Questions to Ask a Jeweler before Buying

Buying jewelry especially diamond rings is not as simple as shopping for a pair of shoes or for a piece of clothing garment. Because a diamond ring is expensive and a huge investment to make, you have to consider many factors before buying. One of the things that you have to do is to find a reputable jeweler. To do this, ask a jeweler several questions before you make a purchase.

1. How long have you been in the business?

Longevity of a jeweler's business will not be a sole determinant of his reputability. However, this will give you an idea on how far a jeweler has gone in terms of experience and reputation.

The longer a jeweler has been in the business, the more experienced and knowledgeable he is when it comes to the ins and outs of the jewelry business. You may be better off seeking advice from this kind of jeweler. But again, remember that longevity does not equate to good reputation so you still need to do background check on this aspect.

2. How many clients have you had so far?

Ask the jeweler for a list of his past clients so you can get in touch with them and you can ask if they were satisfied with the overall services and products offered by the jeweler. Another way to do this is to do a search online, find feedback from clients, and evaluate the jeweler's reputation based on the information you have gathered.

3. Do your diamonds come with certification?

Diamonds should come with a certification or grading report from respected independent diamond grading laboratories such as Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or American Gem Society (AGS). The report should include analysis of the dimensions of the diamond as well as its color, symmetry, cut, polish, and other attributes. Do not buy from jewelers who do not offer certifications.

4. Do you have a secure system for handling credit card transactions?

If you are going to buy online, this would be one of the first questions you need to ask. You have to ensure that an online store has a secure system to protect your personal and credit card information from thieves and hackers.

5. Do you offer a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy?

It would be nice if the return policy offered by the jeweler is a no-questions-asked policy so that the jeweler will not give you a hard time when it is time to return the jewelry. However, if the company has certain conditions when it comes to returns, just make sure that they are reasonable enough. Some jewelers would require that the jewelry be returned on good condition, things like that would be all right.

6. How do you handle complaints?

Aside from asking them about this, it would also be a good idea to call up the Better Business Bureau and find out if there has been complaints on this jeweler from his past clients.

Finding a reputable, trustworthy and honest jeweler can sometimes be difficult but you have to do this to ensure that you are getting the best value and best quality for your jewelry purchase.