OVERALL SCORE

5.9
10

Not Recommended

Last updated: November 21, 2024

For a well-known business with a strong brand presence (evidenced by their high Google search results ranking, influencer partnerships, functional website, and regular sustainability reports), we found ourselves disappointed by what we discovered about Brilliant Earth.

Pouring through Brilliant Earth’s customer reviews and product offerings revealed issues which, in our opinion, you should carefully consider.

“Terrible craftsmanship”
“Never shop here”
“Constant repair required”

Customer reviews highlight issues with ring quality, sharing reports of loose stones and cracks in settings. These craftsmanship pitfalls, accompanied by mentions of precious metals discolouring over time, raise our concerns about the durability and long-term value of the rings at Brilliant Earth. While we discovered that Brilliant Earth offers a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects, we noticed that the policy excludes coverage for metal discolouration. We consider this to be a notable omission given public complaints about their metal quality in online reviews.

Reviews about customer service also shine a light on the varied experiences encountered both in-person and online. In these reviews, clients report rushed in-store consultations and pressure to make purchases. In our opinion online support appears to be even worse, with reports of unreturned emails, unanswered calls, and limited assistance post-purchase. Reviews cite difficulties with engagement ring resizing, delayed return processes, and communication breakdowns, which may be troubling for clients seeking solutions for urgent issues.

Brilliant Earth’s sustainability efforts and educational resources are commendable in our opinion, but we found gaps in their international accessibility. Our research found that international buyers may encounter additional challenges such as unclear duties, taxes, and shipping policies, as well as limited local servicing options.

Despite their appealing ethical focus and clear policies, in our opinion, we find that Brilliant Earth’s product quality and customer care have failed clients who trusted them to provide a quality engagement ring. We consider these to be serious issues, so for such an important milestone like your engagement, so purchasing from Brillaint Earth is Not Recommended.

Keep reading our review to find out how we came to this conclusion.

OVERALL SCORE

5.2
10

Not Recommended

Last updated: January 6, 2025

While we consider Blue Nile to present an extensive range of custom engagement rings and fine jewellery, we’re unimpressed by what they offer in crucial areas. Based on our research, we Don't Recommend Blue Nile to you if you’re looking for durable and sustainable jewellery or an excellent standard of customer service.

Customer reviews revealed what we consider to be troubling quality trends, particularly including loose stones and cracked settings. Our tests confirmed some of these issues, with the hidden halo stones of Blue Nile’s ring falling out during our stress tests. Despite some positives, the overall craftsmanship fell short compared to the other rings we tested. In our opinion, a ring should endure daily wear without the risks observed here, which raises our concerns about the long term reliability of Blue Nile’s products.

Blue Nile’s value sits below the average of the other jewellers we’ve reviewed. Their rings are priced 16% higher than the other jewellers at our time of research, yet, in our opinion, they fail to meet the quality standards we’d expect for the cost. While their resizing and cleaning policies are above average, these strengths are overshadowed by their reportedly poor ring quality and the higher overall expense. For what you’re paying, it’s our opinion that you should be able to expect better.

Blue Nile doesn’t participate in carbon offset programs or community support initiatives, which, in our opinion, evidences a lower effort when compared to the other jewellers we’ve researched. They do offer lab grown diamonds but continue to sell mined diamonds, which we associate with significant environmental and social harms.

While Blue Nile’s in-person and online customer service has its strengths (friendly consultants and quick online chat responses), we found the consistency of these services to be significantly lacking. At the time of our research, customer reviews frequently mentioned difficulty with post-purchase support, especially around returns and resizing, which we consider to be concerning for such an important purchase. We found educational value during consultations to be limited, and we considered the online experience to be marred by misrepresented product imagery.

Blue Nile’s poor ring quality, inconsistent customer service, and lack of ethical initiatives outweigh their few strengths in our opinion. While their functional website and wide product range may initially appeal, we consider that the risks associated with their offerings should be considered carefully. We recommend exploring other jewellers that prioritise quality, overall value, and ethics-from our research we can confidently Not Recommend Blue Nile.

What Our Scores Mean

Strongly Recommended (9 – 10)

This jeweller represents the very best in the industry. They set the gold standard. You can choose this jeweller with confidence, knowing you’re in the best hands.

Recommended (8 - 8.9)

This jeweller is well above average in all key areas - they certainly deserve a spot on your shortlist. A great option for most buyers.

Caution Advised (7 - 7.9)

This jeweller has a mix of strengths and weaknesses. Consider them if they align with your priorities, but be aware of potential trade-offs. Proceed with caution.

Not Recommended (0 - 6.9)

We’ve identified significant concerns with this jeweller. They fail to meet the standards we expect. For your peace of mind, we recommend exploring other options.

