Shopping for wedding rings may seem a little daunting as there is so many things to take into consideration. Whether or not you have a general idea of what style, setting, metal or stone it is that you are looking for, there are still a large number of factors that you need to take into account. Below you will find some useful tips, a sort of buying guide to follow, to ensure that you are getting the wedding ring that you deserve.
Check Out The Company That You Are Buying From
Before buying your wedding ring, it essential that you carry out the necessary checks on the company/website in question. In the same way that you would not buy jewellery from a man wearing a long coat on a street corner, you need to ensure that the company is legitimate and that you are going to be receiving exactly what you pay for. There are a number of checks which you can carry out to confirm the websites authenticity.
Does the website have any trust badges?
Check the website for trust badges, e.g. Safe Shopping logo, does the website have an SSL Site Encryption? This will ensure that any personal information that you submit will be safe and secure. If the website does not have anything that would suggest safe buying, then it may be an idea to shop elsewhere to ensure that none of your personal information is compromised.
Check For Customer Reviews/Blogs
Before purchasing why not search around the web for customer feedback or reviews on the company’s products or service. If a company is getting lots of bad press, it may be worth looking for an alternative supplier. Be sure to do plenty of research, just because a company has a couple of bad reviews does not mean that they are “rogue traders”; remember, people are not so inclined to go online and post positive feedback! If you are ever unsure give them a call, speak to them directly and come to your own conclusion.
Pick Up The Phone
Search the website for a telephone number, give them a call and make sure that there is a real person at the other end of the phone. Ask questions, probe for info to see how knowledgeable the person is about their products and service. How helpful were they? Were they proactive in taking information to follow up your call?
Quality Of Materials
For most of us buying wedding rings is not something that we do more than once. Which is why it is essential that the ring you buy is of high quality and exactly what you are paying for! Unfortunately all of the websites/companies that you will stumble across online are not all 100% honest, so you need to check that the quality of the metal or precious stone that you are buying is exactly what it is being sold to you as. It is important that you ensure that any precious jewellery is hallmarked by the British Assay Office and carries the correct stamp. If your ring carries the correct stamp it confirms that the ring is not hollow or just simply gold plated.
For further info on this visit: www.TheAssayOffice.co.uk
Comparing Ring Profiles
Whilst there are not many suppliers of blanks (raw, unfinished rings cut off tubes of gold) in the UK, each one has a slightly different range of profiles. This means that a court shaped wedding ring from website A does not necessarily have the same look and feel as a court shaped wedding ring from website B. There are slight differences which in some cases can make a big difference. One of the major things to look out for is depth of the profile. You may find a ’3mm medium depth court’ ring on two websites at two very different prices. Naturally, you will instantly think that the cheaper website will give you the better deal, however if the price difference is significant, there will certainly be a reason for it. All wedding ring retailers on the internet buy their rings at roughly the same price; therefore will work at roughly the same profit margins. Check the depth and weight of each ring to ensure that you are comparing like for like. There are a number of methods available which will give you a more accurate representation of which companies are offering the best deals; below you will find one method.
Create a list of the rings and websites that you have found, including the weight and price of the ring. Once you have all of the figures, divide the price of the ring by the gram weight. This will give you a clear indication of how much any given company is charging per gram and is a better way to judge the true value for money. It is important to remember that the cheapest is not always the best; after all, you are buying your wedding rings! Trying to save the odd “few quid” may compromise the rings longevity and quality.
Choosing The Right Metal To Suit Your Lifestyle
There are numerous different metals available on the modern market, which all have different properties, making some more suitable for others depending on your lifestyle/job role etc. For example if you have a hands on, physical job role, choosing a strong metal such as titanium will ensure that your ring does not get easily damaged during day to day activities.
You will be able to discover further info on choosing the right metal for you here. http://www.weddingrings-direct.com/guidance/metal.php
Grabbing The Best Deal Possible
Be aware that any company that you approach with an enquiry will be keen to win your business; this puts you in the driving seat! Trying to strike a deal with the retailer may help you to get a discount code or money off voucher. If you are buying more than one item from them, you should definitely try and get them to “make the offer a little more appealing”.
Another way that you may be able to bring the cost of your wedding ring down is to trade in some old jewellery, the value of which could then be offset against the cost of your ring.
Also, search around the web to see if you can pick up any discount codes that they offer, this should give you some money off at the checkout, even finding a 5% money off voucher is better than nothing… Every little helps!
Don’t Leave It Too Late
Always ensure that you leave enough time for your ring to arrive before the big day. This is especially important if you are having a bespoke ring made. Three – four weeks will be ample time for your wedding ring to be crafted and delivered to you; most companies will be quicker, but leaving it any later than this may restrict the number of people that can help you.
Always be a little cautious of companies that say that they can deliver your ring within two days, as there is a good chance that you will be buying a stock ring, which has potentially being sitting on a shelf and resized numerous times. New love and marriage deserves a new wedding ring, created specifically to mark this fabulous occasion and symbolise everlasting love.
The final point to make would be not to put all of your focus on the price of the ring. Research as much as you can about the ring and the retailer as possible and make your decision taking all of the information above into account. Trying to save a small amount of money may be a short term gain, but in the long run will compromise the quality of your wedding ring.
Rule of thumb – If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Wedding Rings from Wedding Rings Direct – Brilliant Service, Brilliant Prices