Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About FindMyJeweler
About Buying Jewelry and Diamonds
About FindMyJeweler
FindMyJeweler helps you find a reputable, competitive diamond jeweler in your neighborhood,
so you can enjoy the benefits of buying locally. After you register,
we will provide you with the contact information of one or more of the jewelers in your area that meet our strict
criteria. We will also ask the jewelers to contact you directly, so you can ask questions
and make an appointment once you're ready to look at actual jewelry. When you're ready to make your purchase, you will do
so knowing that your jeweler has been tested and screened by FindMyJeweler's staff of jewelry experts.
Jewelers pay a small fee to display their FindMyJeweler Certification on our
website and to receive requests from consumers.
Please note that it is only after they receive their certification that jewelers are given
the option to make their results visible to consumers on FindMyJeweler.com. Jewelers cannot "buy"
their FindMyJeweler Certification, they only pay for us to display it on our website and to receive
requests from consumers.
FindMyJeweler's unique win-win approach benefits the consumer and the jeweler at the same time:
CONSUMER WINS: All jewelers are tested in the same rigorous way,
using standardized secret shopper tests (our staff calls or
visits the store, pretending to be a difficult customer). As of July 2005, less
than 1% of jewelers tested have passed the criteria for FindMyJeweler
Certification. If a jeweler does not pass, they are notified of their
results, but they do not become a FindMyJeweler Certified Jeweler, and therefore cannot appear
on our website. They cannot pay to receive our certification. We
believe that if a jeweler cannot offer the kind of service, knowledge, and prices needed
to sell to the demanding customers that visit our website, then no one wins.
Result: You learn about a jeweler that is truly qualified to guide you and
offer excellent service and value.
JEWELER WINS: For the few jewelers that do receive our FindMyJeweler Certification,
we invite them to advertise their FindMyJeweler Certification on our website and to receive eligible
requests from consumers. In exchange for this service, they pay us a small fee.
Result: The jeweler receives a steady stream of consumers, which enables the jeweler to focus on
doing what they do best (offering extraordinary value, expertise, and service to consumers) and not on silly marketing.
The foundation of our screening process involves a "secret shopper" test, performed by one of
FindMyJeweler's staff of jewelry experts (which includes a former diamond dealer). To learn more about our
rigorous tests, click here.
The secret shopper test begins by contacting the jeweler by phone, and asking the salesperson
for help in deciding on the best quality/price/size of diamond for an engagement ring. Our staff member
chooses, for example, a 1.00 carat, G color, VS2 clarity, ideal cut, round brilliant shape
diamond. If the initial price quoted by the salesperson does not fall within the predetermined
range of appropriate competitive pricing, the jeweler will not be certified. The test continues from there,
and includes selection, expertise, service, and many other factors.
We try to test the majority of jewelers in a given city that meet our initial screening
criteria (for example, we usually don't test mall-based or chain jewelers). The actual number varies
depending on the size of the city.
Absolutely not. Our Privacy Policy prohibits
us from releasing your e-mail address to anyone but the jewelers that match your search. FindMyJeweler is committed
to respecting and maintaining your privacy.
Since 1999, FindMyJeweler.com (at that time offered as "Jeweler Match" from
our sister website DiamondReview.com) has been helping people connect with reputable jewelers in
their local area. We have earned the trust and praise of thousands of jewelry consumers since that
time. Read what our visitors are saying about FindMyJeweler.
About Buying Jewelry and Diamonds
Opening up the Yellow Pages and looking for the "right" jeweler to trust with your special
needs can be daunting at best. How will you know which companies truly offer the best
quality and the best value for your money?
We've already done the work! Our experts have already researched most stores in
many metro areas. We look for helpful, patient, and knowledgeable jewelers with
the highest standards for customer service, friendliness, selection, quality, product knowledge,
and value.
Here is how to make FindMyJeweler work for you:
1. Get a FindMyJeweler account (it's free!). Registered
users receive access to our FindMyJeweler Certification Report database. Each Certification Report
summarizes the results of our rigorous "secret shopper" tests, where members of our staff call jewelers
and pose as "picky customers", asking tough questions to assess the expertise, ethics, and policies of each
jeweler. It is this way that we help you find the right jeweler for your special purchase.
