DEFECTIVE diamond wedding band deemed to be "OK" by Blue Nile
Full Review
MY PURCHASE - This is my 2nd experience with Blue Nile. The first one was via my fiance, who bought my diamond engagement solitaire through Blue Nile. I was surprised that he would do such a big purchase online, but we got the ring appraised for more than he what he paid. We were happy with our first purchase, so decided to buy our wedding bands through them.
BAD DECISION - I picked out a 1/3 carat, 5 stone diamond platinum band. He ordered a 5 mm platinum band. We received the order right on time. However, once I looked at my ring, I knew something was wrong. The diamonds were not lined up correctly and the curve was asymmetrical. When you placed the ring on a flat surface, the problem was obvious. No big deal, since we had the 30-day return policy. However, as our wedding was approaching, we decided to simply return the band instead of exchanging it.
GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE - the one pro about this company is the courtesy and promptness of customer service. I spoke with Steve, who assured me that a return would be fine. He even said they would refund shipping if they agreed that the ring was defective (more on this later). He called me several times during the process to update me on the progress of my return.
POOR QUALITY - Once the ring was returned, Steve called and said the Quality Assurance people thought "there was nothing wrong with the ring". I don't know what kind of standards this store has, but if a crooked, asymmetrical wedding band is ok, then I don't think it's worth the $200 we were saving by going online.
GO TO A REPUTABLE STORE - The very next day, we went to Bailey Banks and Biddle to buy wedding bands. We found the exact designs we had picked from BN. Yes, they were more expensive, but YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. The ring was perfectly round, brilliant, and beautiful. We picked it up the next day (after they sized it for free).
BEWARE OF ONLINE STORES - Especially with precious jewelry, you don't want to skimp out. Through Bailey Banks and Biddle, we got a $45, 2 year warranty (renewable) that covers loss of stones, free polishing (necessary for platinum), broken prongs, etc. The diamond rings all come with lifetime warranties that cover loss or damage. They check your ring free of charge every 6 months forever to ensure that the prongs are in good condition.
BOTTOM LINE - don't cheap out when it comes to buying diamond jewelry. it's well worth the money to buy from a store you can visit in person. always look at your diamonds before you buy them.
