• Brand Overview of Brilliant Earth
• Why Brilliant Earth is the Go-To Ethical Jewelry Brand？
• How Does Brilliant Earth Compare to Traditional Jewelry Brands?
• What Are Consumers Saying About Brilliant Earth?
• What Sustainable Jewelry Brands Can Be Alternatives to Brilliant Earth?
• Conclusion

As more consumers become aware of how their purchasing choices impact the environment and ethical practices, jewelry brands focused on sustainability and transparency are gaining serious attention. Among them, Brilliant Earth stands out as a leader in the high-end jewelry space, known for its commitment to ethical sourcing and eco-friendly practices.

With over 10 years in the jewelry industry, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with manufacturers and supply chains across various niches, gaining a solid understanding of ethical sourcing and the evolving needs of modern consumers. Today, join me as we dive into a real review of the Brilliant Earth brand!

Brand Overview of Brilliant Earth

Founded in 2005, Brilliant Earth’s mission is to offer stunning, ethically sourced, and sustainable jewelry, with the goal of raising the ethical standards of the diamond industry. They're known for their commitment to conflict-free diamonds, recycled metals, and sustainability practices within the luxury jewelry sector. According to Businessweek, the brand has played a significant role in shaping the ethical jewelry market. [1] In fact, Brilliant Earth's own sustainability report reveals that they introduced their lab-grown diamond collection, which is the largest of its kind in the world. As per an interview with Brilliant Earth’s CEO and co-founder, Beth Gerstein, they were the first company to directly offer the Capture Collection to customers on a large scale, while also boosting their capabilities in 100% renewable energy.[2]

Brilliant Earth's products mainly include engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, and necklaces. Their engagement and wedding rings are particularly popular, with customers having the option to choose from various diamond cuts and band settings to create a truly custom piece of jewelry.

Why Brilliant Earth is the Go-To Ethical Jewelry Brand？

There are a bunch of reasons Brilliant Earth quickly became a leader in ethical jewelry brands—and a top pick for luxury shoppers who want their purchases to match their values. Let’s break ’em down one by one!

• Beyond Conflict Free

This is Brilliant Earth’s game-changing standard, launched back in 2005. It’s all about helping the brand make the jewelry industry more ethical and boost its positive impact on communities. The “standard to beat” here is the Kimberley Process—you might’ve heard of it. It’s supposed to stop “blood diamonds” from getting sold and keep diamonds from funding wars against governments. But Brilliant Earth thinks the Kimberley Process misses the mark: it doesn’t cover other issues like violence or human rights abuses. Their “Beyond Conflict Free” rule fixes that—it makes sure diamonds don’t just come from conflict-free areas, but also help improve local communities and the environment.

• Sustainable and Recycled Materials

Brilliant Earth doesn’t just care about diamonds—they’re big on using sustainable, recycled metals in their designs too. According to their official stats, over 99% of the gold and silver in their jewelry is recycled. And get this—their recycled gold rate is actually 99%. They’re also one of the first jewelry brands to sell lab-grown diamonds. That’s a huge step for sustainability when it comes to materials.

• Transparency in Sourcing and Production

Brilliant Earth is always at the front of the pack when it comes to transparency. Go to their website, and you can even see where each diamond or colored gem comes from. Globally, barely any jewelry brands share that much detail—like where gems are mined or where metals come from. Brilliant Earth is one of the few that does.

• Customer-Centric Experience

Brilliant Earth is really good at giving shoppers personalized experiences, too. From virtual consultations to custom design services, they let you easily create one-of-a-kind jewelry you’ll love—all while sticking to their ethical rules. Plus, their website is super helpful and easy to use. Whenever I look up info there, I find what I need fast.

How Does Brilliant Earth Compare to Traditional Jewelry Brands?

As mentioned earlier, compared to traditional jewelry brands, Brilliant Earth stands out for something that very few others can match: transparency and traceability within its supply chain. Since sustainability and ethical sourcing are at the heart of the brand, it effectively targets eco-conscious luxury buyers. Brilliant Earth has established a system for sourcing diamonds and metals, allowing consumers to clearly understand where each diamond comes from and how it was mined. In contrast, many traditional jewelry brands tend to be more conservative when it comes to supply chain transparency.

Moreover, beyond the custom jewelry options (since many traditional brands focus on mass-market designs), I personally believe that the brand’s innovation in technology and its focus on user experience also set it apart from many jewelry brands. On its website, Brilliant Earth uses digital tools that allow customers to virtually try on pieces and visualize products (since the carat measurement for diamonds might be confusing for non-experts). These features make it much easier for consumers to select their jewelry. The integration of online and offline models has helped Brilliant Earth build stronger competitive power.

What Are Consumers Saying About Brilliant Earth?

On Trustpilot, the brand has a rating of 4.2 stars. The vast majority of customers are pleased with the quality and design of the jewelry, and they also appreciate the service provided by the staff. However, there is a significant difference in reviews regarding the delivery service and order management experience. Many customers have noted long delivery times and even instances of lost packages, with some feeling that these issues were not addressed adequately.

On the other hand, the brand has a much lower rating on Consumer Affairs, with an average score of just 1.5 stars, as shown in the image below. However, if you take a closer look at the specific reviews, you’ll notice that some customers' ratings improve after they communicate with the brand’s in-store or online customer service about after-sales issues. Of course, it’s clear that the processing time for these issues is long, and new negative reviews often have to wait a while before being resolved, which is when their ratings tend to improve.

What Sustainable Jewelry Brands Can Be Alternatives to Brilliant Earth?

While Brilliant Earth is definitely a great choice for eco-conscious shoppers—and its lab-grown diamonds truly help reduce the carbon footprint associated with traditional diamond mining, perfectly aligning with its sustainability mission—I do think the brand carries a bit of a marketing premium. In short, it’s pretty pricey.

If you’re looking for sustainable jewelry at a more affordable price point, check out Koraglo. This brand not only embodies strong feminine energy but also follows sustainable and ethical production practices. It’s the perfect way to start your own goddess journey. ✨

Conclusion

Overall, Brilliant Earth has set a new standard and example in the jewelry industry for transparency and ethical sourcing, offering consumers a responsible choice for sustainable brands. However, for many consumers, the brand’s prices are too high, and the cost of asserting consumer rights when issues arise is also steep. Moreover, several experts have raised concerns about the traceability of the diamonds, which could shake the confidence of consumers who prefer sustainable products.

If you're looking for an alternative sustainable jewelry brand, check out Koraglo. It not only provides powerful core support but also puts your environmental values into practice.

Reference:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brilliant_Earth
[2] Brilliant Earth Releases Third Annual Mission Report Highlighting Progress Towards ESG Goals