2. Call and ask questions. Make an appointment to hold
actual jewelry in your hand and see actual diamonds and gemstones under a microscope, because that
is the only way to learn what you want. You need to go beyond the stats and details you see on web
sites, and make decisions based on what you see in person. Then ask about different choices for
settings, etc. All FindMyJeweler.com Certified Jewelers are required to answer your questions and
provide a no-pressure, educational environment.
3. Make your purchase. And do so with confidence,
knowing that each FindMyJeweler Certified Jeweler has been screened and tested by our staff of
jewelry experts and will likely be one of the top jewelers in your area, offering the highest level of
integrity, customer service, selection, quality, and product knowledge, all at the most
competitive prices.
4. Rate the jeweler. After you complete your purchase,
we will ask you to rate the jeweler. We use this information to continuously monitor the quality
of the jewelers in our network. By completing our survey, you help us help future consumers.
Get started on your search for the perfect jewelry. Begin Search
The easiest way is to use FindMyJeweler. Just begin a search and
we'll take care of the rest.
If you want to go about this task on your own, we recommend you apply
our rigorous "secret shopper" testing methodology to
as many jewelers as you possibly can. If you are purchasing a diamond, we also recommend you read
our diamond tutorial in its entirety to have a cursory knowledge of diamonds.
Our chief diamond expert has over 10 years of direct experience in the diamond
industry, and applies the "secret shopper" methodology to nearly all jewelers within a given metro area.
If you are a first-time buyer of fine jewelry, you will undoubtedly be anxious about
investing a significant amount of money and will want to ensure you get the most value
for your hard-earned money. An outstanding local jeweler will work with you to find exactly
what you want, at the right price that meets your budget. An outstanding local jeweler will
be there through the years to help you clean and maintain your jewelry. An outstanding local
jeweler will help you find the perfect jewelry gift to commemorate special times in your life.
Given the amount of money you're investing, and the commitment and
mutual feelings that your diamond will symbolize, it is critical to physically
examine your diamond before purchasing it. Use the 'specs' -- the table sizes, depth percentages, etc. --
as a guide to narrow your search. But in the end, be sure to look at several stones under a
microscope, under indoor lighting, and outside during daylight. Trust your eyes to make the
final decision.
Likewise, if you are purchasing an engagement ring, it is highly unlikely that you'll be
able to select an appropriate setting from the Internet. You will need to examine a number of settings, in
person. Ask the jeweler to place the diamond of your choice on several settings,
and go with the 'look' that pleases you!
Comparing several stones under a microscope is the best way to learn the intricacies of
diamonds, which is required to make a good purchase decision. Ask your jeweler to point out
different features and flaws of different stones, until you're able to recognize some of these
on your own.
Our in-house group of diamond experts are led by Robert Hensley, a former diamond dealer and
manager for several high-volume retail jewelers, a GIA-certified diamond grader, and the creator
of the "secret shopper" tests. Robert's ability to find top quality jewelers comes from his
12 years of experience dealing with many members of the diamond industry, and from helping
thousands of consumers find the perfect diamond jewelry for their tastes and budget.
FindMyJeweler offers three different ways to educate you on your important purchase decision:
1. Our experts will help you individually. We understand that first-time buyers may be intimidated... so in addition to introducing you to local diamond jewelers
that have exceeded our strict criteria, registered FindMyJeweler users also receive free, personalized
assistance from our diamond experts. We can help you compare diamonds, assess prices, help you with settings, or answer just about
any other question. This assistance is free.
2. The jewelers we certify are screened and instructed to assist you. This is one of the
many criteria we use to select jewelers. As part of the great value they provide, our jewelers
will:
- Answer your questions
- Show you different diamonds under a microscope and with color-corrected lighting
- Teach you how to examine diamonds using a loupe
- Show you how different diamonds look with different settings
- Make recommendations based on the latest trends and styles
- Provide you with a comfortable, no-pressure environment so you can make an intelligent decision about your purchase.
3. Our website. FindMyJeweler.com contains free, in-depth diamond tutorials and other useful tools to help you
with your purchase. Be sure to take advantage of these resources.
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