Tuesday, May 30th
2023 Jewelry Store Reviews
Blue Nile
- Over 4,000 jewelry pieces to choose from
- In business for over 20 years
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- Free shipping on all orders in the US, including complimentary overnight on orders over $1,000
- 30-day returns, no charge for return shipping
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
- Complimentary cleaning and inspection on diamond rings
Blue Nile is a great place to buy jewelry online. In fact, more than two million customers have bought their jewelry from Blue Nile since 1999. This was one of the original online-only jewelry stores that made it possible for shoppers to save money by cutting out the middleman and the overhead associated with brick-and-mortar retail locations.
How much would you like to spend?
Blue Nile has a large selection of jewelry for you to browse, with prices ranging from very affordable to very lavish. What's the most expensive jewelry you can get at Blue Nile? We don't want to spoil it for you (or get your hopes up only to find that it was sold out), but we recommend you search for the "Pear Shaped Ruby and Diamond Ring in White Gold" to see for yourself. If that turns out to be fruitless, you can always click to see "All Jewelry" and then sort the list by price: high to low. Let's just say there's a reason why the most expensive pieces are marked as part of the "Extraordinary Collection" .
The winning store for diamond solitaire stud earrings
Across all of our jewelers, we looked to see what they had to offer in diamond stud earrings, and Blue Nile emerged victorious. Their highest-priced pair also happens to be in the Extraordinary Collection: 2ct.tw. in platinum for $34,000 (and can you believe they have two five-star reviews from customers who've purchased this item?!). For everyone else, Blue Nile takes an approach we love when shopping for diamond studs: you can see easy comparisons of every style, shape and carat weight, from a 1/2 ct.tw. round white gold pair for $176 to princess cuts set in platinum starting at 1/3 ct.tw. for $472 - and so many other combinations of metals, shapes and sizes. You can also choose "build your own" to make a pair that's just right if you don't find it already listed. That feature is available for necklaces as well.
No problem finding jewelry for gift-giving
Using the Gifts dropdown can be another great way to start your shopping at Blue Nile. Whether you want to see options by birthstone, find gifts under $100, or shop by an occasion like graduation or an anniversary, you'll get plenty of inspiration.
Ample information helps you shop
No matter which jewelry item you select, this store gives you lots of details to help you make your purchasing decision. You'll quickly see all the available options, from sizing to metals, and when you scroll down you'll find out when it would ship and the estimated delivery. That's really helpful if you're on a tight schedule and need your jewelry to arrive by a certain time. And, because Blue Nile is so popular, many of their jewelry pieces have a decent number of customer reviews. For instance, when we looked at their most popular bracelets, we found a cute Petite Heart style that had three dozen ratings - and some shoppers even included pictures of how the bracelet looked on them!
Discounts available
When we visited the Blue Nile website recently, their pop-up offered a discount of up to $50 and an entry into their sweepstakes for a $15,000 shopping spree and more. While the $50 discount turned out to only apply to purchases of $1,000 or more, the email we received also included a $20 discount on a no-minimum order.
Free returns and lifetime warranty coverage on manufacturer defects
Blue Nile offers the industry-standard 30-day return policy. But, they one-up their competition by not deducting any shipping costs from your return - and they'll provide the return label at no cost to you. You'll also get lifetime warranty coverage for any manufacturing defects, and free cleaning and inspections on diamond rings (though you'll have to pay to ship your jewelry to Blue Nile; they'll cover the return trip). It's still a good idea to get extra protection on your higher-end jewelry, and while Blue Nile doesn't offer their own coverage, they do make it easy to connect your purchase with Jewelers Mutual for a shipping insurance quote.
Fantastic reputation
Blue Nile has earned accreditation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Beyond that, the overwhelming majority of customers are very satisfied with their purchase and shopping experience here. While there were some customer issues, that's to be expected with any major online retailer, and Blue Nile addressed those issues promptly
First-place finish
Blue Nile comes in at the top of our list when buying jewelry online. Their online shopping experience is exceptional, and they offer quite a few perks that make them stand out among the competition. Combined with a large inventory of jewelry pieces, and prices among the lowest we've found, Blue Nile really shines. They earn our highest rating for online jewelry stores.
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Where's the Best Place to Shop for Jewelry Online?
You might be wondering if you should buy your next piece on the internet. Is it safe? Will I get something that's not good quality? Can I trust buying jewelry online? Rest assured - not only is it safe - it's actually a great idea to buy your jewelry from an online store! In fact, it's one of the most common purchases that shoppers are making, while they transition from brick-and-mortar retailers to digital storefronts.
Why the big increase in popularity? It's for all the reasons you would expect. First, there's no local jeweler who can compete with the inventory of an internet retailer: you'll simply have more options online, and that makes it more likely you'll find exactly what you're looking for. Plus, your neighborhood jewelry store has overhead costs that get passed along to you in higher markups, while an online-only retailer can often give you significant savings. That's a win!
Jewelry Store FAQ
Continued from above...
Another obvious reason is convenience. Do you have time to visit several jewelry stores on your days off from work, driving from one to another in the hopes you'll spot something you love? We don't either. Like every other thing we all shop for online, jewelry is faster and more fun to buy whenever we feel like it, in our jammies at home or on-the-go between errands. Why not?
There are a lot of possibilities for getting jewelry online. Where should you start? Your primary consideration may be whether or not it's important to you to have a physical store nearby: maybe you want to have your fiance's engagement ring shipped there for safekeeping and not to your home (where she might spoil the surprise), or you feel more comfortable buying online with the backup of in-person returns if needed. If those aren't a factor for you, don't hesitate to buy your jewelry from an online-only retailer - as long as the business has an established, positive reputation, of course.
What other criteria can guide your decision as you buy jewelry? Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Selection. The more a jewelry store has, the easier it is to get something amazing. Check first to see if the retailer that interests you has a solid range of options for the type of jewelry you need.
- Value. Notice we didn't say "price" . That's because you can find really expensive but poorly-made jewelry - as well as affordably-priced pieces that will stun you with their quality and sparkle. When possible, consult shopper ratings of the items you want to buy and see if they hold up over time and wear.
- Return Policy. What happens if your jewelry arrives and you don't like it? How much time do you have to send it back? Can you bring it back in person? Will you pay return shipping costs if not, and/or any restocking fees?
- Reputation. This is probably the most important factor. The prettiest pendant or most beautiful bracelet will feel like trash if it starts to turn your skin green or if gemstones fall out within a week or two. It happens, but the best online jewelry stores go to great lengths to choose good-quality pieces - and, more importantly, to take care of their customers no matter what. Have other shoppers said positive or negative things about the retailer you've got in mind? What does the BBB say?
To help you find all of the earrings, watches, bracelets and other jewelry you're looking for, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and rated today's most popular online stores. We're confident that this information will make it fun and easy to add to your collection or choose a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special!
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