Many Israeli diamond companies are boosting their online presence with new and revamped websites. Here are some recent developments:

Scapa Diamonds has revamped its website www.DiamondSphinx.com, improving the design, making it more user-friendly and easily accessed through search engines. The site was first launched about three years ago. Now owner Moshe Scapa says that a great deal of his business is based on the website, which markets to customers from all over the world.

Scapa Diamonds are manufacturers as well as traders, which they say gives them an edge on their website. “By cutting and polishing rough diamonds and bringing them directly to the consumer, we are able to eliminate middle-men, enabling us to sell certified loose diamonds at outstanding prices,” says Moshe Scapa.

The DiamondSphinx website is both B2B and B2C. “We sell to private customers as well as stores and businesses. There is no reason for us to limit ourselves. Our main attraction is our ability to offer quality goods at affordable prices,” Scapa says.

In addition to loose stones of all sizes and colors, the website also sells jewelry, allowing customers to build their own diamond rings. They offer various engagement rings, stones of all sizes and colors, as well as earrings and pendants. All of the diamonds on the website come with an official certificate issued by a recognized gemological institute. As an added benefit, the site also includes a learning center with background and information on diamonds and diamond buying.

While pleased with their online business, Moshe Scapa states that selling through the Internet is a complicated and expensive proposition. “It’s more difficult and more aggressive than I thought. There’s a tremendous amount of competition,” he says. “To succeed on the Internet your website needs to be both user-friendly and highly professional. In addition, you have to be willing to invest in your website on a regular basis. You need to be committed.” Scapa invests in various promotional tools to market his website, including Google sponsored links.

Scapa says that consumers are no longer worried that purchases via the Internet are risky. “The use of credit cards on the Internet is completely safe. Neither the buyer now the seller has anything to worry about,” he says.

DiamondSphinx also exists in Chinese and Hebrew, and the company is planning to launch sites in additional languages.

Shemesh Diamonds has just launched its first e-commerce site www.verifiedbuy.com. Effi Lax, whose father established the business in 1961, said that the popularity of the Internet convinced him to embark on an online marketing venture.

Lax says that his site is meant for retailers as well as consumers, and offers members of the trade a wholesale discount. He currently lists hundreds of loose stones - rounds, princess, cushion and emerald cuts. He also offers diverse sizes, including 20 to 50 points, something that other diamond sites don’t offer.

Lax says that his goods are considerably less expensive than those offered on other sites. “We are less expensive by at least 5 – 10%. You can’t find prices like this in any store, I’m 99% sure” he states.

Payment is effected through PayPal or through bank wire, check or travelers’ checks. In the future he will be able to offer payment through credit cards. Shipping is free of charge to the United States and Hong Kong.

VerifiedBuy went online last month. It offers stones certified by major gemological labs, as well as non-certified stones. The site currently offers a live chat for those clients who want to communicate, and plans to add an information center about diamonds.