Brilliant Earth

I chose Brilliant Earth specifically because their mission of using ethically sourced stones resonated with me. It truly pains me to write a critical review because I want to support what they stand for, but after my experience with the longevity of their settings and their warranty process, I feel other buyers should be aware of the trade-offs. The Issue: My wife has worn her ring for just over five years. She works a desk job and is incredibly careful—she removes the ring for gardening, cleaning, and any hands-on activities. Despite this, while we were simply sitting at a table playing cards, a side stone popped out. Upon inspection, we found a clean break in the metal casting (see photos). The Warranty Experience: I contacted Brilliant Earth and they were quite responsive. I dropped the ring off at their Philadelphia showroom for inspection, fully expecting this to be covered under their "Lifetime Warranty." However, after a two-week assessment, they concluded there were no "manufacturing or material defects," meaning the repair was not covered. They offered a credit for half of what I originally paid for the casting five years ago. Because jewelry prices have risen significantly, this credit wouldn't even cover half the cost of a replacement. I found this frustrating; their "Lifetime Warranty" marketing feels a bit like a "fine print" trap if a structural break under normal use doesn't qualify as a defect. Design & Material Critique: In hindsight, I believe the issue is two-fold: Design Weak Points: The ring is a beautiful minimalist design, but it becomes extremely thin at the transition points where the side stones are set. This creates a structural vulnerability. Material Choice: Brilliant Earth primarily uses 18k gold. While 18k is "higher quality" in terms of gold content, it is significantly softer and less durable than 14k gold for a daily-wear item. The Resolution: Ultimately, I declined the credit. I didn’t want to pay hundreds of dollars to put the stone back into a design that I now know is prone to failure. I am currently working with an independent jeweler to move the stones into a custom 14k gold setting that is built to last a lifetime, not just a few years. Conclusion: If you value ethics and aesthetics above all else, Brilliant Earth is great. However, if you want a ring that can actually withstand a lifetime of daily wear, be wary of their more delicate settings and don't rely on the "Lifetime Warranty" to protect you from structural design flaws

Becky was incredibly warm, welcoming, and observant throughout the entire appointment. I came in feeling completely clueless about the ring-buying process, but she took the time to understand what I was looking for and guided me every step of the way. By the end of the appointment, I felt confident, informed, and excited to make my ring purchase. Her knowledge, patience, and genuine care made the experience enjoyable. I highly recommend working with Becky!

We had an amazing experience shopping for an engagement ring at Brilliant Earth, thanks to Rachel. She took the time to thoroughly explain everything about diamonds—what to look for, how different factors impact appearance and value, and how to find the right balance to match what we wanted. Rachel was incredibly patient and helpful throughout the entire process. When the appointment after ours was canceled, she generously gave us extra time to continue exploring options without feeling rushed. That extra time made a huge difference, allowing my girlfriend and me to really talk through what we liked in both settings and diamonds. Her knowledge, professionalism, and genuine willingness to help made the experience enjoyable and stress-free. Rachel was fantastic, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide during such an important purchase. Highly recommend!

Absolute amazing experience! Both Becky and Bee are incredible people and made me feel so good about this wild process! I’ve learned so much about jewelry and most importantly feel so ecstatic about our choice in engagement ring! Which is …

Brilliant Earth was absolutely amazing. Ruby was the sweetest and so accommodating. We came in the first time without an appointment just to look around and they were able to fit us in. We came back in to look at stones we'd selected that they shipped in and we selected one today!!! We never felt rushed or pressured to buy anything and Ruby was so amazing at selecting settings in my style preference. I felt like a fairytale princess the whole time! Highly recommend if you're looking for rings or giving your SO some background about your preferences so they can pick something gorgeous for you. When we weren't there, Ruby took the time to do research on stones and settings as well and was very responsive. The best part? They kept the price a secret from me (because I don't want to know how much that shiny rock costs. I'll never wear it for fear is losing it if I know the price) All in all an amazing experience!