Sticker shock can really hit you hard. If you have walked into a jewelry store intent on buying a diamond ring or necklace, but have been taken aback at the cost, you might have gone online and checked out businesses like Blue Nile that sell diamonds online for cheaper prices than can be found in stores.

                The most obvious benefit of buying a diamond on the internet is the price savings. Online stores are generally able to keep costs down by selling higher quantities of their product and not running a real world store front. This means that they don’t have to pay the additional overhead from small shipments and a monthly rent or mortgage payment, and can pass those savings on to the consumer.

                A major drawback of buying anything online is that you can never see your actual product beforehand. Sure, you can see a picture, but there’s a sense of reassurance when you are allowed to examine and hold a diamond before you buy it. This sense of security, along with not having to wait for a shipment, or have a package get lost is a few of the reasons that people are willing to buy a stone from a real world gemologist for a slightly higher price.

                When it comes to buying anything online, you shouldn’t buy anything that you wouldn’t be ok with getting lost. This means that if you are going to buy a very small or cheap stone and you will be fine with it getting lost then by all means order your jewelry online. But if you want to be completely sure of your purchase and see your jewelry before hand, then I recommend taking the extra time and expense and going to a professional gemologist and having them help you pick out the perfect piece.