Buying jewelry is a great experience, but can sometimes seem daunting.

If you’ve ever been married, you may remember shopping for that perfect engagement ring; seems like a simple enough task until you realize there are 47 jewelry shops in your local mall alone and each of those shops carries 500 varieties of diamond rings! Suddenly the task you had set aside three hours to accomplish turns into a week-long scouring of rack after rack of sparkling options.

Shopping for jewelry online takes less time and certainly leaves you less exhausted, seeing as you are comfortably seated at your home or office (or library or Internet café). Here are a few tips to make it a better experience:

1. Know the basics of gems. For instance, you’ll want to read up a bit on the four Cs (color, cut, clarity, and carats). Know what a quality gem is so you don’t end up with a dull or “dirty” gem.
2. Have an idea of what you want before you start shopping. One bonus of shopping online is that you have no pushy sales people trying to offload inventory on unsuspecting customers! But it helps to have an idea of what you want before you start shopping. Consider whether you want to purchase a ring or a bracelet; a necklace or some diamond stud earrings. It will save you a load of time (especially if you’re searching for a gift).
3. Take your time. Compare several pieces to find the one that fits your needs, your taste and, of course—your budget!