Ring Quality

We read customer feedback and put each ring through a six-step durability test. We analyse build quality, polish, and metal to ensure the ring can stand the test of time (and everyday wear).

SCORE

2.4
10

SCORE

2
10

Value

We consider upfront costs and hidden expenses. We account for shipping, resizing, servicing, warranty, and international duties. We also factor in ring quality and the likelihood that you’ll need to pay for repairs down the track.

SCORE

4.8
10

SCORE

3.7
10

Customer Experience

We factor in the customer service, appointment experience, ordering process, website, online communication, post-purchase care, and education offered by the jeweller.

SCORE

6.5
10

SCORE

6.4
10

Sustainability

We assess carbon reduction efforts, sustainable material sourcing, and charitable contributions.

SCORE

4
10

SCORE

0
10

The Nitty Gritty

From customisation options to production times, warranties, shipping and returns policies, and international accessibility, we decode the small details for you.

SCORE

7.5
10

SCORE

6.2
10

Reviews

We read Google, Trustpilot, Yelp, and Glassdoor reviews to learn about customer and employee experiences. In particular, we read reviews specifically related to customer service, online communication, post-purchase care, production and shipping.

SCORE

5.7
10

SCORE

6.7
10

Conclusion

For those seeking an ethically branded engagement ring from a well-known jeweller, Brilliant Earth may appear on the outside to be a strong contender. Their wide retail footprint, attractive online presence, and sustainability messaging are appealing on the surface. They offer extensive educational content, a lifetime warranty, and decent policies for U.S.-based buyers.

However, we Don’t Recommend Brilliant Earth, particularly due to significant concerns around craftsmanship, product durability and service inconsistencies.

Our hands-on testing and customer review analysis revealed consistent flaws in ring quality. We observed loose stones, misaligned prongs, visible scratches, poor polishing, and metal cracking—even before the ring was worn. Customer reviews echoed these issues, with many citing broken settings, fragile rings, and repeated repairs soon after purchase. These aren’t faults we’d expect from a ring intended to symbolise lifelong commitment.

Post-purchase care and customer service also fell short of expectations. Reports of unresponsive emails, unanswered calls, and delayed servicing were common. Many customers described stressful experiences with resizing, refunds, and warranty claims. International buyers face even greater hurdles, including vague duties, no local servicing, and unexpected fees for resizing or repairs.

Brilliant Earth’s ethical messaging feels undermined by these quality and service gaps. Their “beyond conflict-free” standard lacks robust traceability, and many of their diamonds are still mined. While they offer some sustainability initiatives, their execution and follow-through don’t appear to match their marketing.

Despite their strong branding and positive in-store first impressions, we believe the repeated issues in quality, durability, and post-purchase care outweigh the benefits.

We Don’t Recommend Brilliant Earth. For an investment as meaningful as an engagement ring, we suggest exploring jewellers who offer consistently high quality, transparent service, and truly durable craftsmanship.

Visit our rankings page to find the best jeweller for your values and needs.
For those exploring the idea of purchasing a custom ring online, Blue Nile might initially seem like an attractive option with its wide product range, intuitive website, and decent post-purchase policies. Their free resizing, return policy, and lifetime cleaning stand out on paper, and their in-store experience is generally welcoming.

However, we Don’t Recommend Blue Nile, especially if you value durability, service reliability, and ethical responsibility in your jewellery purchase.

Our testing and customer reviews revealed serious quality concerns—including loose stones, misaligned settings, and cracked prongs. Blue Nile was the only jeweller in our drop test to lose a stone, a failure we found deeply concerning. Despite a higher-than-average price (16% above competitors), the quality failed to justify the cost.

Customer service is also inconsistent. While some in-store consultants are friendly, many customers report unresponsive online support, unresolved issues, and difficulties with returns and resizes. Our own experience mirrored these gaps, especially over email and chat.

Ethically, Blue Nile falls short. They don’t participate in carbon offset programs, and while they offer lab-grown diamonds, they continue to promote mined stones. Their community engagement is lacking, with no evidence of charitable giving or social responsibility initiatives.

All in all, we Don’t Recommend Blue Nile. Their inconsistent craftsmanship, spotty post-purchase care, and lack of ethical leadership outweigh the few strengths they do offer.

If you would like to determine which jewellers stand out above the rest for their excellence and customer care, we would recommend reviewing our rankings page to see which jeweller best suits your needs.

Explore Our Top Rated Jeweller.

If reading this review has left you wondering where to look next, your're not alone. Read the review on our Top Rated jeweller, Cullen Jewellery - known for exceptional craftsmanship, lab-grown diamonds, and service that goes above and beyond.

Visit Website
#1 Top Rated
Cullen Jewellery
9.3
10

Strongly Recommended