It is a daunting task trying to buy the right wedding ring. This is not only a very expensive investment, it is an investment that you will enjoy and have with you for a lifetime. It doesn’t matter if you have a modest budget or if you want to trump the celebrities, the same errors can be made. Use the following guidelines to assist you in the quest to buy the perfect ring for you.
1. Avoid the “Deal of the Week”
It is a common mistake buy a ring that was reduced for quick sales. Obviously, if this ring was desirable, it would have sold by now and the company selling it would not placed it on the closeout rack. This is the very most important ring you will ever buy. Buy one that you like. Buy a wedding ring that she likes. Get the one that sings. Get the ring that you will want to smile about for the rest of your life. You should be warned not to buy this very important wedding ring simply based on the price.
2. Know your lady
She needs to be carefully “interviewed” as to what she likes. I have seen countless examples of the man with great intentions, selecting something that he thinks is perfect, only to find out a year later that she really had her heart set on a particular ring. Usually, she will not be so demanding as to insist that he buy her a certain ring. Guys; you need to do your research.
3. Metal choice
I can’t tell you how many times I have taught people about the pro’s & con’s of the many different metal choices for their wedding rings. Platinum, Palladium, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, Two-Tone, Tri-Tone, Titanium, Tungsten, Silver, Mokume Gane’, and even Steel. With all of these options it could be very confusing. Get the right one – for you.
4. Diamond quality
Some companies often misrepresent the diamond qualities contained in the rings they sell. If a person only bases their buying decisions on the price, they will pay dearly in the end. It is very easy to be untruthful regarding the quality of the diamonds and it’s very, very important to buy diamond wedding rings from reputable companies. It might result in spending a little more money but you will be receiving a diamond ring that is actually luxurious and beautiful. There are so many companies that run their businesses with honesty and integrity. The price may be a little higher, but you get tenfold the advantage of what you get from the “lowest price” companies. Folks; do your homework, but always keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
5. Warranty
It is absolutely critical to make certain that the products you buy are covered by a favorable warranty. Any company worth their weight will back up their products with a warranty. It is expected that a company will offer your money back if there are any defects in the product, in this case it’s fine jewelry. If the company has an authorized dealership arrangement with the brand company, it will be true that the brand warranty will come with the purchase of the brand product. It is increasingly common for companies to “resell” jewelry and watches. What happens is the company will make an arrangement behind closed doors to sell the brand at a discount. Then, they will express that “any returns, repairs and warranty claims need to be directed through the company in which the jewelry or watch was purchased”. This is widely considered fraudulent business activity, you might agree.
The bottom line, after all is explained and settled, is that it ALWAYS benefits the buyer to pay a little more to a legitimate authorized dealer for products as specialized as jewelry and watches. Could you have bought it for less? Probably. But the long term costs and headaches will outweigh the savings by way too much.
The most recent example of this issue/problem was when a customer came into my store with a TAG HEUER Watch that had water damage and a discolored dial. I asked where the watch had been purchased and he told me that he “got a good deal at a shopping club”. I sent the watch to TAG HEUER USA through my Authorized repair account. A week later I received a letter from TAG stating that they will not work on this watch. It was a grey-market watch that was distributed outside the lines of distribution authorized by TAG and the serial numbers did not adhere to any numbers labeled by TAG HEUER USA.
My customer was disheartened, to say the very least. He was stuck with a broken timepiece that couldn’t be fixed, and he paid $950 for it. This is a substantial amount of money. Had he paid $1195 for the watch, he not only would have gotten great service from TAG, but he would have been able to chose up-to-date styles. The watches that are offered through un-authorized dealers are “yesterdays” models. Forget the low-price lure and pay for the product you actually want, Rocket science? I think not.
To summarize, it is very tempting to be lured into the countless offers for the lowest price on the block. However, their are multiple factors involved when it comes to buying fine jewelry and watches includding knowing the person you’re buying the ring for and what metal is desired.
Have a sparkling day, and watch your wallet!
Ron
