Buying jewellery? There are deals galore online

Rajiv Khanna (name changed to protect identity), a 46 year old Mumbai-based businessman gifted a diamond ring to his wife which he bought after comparing the prices online. He got this idea from his friend who suggested him to buy jewellery online through an aggregator website, where he could purchase it from a wide choice offered by recognised jewellers at competitive prices. He sent his requirements on one of the aggregator websites, where they help customers compare prices of gems and jewellery giving them the best deal possible.

Caratlane.com, pricescope.com and bluenile.com are a few examples of aggregator websites.
"The number of people shopping for gems and jewellery online is increasing constantly because the customer gets a 15-20% discount. Aggregators and e-retailers do $100 million business a year. Growing at 25-30%, we expect the business to touch $150 million mark by 2012," says Jeetendra Joshi, vice president- marketing, Reasoning Global E-applications Ltd.
Experts also opine that, since the gems and jewellery industry is performing well, the jewellers can afford to give reasonably good discounts to their customers when they buy jewellery online.
A lot of jewellers like Tanishq, Gitanjali, Popley's, Agni, Cygnus, Jagdamba and Ciemme sell their products online through their registered websites. But, when you log onto a particular company sites to buy it, you can know about products and discounts offered of only that company.
Whereas, suppose you decide to buy a diamond ring through an aggregator website, you get an edge as all you have to do is mention your requirements such as shape, clarity, and mode of payment, online. After you submit the details, within 24 hours you will get quotations from trusted jewellers listed on the website's platform.
One gets quotations directly from the jewellers on their mails, where the jeweller narrows down on a few pieces according to the client's requirements and helps him with a few more choices that could match his needs. The jeweller also gives his recommendations. And to help him buy that jewellery piece with ease, the jeweller leaves his contact details with you in order to initiate the purchase.
Apart from, giving best deals, aggregators also help clients with the most authentic and updated information on diamonds and jewellery. "We give unbiased suggestions, opinions and reviews from the real world consumers all around the world which can help them make an educative decision. Getting the direct and trusted source can save consumers more than 25% of their cost and forums can help them select the best diamond," says Mahek Mehta, CEO, PriceScope India.
"The aggregators have proven to be a lot more efficient for companies and giving good value to the consumers as well. Buying a solitaire through an aggregator makes more sense, as you can opt for a gem that is certified through a lab of your choice," says Anuj Rakya, managing director of Ananya Jewels.
Consumers can also compare loose diamond prices listed by different sellers.
Consumers who have bought jewellery through pricescope.com can post images, links or comments about their preferred jewellery taken from the gallery or any website on the internet.