VS
OVERALL SCORE:
9.3
10
Strongly Recommended
Cullen Jewellery has established itself as a trustworthy jeweller specialising in custom lab grown diamond and moissanite engagement rings. If you’re looking for high-quality, reliable, ethical, and sustainable options, we can confidently recommend Cullen Jewellery based on our extensive research.
Cullen Jewellery’s commitment to craftsmanship is evident throughout our research- customers rave about the durability and quality of their rings, and it’s refreshing to see no complaints about loose stones or bent prongs, issues which are all too common amongst the other jewellers we have researched. Cullen Jewellery’s pricing is also highly competitive, coming in at around 23% more affordable than the other brands, and making them one of the best value jewellers we have ever reviewed. Coupled with excellent shipping policies, free resizing within 12 months, and a lifetime warranty covering all manufacturing defects, it’s our strong opinion that Cullen Jewellery has designed their service with you in mind.
Visiting their showroom is memorable for all the right reasons. The consultants are knowledgeable and approachable, guiding you through the options without making you feel pressured to purchase. Cullen Jewellery’s clean, light-filled showrooms include unique touches like a view into the jeweller’s workspace, literally and figuratively enhancing transparency. Their website is just as polished. We consider it to be easy to use, packed with educational content, and perfect for efficiently browsing their extensive customisation options.
Cullen Jewellery excels in sustainability by exclusively offering lab grown diamonds that are certified carbon neutral, through a well-documented partnership with Clear Neutral. Furthermore, they plant a tree for every ring sold, demonstrating a tangibly positive environmental impact. Their charitable efforts, including sponsorships for children, volunteer leave for staff, and support for cancer research and local community initiatives, solidify their practical dedication to broader societal causes.
One thing to take into consideration is the absence of change of mind returns on engagement rings. However, we’re not concerned about this for a few reasons, which we’ll outline. In the experience of our dedicated mystery shoppers, Cullen Jewellery’s appointments are thorough, and the sales consultants provide in-depth education so you can make the right decision. They place a large educational emphasis on their website and social media just in case you’re not local to one of their showrooms, and this is proven through the availability of virtual appointments and an extensive range of educational blogs. Cullen Jewellery are also known to facilitate resizing and other ring adjustments inexpensively. On top of this, you are given an added layer of protection via a complimentary lifetime warranty in the rare case that your Cullen Jewellery ring has a manufacturing defect. And at the end of the day, it is unlikely that you’ll want to part with such a sentimental item anyway.
With stellar craftsmanship, excellent value, and a clear ethical focus, Cullen Jewellery is our jeweller of choice for those seeking sustainable, high quality jewellery. You can visit their website at cullenjewellery.com
Cullen Jewellery’s commitment to craftsmanship is evident throughout our research- customers rave about the durability and quality of their rings, and it’s refreshing to see no complaints about loose stones or bent prongs, issues which are all too common amongst the other jewellers we have researched. Cullen Jewellery’s pricing is also highly competitive, coming in at around 23% more affordable than the other brands, and making them one of the best value jewellers we have ever reviewed. Coupled with excellent shipping policies, free resizing within 12 months, and a lifetime warranty covering all manufacturing defects, it’s our strong opinion that Cullen Jewellery has designed their service with you in mind.
Visiting their showroom is memorable for all the right reasons. The consultants are knowledgeable and approachable, guiding you through the options without making you feel pressured to purchase. Cullen Jewellery’s clean, light-filled showrooms include unique touches like a view into the jeweller’s workspace, literally and figuratively enhancing transparency. Their website is just as polished. We consider it to be easy to use, packed with educational content, and perfect for efficiently browsing their extensive customisation options.
Cullen Jewellery excels in sustainability by exclusively offering lab grown diamonds that are certified carbon neutral, through a well-documented partnership with Clear Neutral. Furthermore, they plant a tree for every ring sold, demonstrating a tangibly positive environmental impact. Their charitable efforts, including sponsorships for children, volunteer leave for staff, and support for cancer research and local community initiatives, solidify their practical dedication to broader societal causes.
