Online jewellery purchases have grown significantly — the convenience, variety, and competitive pricing are real advantages. But without being able to examine the piece physically, the risk of disappointment (or fraud) is also real. Here's a five-point checklist to run before you place an order.
1. Return and Exchange Window
What to check: Does the brand offer a no-questions-asked return within at least 15–30 days? Are there any conditions that would void the return (worn, resized, stone set after delivery)?
Why it matters: Jewellery can look very different in hand vs. on screen. Lighting, photography, and model angles are professionally optimised to maximise appeal. The piece you receive may be technically as described but not what you expected. A proper return window is your safety net.
Red flag: Return windows shorter than 7 days, or policies that say "return accepted only if product is defective" — this excludes "not as expected" situations, which are the most common.
2. BIS Hallmark Certification
What to check: Does the product listing clearly state the BIS hallmark purity (916, 750, etc.) and mention the HUID? Is the hallmark actually visible in product photos?
Why it matters: Without hallmarking, you have no legal guarantee of the gold purity. Unlabelled "22 karat" claims from online sellers with no BIS certification are unverifiable — and potentially fraudulent.
What to do: After receiving the item, check the physical hallmark marks and verify the HUID on the BIS Care app.
3. Stone Disclosure and Certification
If the piece contains diamonds or coloured gemstones, check:
- Natural vs. lab-grown: Lab-grown diamonds are significantly cheaper (60–80%) than natural ones at similar quality. You should know which you're getting.
- Certification: Is there a grading certificate from GIA, IGI, or another recognised body? Uncertified stones may be worth a fraction of what they're billed as.
- Stone weight vs. gold weight: The product should clearly show net gold weight (not including stones) and stone carat weight separately.
Red flag: Listings that say "diamond studded" without specifying natural/lab-grown, carat weight, or certification.
4. Brand Reputation — Check Independent Reviews
The brand's own website will only show curated testimonials. Before buying, search for the brand on independent review platforms.
Things to look for in reviews:
- Actual delivery experience vs. product photos
- Quality of packaging and presentation
- Exchange policy experience when customers have used it
- Customer service responsiveness
A brand with hundreds of reviews averaging 4.2 stars is far more trustworthy than one with 12 reviews averaging 5.0 stars — the latter is often a managed or gamed review profile.
5. Payment Protection
What to check: Does the platform support secure payment options — net banking, UPI, credit card with zero-fraud liability, or Cash on Delivery?
Why it matters: For high-value purchases, COD and credit card payments offer better dispute resolution options if the product is significantly different from what was described. Debit card and direct UPI transfers are harder to dispute after the fact.
Also check: Is the website HTTPS? Is the payment gateway a recognised provider (Razorpay, PayU, Stripe)? Avoid wire transfers to unknown accounts — a common fraud pattern.
Bonus: Compare the Same Piece Offline
If the brand has a physical store, visit it. See the actual piece. A brand that has a strong online presence and also a verifiable retail presence is significantly lower risk than a pure-play online seller with no verifiable physical address.
At OorVaai, many brands list their store locations, exchange policies, and independent customer reviews — all in one place — so you can make this comparison before committing to a purchase.