Retail jewelers pay overhead costs, sales staff payrolls and commissions, and more for their physical presence.
Online jewelers may operate their businesses with lower margins, meaning that they can sell you merchandise at a lower profit than can retail jewelers.
Yes SterlingHelperOne - you have hit the nail on the head.
Have also written an article on this topic from personal experience that should explain it better and really hits the point home. Hope you and others find it interesting:
John Hardy jewlery can be purchased at a lot of retail stores. Some of these stores are chain stores such as Reeds Jewelers, Finks Jewelers, and Baileys Jewelers.
Smyth Jewelers is a high ranked retail company that sells jewelry. But just what is it that they specialize in? Smyth jewelers specializes in Exquisite fine jewelry, wonderful giftware and Luxury Timepieces.
In most cases jewelers buy pieces for much less than retail value. This allows the jeweler to make a good profit on a piece.
Jewelers work in a variety of places. They are employed by jewelry retail stores, wholesale distributors, repair shops, and manufacturing firms. Many jewelers are self-employed and manage their own shops.
This would be highly variable, depending on a multitude of factors like where the jeweler is working, how hard he works, his level of experience, customer base, and what type of merchandise he handles. Eg. a jeweler that has forty years experiences selling multi-million dollar jewelry from a store in Hollywood will make much, much more in a year than somebody selling turquoise and silver jewelry in a small town in Mexico.
Crystal ornaments can be purchased in retail stores (for example in gift stores or jewelers) and online, through sites such as Amazon and eBay. Swarovski is a leading brand.
Wedding bands can be found at many locally owned jewelers in Newark, DE or even be found online through retail sites such as BlueNile or WeddingBandOutlets
Sterling silver chains are available online from sites like Dreamland Jewelry, Amazon, and eBay. Retail stores include Sears, Macy's, and other jewelers.
Pandora bracelets are sold at any brick-and-mortar Kay Jewelers or Jared Jewelry retail stores as well as through each of the associated company website.
Kay Jewellers sells everything one would like to buy, including tissue papers, bowls, books, clothes, and fabric softener. It does not, however, sell jewelery.
Akoya pearl earrings are available for sale through Mikimoto stores or through high end retail stores or jewelers such as Neiman Marcus that offer the Mikimoto brand.
One can purchase a women's necklace made of platinum at many retail locations, both in person and online. Examples of such locations that offer the product include Kay Jewelers and Amazon.