One thing to take into consideration is the absence of change of mind returns on engagement rings. However, we’re not concerned about this for a few reasons, which we’ll outline. In the experience of our dedicated mystery shoppers, Cullen Jewellery’s appointments are thorough, and the sales consultants provide in-depth education so you can make the right decision. They place a large educational emphasis on their website and social media just in case you’re not local to one of their showrooms, and this is proven through the availability of virtual appointments and an extensive range of educational blogs. Cullen Jewellery are also known to facilitate resizing and other ring adjustments inexpensively. On top of this, you are given an added layer of protection via a complimentary lifetime warranty in the rare case that your Cullen Jewellery ring has a manufacturing defect. And at the end of the day, it is unlikely that you’ll want to part with such a sentimental item anyway.
With stellar craftsmanship, excellent value, and a clear ethical focus, Cullen Jewellery is our jeweller of choice for those seeking sustainable, high quality jewellery. You can visit their website at cullenjewellery.com
OVERALL SCORE:
5.3
10
Not Recommended
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 can’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 we’ve researched, 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- our research can confidently determine that Blue Nile is not one of them.
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 we’ve researched, 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- our research can confidently determine that Blue Nile is not one of them.
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:
9.7
10
SCORE:
2.6
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:
8.8
10
SCORE:
3.9
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:
9.1
10
SCORE:
6.4
10
Sustainability
We assess carbon reduction efforts, sustainable material sourcing, and charitable contributions.
SCORE:
8.3
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:
8.6
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:
9.3
10
SCORE:
6.7
10
Conclusion
If you prioritise high quality, sustainability, positive reviews, and strong overall value, it’s our opinion that Cullen Jewellery would be suitable for you.
Our research evidences that they provide consistently high standards of customer service, post-purchase care, online communication, appointment experience, and education. In our opinion, their policies, from warranty to production time and shipping, are reasonable and prioritise your needs. We found it easy to purchase a ring via their functional website, and international customers should find that Cullen Jewellery’s services are largely accessible. However, you will need to be sure of your purchasing decision, as Cullen Jewellery doesn’t offer change of mind returns on their rings.
After conducting a comprehensive review of Cullen Jewellery’s products and services, we can confidently recommend them to you for all of your engagement ring needs.
If you’d like to view more information, you can visit our rankings to confirm which jeweller best suits your needs.
Our research evidences that they provide consistently high standards of customer service, post-purchase care, online communication, appointment experience, and education. In our opinion, their policies, from warranty to production time and shipping, are reasonable and prioritise your needs. We found it easy to purchase a ring via their functional website, and international customers should find that Cullen Jewellery’s services are largely accessible. However, you will need to be sure of your purchasing decision, as Cullen Jewellery doesn’t offer change of mind returns on their rings.
After conducting a comprehensive review of Cullen Jewellery’s products and services, we can confidently recommend them to you for all of your engagement ring needs.
If you’d like to view more information, you can visit our rankings to confirm which jeweller best suits your needs.
For customers who appreciate a highly functional online purchasing experience, as well as relatively good customer service, Blue Nile may be a suitable option. They additionally provide above average post-purchase care, and have one of the best returns policies available.
Although Blue Nile can be encouraged by these strengths, we have found some clear areas for growth. In our opinion, Blue Nile’s ring quality and online communication need focused attention. This, in turn, will likely result in an improved overall value. We also consider that Blue Nile must turn outward and improve its ethics and sustainability procedures to be more impactful and intentional.
All in all, we can’t recommend Blue Nile. In our opinion, their weaknesses outweigh their strengths.
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 to see which jeweller best suits your needs.
Although Blue Nile can be encouraged by these strengths, we have found some clear areas for growth. In our opinion, Blue Nile’s ring quality and online communication need focused attention. This, in turn, will likely result in an improved overall value. We also consider that Blue Nile must turn outward and improve its ethics and sustainability procedures to be more impactful and intentional.
All in all, we can’t recommend Blue Nile. In our opinion, their weaknesses outweigh their strengths.
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 to see which jeweller best suits your needs.