If you already know a reliable jeweler, then this should be your first stop. If you don’t, then ask family or friends for a recommendation. In particular, you should ask friends who have recently gotten married where they bought their engagement ring. See if they had a good experience at a particular jeweler.

Here are some things at a minimum to look for when choosing a jeweler:
• Uses the GIA scale for grading diamonds
• Has a GIA gemologist on staff
• Has loose, unmounted diamonds for you to look at
• Uses an electronic scale to weigh diamonds
• Accepts credit cards
• Has an unconditional return policy

The American Gem Society has a searchable database of jewelers at:

http://www.ags.org/consumers/Locate_Jeweler/locate.asp