Planning a proposal? The perfect engagement ring symbolizes your love and commitment. But with countless options available, the selection process can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, online diamond retailers have revolutionized the industry, allowing you to browse breathtaking selections and compare prices from the comfort of your home.
Gone are the days of limited in-store choices and pushy salespeople. Now, you can explore a vast array of diamonds, settings, and styles at your own pace. However, with so many online retailers vying for your attention, choosing the right one becomes crucial.
This guide dives into the strengths of James Allen and Brilliant Earth, two industry leaders in online diamond sales. We’ll compare their diamond selections, viewing technology, customer service, pricing, and more. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to find the perfect retailer that aligns with your budget, style preferences, and ethical considerations.
So, let’s get started!
Reputation Comparison James Allen vs Brilliant Earth:
James Allen:
If you have recently been looking for diamonds, you must not be new to this name. James Allen has got tremendous progress in a very short time. All credits to their impeccable service that has made them the leading giant of the industry. Possessing one of the largest inventories in the online market, they make sure you get your desired diamond without any hassle with the easy buying process. They have made a great reputation in the online market.
Brilliant Earth:
When we talk about Brilliant Earth, we are talking about a socially responsible brand that claims to be eco-friendly and ethical. All their diamonds and gemstones are sourced ethically. They urge to support sustainable ways for mining diamonds. And for that, they support organizations and charities too.
Necessary to mention about their admirable approach, they donate 5% of net-profit to social responsibility programs and environmental projects.
Inventory Comparison:
James Allen:
James Allen boasts a massive inventory of 250,000+ diamonds. All these diamonds are just a click away from you. For the budget-conscious, they offer lab-created diamonds. They don’t stock all these diamonds, instead, they have deals with vendors worldwide. This is the reason they possess such a massive inventory of all shapes and types.
They offer a wide range of popular ring settings such as vintage and solitaire settings.
James Allen offers an easy ring designing process by which you can create your ring just the way you imagine it.
Brilliant Earth:
Brilliant Earth’s inventory is not as wide as James Allen’s, but still, they possess a pretty impressive collection. They offer diamonds of multiple colors, carats, and cuts. They offer one of the largest stores for synthetic diamonds for the ones at reasonable budgets. Every diamond sold by them comes with a certificate that proves its origin.
Brilliant Earth offers its customers a beautiful selection of vintage and antique ring settings to choose from.
Diamond View Comparison:
James Allen:
Diamond Imaging is the most important factor when buying a diamond. This is what satisfies customers. And in the terms of Diamond view technology, James Allen is the king of the online market.
The 360° HD video including SuperZoom and high-quality images lets you see the actual diamond before you buy. They even provide Ideal Scope images upon request.
Brilliant Earth:
However, Brilliant Earth falls short in terms of diamond view technology, lacking HD videos and detailed images that are pivotal for informed decision-making. The absence of such features may pose challenges for customers seeking a closer look at their desired diamonds, potentially impacting their purchasing experience.
Customer Service:
James Allen:
Any top reputable brand knows how customer service affects the business. If you keep your customers happy, you will build a stronger fan base.
James Allen offers great services like engraving, prong tightening, polishing, and cleaning at absolutely no cost. You’ll get one year of free resizing too.
James Allen’s packaging is one of that classy unique style that stands out.
The staff at James Allen is always there to help you with their 24/7 availability. They also allow you to chat with diamond experts to help you out.
Brilliant Earth:
Brilliant Earth stands out with its amazing services. They offer free shipping both ways for their customers. Free resizing for 60 days.
Brilliant Earth is known for their lifetime guarantee and upgrades policies.
Brilliant Earth presents your purchase in a beautiful handcrafted wooden box.
Diamond Price Comparison:
James Allen:
James Allen stands out for its affordability and value proposition, offering competitive prices without compromising on quality. With a favorable price-to-value ratio, James Allen appeals to budget-conscious buyers seeking exceptional diamonds without breaking the bank.
Brilliant Earth:
In contrast, Brilliant Earth tends to be pricier, particularly for diamonds under 1 carat. While the brand emphasizes ethical sourcing and sustainability, its prices may deter some buyers looking for more budget-friendly options, thereby limiting its appeal to a certain segment of consumers.
| James Allen | Brilliant Earth |
| Round Shape | Round Shape |
| VVS1 clarity | VVS1 clarity |
| F color | F color |
| Ideal cut | Ideal cut |
| $6,360 | $7,250 |
| Check here | Check here |
Cons of both Brands:
While we have discussed all the positive aspects of both brands, it felt necessary to point out the cons. As a buyer, you should know all about the brands before making any final decision. So we will shed light upon the drawbacks of both retailers.
James Allen:
- International return shipping is not free. If you don’t like your purchase, pay for the return fee.
- The showrooms are only available in New York City.
- Takes a lot of time to provide Ideal Scope images.
Brilliant Earth:
- Lack of videos and images, as discussed above.
- No availability of round the clock service.
- More expensive than competitive online retailers.
- Not a diverse collection as compared to other vendors.
Final Verdict:
While looking at the overall review, we can say both brands are offering great services for the customers. Whether it is Brilliant Earth or James Allen, both are a trustworthy company with a reputable name in the industry.
But as we have to do a final verdict, the winner of this review is James Allen. When looked at its services, it has an edge over Brilliant Earth. And no wonder they lead the online diamond market because of the tremendous services provided by them.
More Comparisons:
Shane Carry, the enigmatic voice behind the captivating content of TheDiamondsRing.com, He is a seasoned gemologist and writer renowned for his expertise in the field of diamonds. With a career spanning over two decades, Carry has established himself as a leading authority on gemstones, garnering acclaim for his insightful analysis and compelling narratives.
Carry’s passion for diamonds was ignited at a young age, fueling a lifelong pursuit of knowledge in gemology and jewelry design. He holds degrees in both Gemology and Jewelry Design from prestigious institutions, where he honed his skills and deepened his understanding of precious stones.