San Diegans are spoiled with options when it comes to shopping engagement rings. As you’re searching for the perfect ring to symbolize your love for your sweetheart, you could be facing the dilemma: buy online or in a store? We’ve stated many times why Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers is the best place to buy engagement rings in San Diego, but let’s take a deeper look at this from the consumer’s perspective.

Sure, online shopping sounds easy and effortless. Who doesn’t love shopping from the comfort of home? On top of that, some online retailers lure customers with the promise of “great deals,” so not only can you save time shopping online, but you might also save money. Though we offer jewelry for sale on our website, we always encourage our customers to visit and see the jewelry that interests them first before purchasing. Here’s why we prefer in-store purchases over those made online.

The Internet is an Unregulated Marketplace

You don’t really know who you’re dealing with. There are good and bad retailers, selling diamonds of varying quality. Though customer reviews and testimonials may be a good indicator of the seller’s professionalism, you would need a large number of positive reviews to assure yourself of the seller’s trustworthiness. The problem with buying an engagement ring online is that each and every diamond is unique, so while one customer may have gotten a great diamond, you may not be so lucky.

You Don’t Get to See the Ring

With online ring shopping, you don’t get to see the actual ring until it arrives at your doorstep. When photographed, a ring may look stunning. On one hand, a photo may do a ring justice, but the opposite could be true as well. When you see it in person, it may appear different – larger, smaller, the colors may look duller or more vibrant, etc.

Diamonds cannot confidently be assessed from a photo. An online retailer may provide a diamond certificate from a reputable institution, like the Gemological Institute of America, but this piece of paper is not a guarantee of beauty. In other words, a diamond with an excellent score across the 4 Cs may actually appear to be lower quality than a diamond that is less perfect overall, but with an amazing cut that maximizes sparkle. Two diamonds that have identical grades on paper can look quite different when you see them or when they are mounted.

Finally, bear in mind that jewelers who are in the business for decades would always rather buy a piece of jewelry they can see. Why wouldn’t you want to do the same, especially for something as important as an engagement ring?

You Can’t Depend on Online Retailers Long Term

When buying an engagement ring online, you want to feel as though you can rely on the information a retailer gives you about your diamond. Some online retailers may be misusing terms related to diamonds with the intent of manipulating you into a purchase, or they may simply not know enough about the subject to use the terms with confidence.

For example, they could describe a diamond as “ideal” based just on their impression of the diamond, not the actual definition of an “ideal diamond.” If they offer you a report, it could be an unreliable one. You should only trust diamond reports issued by reputable laboratories such as the Gemological Institute of America. Online retailers also can’t offer you important after-sale services such as resizing, cleaning, upgrading, tightening, etc.

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers is Your Destination for Diamond Engagement Rings

When you begin browsing for diamond engagement rings in San Diego, we encourage you to focus on value, rather than a great deal. At Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers, we are always committed to offering our customers the finest-quality jewelry at the most reasonable prices. We are proud to offer new and like-new jewelry, as well as new and pre-owned watches in the largest independent jewelry collection in San Diego. We also offer a full range of repair and cleaning services.

So, when shopping for an engagement ring, wouldn’t you rather go with someone you can rely on for many years to come? Stop by our San Diego jewelry store today and we’ll help you find the perfect ring to cherish for a lifetime.