With the ease of access that online shopping provides, it’s no surprise that many people are now buying jewelry online. It’s fast, it’s easy, and you don’t have to leave your couch!
But while there are some great deals to be had, it’s important to proceed with caution. The internet is an easy place to run into scams, so you have to be a little more careful than if you were to just walk into a store.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk and get the most out of your online shopping experience. Here are four tips for shopping for jewelry online so that you can be sure you’re getting the real deal.
1. Check the Reviews
When you’re considering purchasing jewelry from an online retailer, one of the first things you should do is check the reviews. See what other people have had to say about their experience with the company. Were they happy with the quality of the jewelry? Was it as described? Did they feel like they got a good deal?
Things to look out for in the reviews are a complete or near total lack of reviews. You can never know what to expect from a product that has never been bought or reviewed by anyone else before. Also, keep an eye out for fake or paid reviews. You’ll know they’re fake if they are generic, overly confident, or have choppy English. If almost all of their reviews match this description, stay away!
Checking reviews will give you a sense of what to expect while also helping you weed out any shady businesses. Bonus points if the reviews include pictures of the actual jewelry! Pictures left by buyers are a great sign of legitimacy!
2. Look Closely at the Photos
When you’re looking at pictures of jewelry online, it’s important to take a close look and examine them carefully. Many times, unscrupulous retailers will use bad photoshop to make their jewelry look better than it actually is. If you see anything that looks off, it’s probably best to move on. After all, if they can’t be bothered to get their product photos right, what does that say about their business as a whole?
When checking out product images, I also like to zoom in on jewelry clasps, chains, and jewel settings to see if they look strong and secure. Nothing is worse to me than getting a gorgeous piece of jewelry that just doesn’t hold up.
3. What Material is the Jewelry Made of?
This is an important consideration, especially if you have metal allergies. If the listing doesn’t mention what material the jewelry is made of, that’s a red flag. You should also be wary of any retailer who is vague about materials or tries to distract you with other information instead of answering your question directly. Chances are, they’re trying to hide something. You really have to watch out for this when shopping from foreign sites, as some countries have fewer regulations than we do here in the US.
The biggest thing you want to make sure of is that the material is hypoallergenic. But you should also take the material into consideration with the cost. For example, gold is worth more than gold-filled jewelry, and gold-filled is worth more than gold-plated. So you probably shouldn’t pay more for a gold-plated piece than for a gold or gold-filled one. Knowing these differences in metals can help you spot a good deal when you see one.
4. Look for jewelry pieces that are versatile
One final tip – when you’re buying jewelry online (or really, anytime!) try to look for pieces that are versatile and can be worn in multiple ways. That way, you’ll get more use out of them and feel like you got your money’s worth. For example, a pair of hoop earrings can be worn with jeans and a t-shirt for a casual look or dressed up with a blazer and slacks for work or an evening out. Buy smart and your jewelry will thank you!
Get Shopping!
Shopping for jewelry online can be a great way to find unique pieces at great prices. However, it’s important to proceed with caution as there are also a lot of scams out there. By following these four tips – checking reviews, examining photos carefully, looking for versatile pieces, and knowing what materials the jewelry is made from – you can be sure that you’re getting the real deal when you shop for jewelry online. To help you get started, I’ve also created a blog of my 5 favorite online jewelry shops that you can trust. So, get shopping!
