How to Buy a Diamond Ring: Step by step

1. Learn as much as you can about diamonds - The easiest way is to spend a few minutes reading our diamond tutorial and our ring tutorial -- we feature the most comprehensive and unbiased treatment of diamonds and rings available on the web, and we constantly update it to reflect new trends and information. You will learn about the 4 "C's", how to detect fakes, how to judge cuts, what questions to ask your jeweler, how to select a setting, and lots of other important topics. An informed consumer is a smart consumer. Invest the time and do your research, and you will get the best diamond ring for your money.

2. Find the right jeweler, right in your area (U.S. metro only) - DiamondReview.com features a jeweler search engine, complete with reader reviews. Just visit our local jewelers database, type in your ZIP code, and get a complete listing of your local jewelers. Review any available reader comments about those jewelers, and pay them a visit! And if you have a particularly favorable (or unfavorable) experience, we invite you to come back and write a short review to share with other consumers like you.

3. Don't forget about Internet jewelers - DiamondReview.com features a comprehensive listing of Internet jewelers, complete with reader reviews. The Internet is quickly becoming a popular way to purchase diamonds -- be sure to visit our Internet jewelers listings.

4. Ask questions! - Members of the jewelry industry as well as other consumers regularly monitor our forums. You will usually have several answers back within a few hours from a wide variety of individuals -- from industry experts, to fellow consumers.

5. Learn the price of diamonds - Once you've narrowed down your selection and you've selected a jeweler, the last remaining task is to negotiate the best possible price. Just like you wouldn't purchase an automobile without knowing its factory-invoice cost (from such sources as Consumer Reports* or BlueBook*), you should not purchase a diamond based solely on the jeweler's stated price. Be sure to visit DiamondReview.com's diamond price database. Combined with a few negotiation tips also featured on this site, our diamond price database can potentially save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

6. Buy it! - During this process, be sure to reference our negotiation tips. And after the purchase, come back to our site for information on care & cleaning.