How to Pick the Right Online Jewelry Store
Authentication
When shopping for jewelry, check to make sure that the store authenticates its pieces. This generally means they are transparent with the metal type and also offer gemstone authentication — especially when purchasing a diamond — and are upfront about whether the material is fine or demifine.
Metal Types
Whether you’re shopping for costume jewelry or fine jewelry, it’s important to look at the types of metals offered at a jewelry brand. For more fine options, consider gold, platinum, or silver options. When shopping for costume jewelry, vermeil is of higher quality than plated (though both can last for years if cared for properly).
Made-to-Order Pieces
“Take some time to read the specifications and notes on the website,” says Sassone. “A lot of jewelry is made to order, which means you won’t receive it the next day and may have to wait a few weeks or even months if it’s a truly one-of-a-kind design.”
For the most part, product pages of high-quality online jewelers will note the processing time for the pieces and whether or not it is made to order. If you’re ever unsure about the timing of a piece, Sassone recommends getting in touch with customer service to learn more about the process and what to expect when buying made-to-order pieces.
Sizing
When shopping for jewelry online, sizing can be tricky. Some companies — such as Catbird — offer ring sizers that you can order ahead of time. They might also have online resources like Catbird’s sizing guide to educate customers on how to properly size for rings, necklaces, and more. However, there are also ways to check for sizing at home, without the help of the retailer.
“For bracelets, use a string or another cable chain bracelet and tightly measure your wrist,” says Taub. “I like to add 0.25 inches for a tight fit and 0.5 for a loose fit,” she adds. If you’re shopping for layered necklaces, she says to start with a 16-inch chain and then add 2 inches between each subsequent necklace. As for ring sizing, Amazon offers several options to help ensure the right fit. The Accmor Ring Size Measuring Tool with Plastic Ring Mandrel is our top pick because it comes with a variety of options, including a mandrel that you can use to determine the size of a ring you already own.
Take Our Word For It
Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. Additionally, Jessie is a collector of fine jewelry and a metalsmithing student at Pasadena City College, where she is learning to become a fine jeweler herself. When researching the best online jewelry stores, Jessie tapped into her journalism background and experience with metalsmithing to find the best of the best. She looked at style, materials used, and the quality of construction, in addition to other features that make shopping for jewelry online a more personalized and helpful experience. She also interviewed a handful of jewelry experts to learn more about what makes quality jewelry and how to shop for it.