Diamonds Sold On The Internet - Good or Bad?
When Blue Nile first launched their diamond jewelry website in 1999, many were skeptical that their business model would work. Afterall, who in their right mind would spend thousands of dollars on a very small crystal without even seeing it first? Against all odds though, 15 years later Blue Nile is still the leader in the online engagement ring industry. Obviously, something worked.
In the beginning the website was very basic and attempted to sell diamonds as a commodity. Over the years, they have attempted to become a little more sophisticated with the art of selling diamonds, even lending a hand towards 'diamond education' for the novice diamond buyer. The fact that so many other diamond website are trying to emulate Blue Nile's diamond search tool and jewelry offerings illustrates just how successful their diamond website really is.
Buying diamonds on the internet is no longer a taboo thing. Even industry experts say that it can be done if given enough information about a given diamond. Nearly all websites provide a 3rd party lab report to give authentication to the diamond as added peace of mind. Yet an outcropping of newer, even more technical diamond evaluation tools are being utilized to show the consumer a diamond's overall cut quality and value. These 'light performance' tools are already well established with labs like American Gemological Society and other diamond retailers like www.Whiteflash.com or www.BrianGavinDiamonds.com. The fact that these vendors are enjoying success in their market shows an upward trend towards the educated diamond buyer. Indeed, people are now doing ample research before buying just any old diamond online and that I must say is a very good move forward.
Blue Nile Review
Still, I do believe the Blue Nile is the #1 site for loose diamonds and engagement rings. They definitely have the virtual inventory to help most shoppers find what they are looking for. Recent partnerships and collaborations with leading luxury designers like Monique Lhuillier show that Blue Nile is trying to keep up with the trend to provide the best quality jewelry on the internet.
Buying a diamond isn't like it used to be though. Back in my day you had a jeweler or certified gemologist help you find a stone that fit your budget with the best criteria possible. Now any John Doe can go online and input information like desired carat weight, color, clarity, and even cut grade to populate a list of available virtual diamonds located across the world.
Given this modern way of shopping online, I would definitely recommend individuals do their research before just inputting any information into Blue Nile's search tool. If you do a search online for Blue Nile reviews you will get a list of various websites all helping you to find your perfect diamond from Blue Nile. Do as much research as you can and always be sure to ask an expert if you have any questions.
Shopping Online - It Is The Modern Way
I'm getting up there in age now, but there is one thing that I can see not going away anytime soon. Shopping online is not only addictive but also a trend that will only continue to grow. The internet has vast amounts of information available at everyone's fingertips making shopping a downright easy and convenient experience. Do I advocate purchasing a diamond online? Sure I do. But as mentioned above, be sure to pay attention to the additional information that other diamond website provide as this adds to the peace of mind to the consumer. Blue Nile still has to catch up, but I don't think they are going away anytime soon.
