Buying jewelry online safely can be tricky if you don't know what to look for, but it is far cheaper than visiting your local retailer -- especially if you tend to make your purchases at the mall. Buying from a reputable online dealer can save you up to fifty percent of the purchase price, and buying jewelry online can be perfectly safe.

The most important thing to remember when you buy jewelry online is to make sure the dealer you are purchasing from is a real entity with a real world presence. If the site doesn't provide an address AND phone number, don't think twice. Go elsewhere. There are lots of web sites.

Tips for Safe Online Jewelry Purchases

Be sure you understand the quality of the jewelry you are purchasing. If you are buying fine jewelry made with precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum, the metal will be stamped to indicate the content. The product description of each item you are considering should state the metal composition and indicate that the piece is appropriately stamped.

Before making your purchase, be sure you know about online safety in general.

1. Understand the warranties and certifications that come with your purchase. Does the site offer a full refund or is their policy an exchange only policy? A seller who is confident in the quality of the merchandise will be happy to stand behind it.
2. Whenever you look at the items in your shopping cart, you should be located in a secure area of the web site. You can double check this by looking at your browser's address bar. If the URL doesn't say 'https://' then your information is not as secure as it should be. Never enter credit card information on a page that doesn't begin with https!

If you have any questions at all about the item you wish to purchase, send an email to the vendor or make a phone call. A reputable seller will be happy to assist you!