verification of the quality of your purchase.

Blue Nile brings a very customer-focused approach to everything they do.  They have extensive educational material throughout their website that explains everything from diamond quality to platinum purity.  Once an order is placed, they offer free FedEx shipping with every purchase.  Most orders placed before 3pm est are delivered with same-day shipping.  And, Blue Nile offers one of the best refund policies in the industry:  if you're not satisfied with your order for any reason, you can return it for a refund or exchange within 30 days - no questions asked.  Their phone operators are knowledgeable and friendly, and were able to assist with any questions we asked.

Blue Nile sets the standard by which all other online diamond retail stores are measured.  With a luxurious shopping experience, incredible selection, and low prices, Blue Nile earns our highest rating.

 

 

Diamond.com is a first-class site from the home page on.  You are immediately put in the mood by the platinum and blue coloring of the website.   The site has so many things that tantalize your eye; you can't wait to start looking.  The main categories allow you to shop by price, rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces.  These main categories are then sub categorized into diamond, gold, silver, pearl and gem.  So, the shopper that is looking for pearl pendants, for example, can be shopping in one click!  Once you have made a selection from the homepage, you can then browse by top sellers, or refine your search further by sorting between new arrivals, price and name.  Jewelry selections include complete details and descriptions of the item, including retail price and Diamond.com's price (which is usually 30-50% off retail).

If you are shopping for a ring, the options and searches available are practically limitless.  Subcategories for rings include diamond, anniversary, engagement, eternity, fashion, platinum, pearl, wedding and of course "create your own." Selecting "create your own" whisks you into a diamond cornucopia of fun where you can select a particular shape, price range, carat range, cut, color, and clarity.  The selection of high-end jewelry at Diamond.com is unmatched by the other sites reviewed.

Overwhelmed??  Don't worry; Diamond.com has you covered with a Learning Center.  The Learning Center is a complete jewelry guide of important information to educate you on buying and caring for diamonds and other quality jewelry. The Learning Center is divided into 3 sections:  Diamond and Engagement, Gemstone and Pearl jewelry, and Metals and Settings.  On the odd chance you can't find what you are looking for, Diamond.com offers extensive customer service options, expert advice and a glossary of terms.  The selection is unbelievably large; but the site is so organized you can find virtually anything with one or two clicks from the home page.

Diamond.com offers a no risk 30-day money back guarantee, easy monthly payments (with no finance charges) and free FedEx delivery on all orders.  The site also offers specials by email that you can sign up for and a sweepstakes to win a 2-carat diamond bracelet.  This site is truly first class and earns some of our highest marks.

 

 

Mondera.com is a sleek and sophisticated website.  The site is categorized by diamonds, a bridal boutique, jewelry, gift store, and learning center.  Search functions include a diamond search, shopping by product, metals, gemstones and fine jewelry.  The selection is substantial and the prices are competitive with other sites reviewed.  This site also offers the ability to design your own engagement ring, ensuring hours of fun for future brides to dream and dream BIG!  We were a little disappointed that not all the diamond shapes were offered in this section and you can only search for one cut at a time versus selecting 2-3 favorite cuts and doing one search. The Bridal Boutique has everything you can think of for the bride and groom plus suggests gifts for the wedding party.

One unique feature of this site is the informative articles that guide you thorough the process of making a quality jewelry decision.  Examples of these include How to Buy Your Wedding Bands, Engagement Ring Buying Guide, and How to Buy Earrings, Necklaces and Pendants.  These types of articles are worth their weight in gold (excuse the pun).  They even have a Guy's Guide to Jewelry, Anniversary Ideas and Jewelry Do's and Don'ts.

Prices are competitive with the other high-end jewelry sites in our review.  Mondera proudly offers free insured shipping on every order within the US via FedEx or USPS depending on the order value and destination.  They also provide a 30-day return or exchange policy to guarantee your satisfaction. Customer service is available by email or by calling a toll-free number.

Mondera.com ranks among the top competitors of jewelry sites with plenty of selection and unique features to educate and entice the shopper.  

 

 

Szul.com is a crisp, clean, straightforward site.  The home page includes convenient links to Diamond, Bridal, Gemstone or Featured Collections.  Most items are very affordably priced with an impressive selection of certified high-end loose diamonds.  Specialty sections include a great gift boutique, pearl jewelry, men's accessories, best sellers, birthstone jewelry and a clearance section where the bargain shopper can save up to 75% off.

The selection at Szul.com is very generous.  Not only do they have a large collection of traditional jewelry, they also have unique pieces that you don't see everyday.  Engraved antique-looking pieces, two-tone items, and rope pieces are a few examples we didn't see on other sites.

The loose diamond search is consistent with other high-end sites we reviewed.  Unfortunately, Szul.com does not put as much emphasis on price sorting as other sites.  Shopping by price is only offered at the Gift Boutique and Best Seller's link.

Szul offers several services to ensure your confidence.  They offer a 30-day money back guarantee for all purchases, with the exception of certified loose diamonds, which have a 15-day guarantee.  They also have a repair guarantee of 60 days.  Free insured FedEx service is standard for all purchases.  Customer service is available by phone, fax or email.  Shoppers can also enter to win a diamond circle pendant from Szul.com.

All in all, Szul.com is a very good site, providing a wide range of pieces sure to satisfy shoppers of all budgets.