shopping for engagement ring in-store

When you are set on proposing to that special person, the next natural step is ring shopping. Here, you have two options: buying online, or purchasing in-store. 

While both options are viable, they also have their advantages and drawbacks. Understanding these is ultimately the best way to help you pick the best route based on your needs and preferences. 

Here is a quick guide on the pros and cons of each option. 

Buying Rings In-Store: Pros and Cons

In-store ring shopping is the traditional way of doing things and it still holds its own. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing engagement rings in-store. 

Pros

Physical Inspection

While online stores have good-quality pictures of their collection, in-store purchases give a totally different experience. It's one thing to see a ring, but touching it, feeling its weight, and inspecting its design and different profiles closely is a whole other ballgame. If anything, the entire engagement experience might be heightened by this experience. 

Expert Advice

Jewelry shops will have expert salespeople, jewelers, and even designers at your beck and call. They can answer your questions, and provide information on different cuts and diamond grading. This is an invaluable resource for first-time engagement ring buyers. 

Further, you can explain your preferences and budget and they can help narrow down your choices to the specifics you’re looking for. Also, if you want to customize a ring, in-store is the way to go.

Immediate Access

You can walk into a ring shop, look at several rings, pick one, pay, and leave with it. This instant gratification is excellent when you are eager to get a ring or have a tight timeline.

Cons

Limited Selection

Physical stores tend to have a smaller inventory compared to online stores that enjoy unlimited store real estate. This can restrict your choices, especially if you don’t know enough about ring styles and stones to enquire about them directly. 

Time-consuming

Physical ring shopping will require you to invest some time, from getting to the store to consulting in-store experts.

Higher Price Points

Brick-and-mortar stores have rent, insurance, staff, and other overheads to pay. For this reason, their prices tend to be higher than those in online stores.

Buying Rings Online: Pros and Cons

This is the digital age and ecommerce has taken things by storm. Should you buy a ring online, or stick to a traditional physical store? These pros and cons should help you make that determination.

Pros

Wide Selection

Online jewelers will have you spoilt for choice with a wide array of ring designs, metals, styles, and price points. Even better, you can browse from anywhere at any time. Most ring shoppers appreciate this convenience.

Lower Costs

Online jewelry shops tend to offer better pricing, thanks to having fewer overheads. Not just that, but most will also offer free shipping, free returns, money-back guarantees, free engraving, and even the chance to choose your own diamond. These freebies sweeten the deal.

Your Shop Minus the Pressure

Let's face it, while jewelry store salespeople can be very helpful, they can also be pushy and annoying. Sometimes, you just want to look at different items without feeling pressured to make a purchase. 

Online stores allow you to look at rings, screenshot options, ignore your picks for a while, come back to them, compare different stores, and so on. You can do this for as long as you wish and as many times as you would like until you are ready to purchase. On the other hand, physical stores can tend to make you feel rushed, crowded, and pressured.

Cons

Limited Physical Inspection

While many online stores go above and beyond to have multiple photos of each ring, it’s not the same as touching a ring and inspecting it in person.

Besides this, you get a less personalized service when purchasing online. While stores will have chat boxes and so on, it's still a little different than talking to a jewelry expert in-store and getting real-time answers to all your questions.

Choosing the Best Option

The best option for you should be determined by our budget, your knowledge of rings, and your timelines. If you know exactly what you want, have some leeway on your timelines, and want something more affordable, online shopping will work out well. 

However, if you need help picking a ring and you want to go in and come out with a ring, then a physical store might suit you best.