Top 10 Online Diamond Stores to Shop for Best Rings and Jewelry

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Diamond rings (and jewelry) pave the shortest path to a woman’s heart. They symbolize purity and new beginnings, commitment, and endless love. They do not come cheap, so they also represent a serious commitment. You want the highest value available at the best price, and without wandering from one online diamond seller to another. But how do you choose the right one out of the many stores available out there?

We value your time and money, so we’ll give you all the information that you need to ensure a safe and worthwhile purchase from the comfort of your home or office. With our buyer’s guide and list of online diamond stores that carry rings and other jewelry, you are one only a few clicks away from the best diamond purchase you could make.

First things first, though, and let’s start from several pieces of important background information which will help you in your diamond shopping – both online and offline.

Diamond Rings and Jewelry Buyer’s Guide

When buying diamond rings and jewelry, you have to pay attention to the four Cs.  They represent the qualities that determine a diamond’s worth and appearance. You’ll find them briefly explained in the following lines:

Cut

The cut determines the shape of the diamond, its fire, brilliance, and scintillation. The best way to make sure the diamond you intend to buy has a fine cut is to choose one that has a GIA, IGI, or AGS grading. The highest GIA cut grades are Excellent and Very Good. Their corresponding grades on the AGS grading scale are Ideal and Excellent.

Carat

It is the measurement unit for the diamond’s weight and does not necessarily reflect the size. When choosing a diamond, you should always consider both the carat weight and its cut . It is not impossible to find a diamond with a less-than-desirable cut and smaller dimensions at a higher price than a lower-carat but better-cut diamond. At the end of the day, it’s gonna be your call but we want you to be equipped and informed on these things right off the bat.

Clarity

The term ‘clarity’ refers to the flaws a diamond has. They are small imperfections, also referred to as inclusions, and they are mostly invisible to a naked eye. Obviously, people tend aim for the highest clarity they can afford. The highest grades are F (Flawless) – IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 – VVS2 (Very Very Slight Inclusions), VS2 (Very Slight Inclusions), and SI1 – SI2 (Slight Inclusions). GIA uses an eleven-points’ clarity scale to grade diamonds by flaw size, number, color, and position identifiable in a 10x magnified view.

Color

Most sellers use this scale even if their diamonds have not been graded by GIA. As a buyer, unless you are on a very tight budget and ready to sacrifice color, you should aim for a color grading J and higher. With white gold and platinum it is better to get colors D through G, while yellow gold (14k or 18k) plays nicely with colors H through K too.

Other Aspects to Consider When Shopping for Diamonds Online

Knowing what to look for in a diamond is not enough to secure a worthwhile purchase. Although online shopping often helps you save significant money, it exposes you to certain risks. The best way to mitigate those risks is to buy diamonds from reliable online stores. You can recognize such stores by:

• Reputation and history
• Diamond grading
• Transparency
• Service quality and variety
• Warranties

Generally, you should look for online stores with at least one physical store or office, and ensure that they also offer:

• Third-party diamond certifications
• 360° video presentations or multiple-angle photos of their products
• Free returns and exchanges
• Warranty against manufacturing defects
• Custom engraving and design services
• Trade-ins and upgrades
• Excellent customer service

After checking out hundreds of online diamond stores and comparing their offers, we came up with the following list of the ten best shops to consider. Check out their websites and let us know which one seemed more attractive to you! Your feedback on any previous experience with any of these online stores would also be hugely instrumental.

Top 10 Places to Shop for Diamond Rings and Jewelry

1. James Allen

This is one of the best known and reputable online diamond stores for handcrafted diamond rings and jewelry by specifications and grading. They offer real-time, 360° HD, 40x magnification inspections and free 24/7 consultations with certified gemologists by live chat. All their diamonds come with independent AGS, GIA, or IGI lab report to testify their characteristics. Among the most notable benefits, it is worth highlighting: custom design, free international shipping, free engraving, lifetime warranty, 30-days’ money-back guarantee, 60-days’ free ring re-sizing, and lifetime upgrades.

2. Blue Nile

Holder of multiple prestigious awards, Blue Nile is one of the best places to buy handcrafted, GIA-graded diamonds. This store has one of the largest stocks available one, and some of the lowest prices (considering the caliber of diamonds that they offer). They also offer free worldwide shipping, expert advice, custom design and engraving, 30-day returns, free re-sizing, lifetime warranty, various upgrades, and free lifetime service. We couldn’t help but love their price-match promise too.

3. Kay Jewelers

Among the most famous jewelry retailers not just in the U.S., but also in Canada and the U.K., Kay Jewelers is the brand of Signet Jewelers Limited. Both the website and the location stores feature astonishing genuine diamond collections at excellent prices and offer unbeatable services: lifetime guarantee, extendable service plans, upgrades and trade-ins, 90-day refunds, and further brand warranties.

4. Jared

With hundreds of stores scattered across the country and over 6 decades of experience, this is one of the best places to shop for diamond rings and jewelry with GIA and GSI certifications. With the same operator as Kay Jewelers, they, too, offer specialized assistance, lifetime warranty, 30 days returns and exchanges, and trade-ins. Don’t hesitate to check their exclusive custom designs and extended service offers.

5. Helzberg

This is another option worth considering for those who find it difficult to choose between online and location stores. They too have a strong online presence and stores across the country. Their diamonds come with GIA and AGS certifications, 1-year warranty and lifetime care plans. Free shipping, returns, and exchanges are available as well, along with various financing plans.

6. Super Jeweler

The diamonds this store sells come with WGL certifications. Color- and clarity-enhanced diamonds are available as well. Jewelry exceeding 200 is delivered with an appraisal card. You can count on 60 days money-back guarantee, lifetime warranty, exchange, and personalization services. They were featured in numerous famous publications, so don’t be surprised if the name seems familiar.

7. Diamonds – USA

The online store of David Braverman is a trustworthy, highly praised source of natural and clarity enhanced diamonds. Diamonds exceeding 0.40 carats are delivered with EGL Europe, GIA, or IGL lab reports. Smaller ones come with in-house certifications. Their money back guarantees only cover 10 days, and there are no further warranties. You can count on lifetime upgrades and price-match guarantees, though.

8. Ross-Simons

If you care about experience, tradition, and quality, you’ll want to visit this store. It features fabulous vintage, classical, and modern jewelry collections belonging to legendary designers. They also offer luxury watches and haute couture designs. For all of their products, you benefit from a 30 days money back guarantee, lifetime upgrades, and specialized assistance around the clock.

9. Roman Malakov

With more than one century of diamond processing and trade expertise, this family-owned business produces unique, handcrafted pieces using mine-sourced diamonds. While their creations are bound to win any heart, we couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed by their lack of warranties. They only offer a 7-10 days return policy and Kimberley certificates of authenticity.

10. Kobelli

A constant presence on the diamonds market ever since the 1980s, Kobelli sells high-quality, unique designs at affordable prices. They stand by their products as well, offering a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects and a 30-day return policy for U.S. orders. Beware of the 20% restocking fee for high-value returns, though.

Which are the best online diamond stores to shop for rings and jewelry in your opinion? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us and this post with your friends! Who knows, perhaps your next gift will be from one of these retailers.

…and if you are looking for more affordable options, our list of 10 Stores Selling Fabulous and Affordable Jewelry too.

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