I pulled into the empty parking lot. It was Saturday, across from a busy plaza, yet, Devine’s Jewelers was precariously missing customers. I looked across the street and saw that Harris Teeters, Starbucks and Sports clips were all teeming with activity. Yet, I was the only one at Devine’s.
I was searching for an engagement ring, and Google maps sent me this direction.
Inside, Devine’s was a beautiful store. The salesperson greeted me with a smile and warm welcome. The owner walked out to introduce himself. This was the exact experiences I was hoping for. Like many first time diamond buyers, I had no idea where to start. Days earlier, I started my research online. Blue Nile, an ecommerce jeweler, was the first place I looked. After all, they were the first result when I searched Engagement Rings in Google. However, I soon discovered that there was a whole lot more to buying an engagement ring than I realized. As I tried to understand the difference between carrot, cut, clarity and color something became apparent. I needed help.
I knew I needed an expert. I need an independent retailer.
