An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases a person can make. Everything from the cut to the carat, to the band size and color must be just right. With this in mind, most people will want to seek out a high-quality ring from a reputable seller, but also make sure the ring fits within their budget. What many people don't realize, however, is that they actually have a lot more options beyond the traditional jewelry store chains and shopping malls. In fact, the real deals to be found in this industry these days are when customers head online to do their shopping, and as a result this market has expanded to include thousands of retailers offering engagement rings. Among these, the top three retailers (as far as quality, selection and customer service reputation go) are Blue Nile, Zoara and James Allen. Each offers engagement ring deals and sales throughout the year. Check out the following questions and answers before shopping for an engagement ring, so you can choose the right retailer and ring for your needs and budget.
Nothing says forever like a diamond engagement ring. Each of these retailers offers a huge selection of diamonds and settings, and most retailers usually offer sales on some diamond ring selections. You can also purchase insurance plans with your ring to protect your special jewelry. You will pay more for diamonds, but these retailers also offer financing to help you buy the ring she'll want most.
In addition to free shipping, James Allen offers its customers free engraving and has an easy upgrade system. This retailer also offers 25 percent off for sales made around major "jewelry-centric" holidays like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.
As far as Blue Nile goes, the main ring that keeps showing up on its "top settings" and "most popular design" lists is the 14k Petite Solitaire, offered in rose gold, white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Though simple in design, this may perhaps be what has helped it retain its popularity and relevance over the years. Zoara focuses more on custom-designed rings, but one of the rings that consistently shows up as a favorite among customers is the Half Bezel Round Cut, offered in both 14k and 18k white gold, yellow gold and platinum. As for James Allen, its Solitaire rings also tend to be the most popular. One example is the 14k Knife Edge Solitaire, offered in white gold. The good news is that all of these rings can be found for less than $2,000. These rings are some of the best engagement ring deals you'll find.
All three retailers listed here provide the option for customers to design their own engagement rings online. Customers can start with either the setting or the diamond and then go from there. This makes it easy to build a ring to fit a customer's aesthetic, then adjust it for budget needs.
Blue Nile was launched in 1999 and was actually the first online retailer to sell engagement rings, so in a sense, this company built the entire business. James Allen followed suit in 2006 when it was started by former diamond manufacturers (with experience working for companies like Tiffany & Co.) Zoara is just barely the newest, having been founded in 2008. However, its founders each had years of experience working in jewelers shops and diamond retail stores by the time they began their online endeavors.
Based out of Seattle, Blue Nile ships both overseas (they have a base in Ireland) and around the United States. Zoara is based right in the heart of New York's famous Manhattan Diamond District and offers a large showroom for those who wish to visit in person, but they do also ship around North America and the world. Free shipping is only offered to customers in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. James Allen also has a showroom in New York, with an additional operations location in Maryland. They offer free shipping worldwide.
The best deals from Blue Nile can be found during holidays, particularly its annual Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales. That said, Blue Nile also offers free resizing and servicing along with a lifetime warranty for almost all of its rings. The company also provides free returns and free shipping, and purchases over $1,000 qualify for overnight shipping. For those with stricter budgets, quite a few engagement rings can be found in the website's "Sale" section for under $1,000.
Zoara regularly offers 15 percent off sales with each seasonal change, though further savings on engagement rings can be found in their "Sales" section. Zoara also makes it easy to find lower budget rings, with an entire section of 14k and 18k rings starting below $1,000. In addition to this, Zoara offers discounts to military members.