A piece of fine jewellery shouldn't be an impulse buy based only on a photo on a website. You need to give yourself the time and opportunity to thoroughly examine a ring or necklace that has caught your eye, compare it with others, try it on, and ask questions before making the final decision to buy.
This doesn't mean that the Internet isn't a useful resource when you want to buy some jewellery, either for yourself or as a gift. Firstly, you can use it to look for inspiration, research the latest jewellery trends, decide which precious metals or gemstones you like best, and perhaps get an idea of the type of pieces that might be available within your budget.
When you are ready to buy, you can do another online search to find a local jewellery shop that might be the best place to begin looking for that perfect piece of jewellery. A professional jeweller's website should give you a good idea of:
Their reputation. How long has the business been established?Is it a member of any respected trade organisations such as the National Association of Goldsmiths or the Institute of Registered Valuers?
Their expertise. Are all their staff well trained? Are some qualified in specialist areas of jewellery making and repair?
The kind of stock they carry. If you are interested in buying gold jewellery you'll be wasting your time visiting a shop that only sells silver items. Do they stock jewellery made by well-known designers? Do they make their own high quality jewellery and accept commissions for one-off pieces if you want something that's truly unique?
After sales service. Can they undertake repairs and alterations in-house? Are they able to provide insurance valuations and give advice on caring for your jewellery?
Buying a special piece of jewellery from friendly and knowledgeable staff in a bricks-and-mortar shop is an enjoyable and satisfying experience. When you buy online there's always an anxious wait while you hope that the item you've ordered will be as attractive as it looked in the photo, it won't get lost or damaged in the post, and the correct amount has been deducted from your bank account. Researching online but buying in store gives you the best of both worlds.
