As you begin the jewelry buying process, you may have a question (or many questions) about diamonds; how to know which diamond is best, where they come from, and what the difference is between natural diamonds and lab grown diamonds. And at Brilliant Earth, our diamonds are especially unique: our natural diamonds are Beyond Conflict Free™, meaning that their origins go beyond industry standards to become truly ethical and sustainable. While we recommend perusing our Diamond Buying Guide for in-depth answers to all your diamond questions, read on here to understand the ins-and-outs of the Brilliant Earth difference.
What Is The Purpose Of Brilliant Earth?
At Brilliant Earth, our mission is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, and inclusive jewelry industry. Our purpose is to create jewelry you can feel good about wearing, without ever compromising between quality and conscience.
What Are Brilliant Earth Diamonds?
We offer several different types of diamonds – lab grown, naturally mined, and recycled diamonds. Our natural diamonds are certified as Beyond Conflict Free™. Meaning that they go beyond the jewelry industry’s ethical standards and are carefully selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins.
What is the Purpose of Brilliant Earth?
At Brilliant Earth, our mission is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, and inclusive jewelry industry. Our purpose is to create jewelry you can feel good about wearing, without ever compromising between quality and conscience.
What Are Brilliant Earth Diamonds?
We offer several different types of diamonds – lab grown, naturally mined, and recycled diamonds – all of which are certified as Beyond Conflict Free™. Beyond Conflict Free™ Diamonds go beyond the jewelry industry’s ethical standards to offer stones that are carefully selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins.
Does Brilliant Earth Sell Lab Diamonds or Natural Diamonds?
We sell both lab diamonds and natural diamonds. Our lab diamond assortment is one of the largest selections available industry-wide, allowing customers to select a stone that matches their preferences in terms of shape, fluorescence, as well as the 4 C’s: cut, color, carat, and clarity. Our natural diamond assortment is also extensive, catering to customers seeking ethically sourced stones mined from the Earth. Many of our natural diamonds are also recycled, meaning they were previously set and then unset to become a new design – allowing for a truly low-carbon, ethical origin.
Are Brilliant Earth Diamonds Real?
Absolutely. Our diamonds, whether they’re naturally mined, or lab grown, are real diamonds. Lab diamonds are just as real as natural diamonds – in fact, they’re made from the exact same carbon particles as their natural counterparts. As lab and natural diamonds share the same composition, their final cuts also look exactly the same (unlike diamond stimulants, such as moissanites, which feature a distinctly rainbow-colored shine, or cubic zirconia, which is much more dull). The only difference is how they got there – deep in the earth or grown to perfection in a lab. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell if a diamond is ‘real’ or tell if its lab grown based on looks alone.
Where Does Brilliant Earth Get Their Diamonds?
We offer diamonds created in labs, recycled diamonds that had a previous life as another jewelry design, and natural diamonds from mines in Canada and parts of Africa. Each of our suppliers demonstrates a robust chain of custody protocol for their diamonds so we have the ability to track and segregate diamonds based on origin. Our suppliers are required to source diamonds that originate from specific mine operators who follow internationally recognized labor, trade, and environmental standards.
Does Brilliant Earth Have Natural Diamonds?
Yes, we do! We offer an extensive selection of natural diamonds ranging in unique combinations of cut, color, clarity, and carat so that our customers can find exactly what they’re looking for. All of our natural diamonds are certified as Beyond Conflict Free™, exemplifying our commitment to protecting against human rights abuses, minimizing environmental degradation, maintaining safe and responsible labor practices, supporting community development, and not financing rebel movements.
Does Brilliant Earth Have GIA Certified Diamonds?
Yes! Many of our diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Our other diamonds are certified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and the Gem Certification & Assurance Lab (GCAL). Each of these institutions holds authority over diamond grading and are sources of knowledge, standards, and education in both gemstones and jewelry.
Are Brilliant Earth Diamonds Cheaper?
Our diamonds are priced fairly and at market rates for each stone’s individual carat weight and ratings in cut, color, and clarity. While lab diamonds are physically identical to natural diamonds, they are generally more cost-effective, making them a better choice for anyone looking for a larger stone on a smaller budget.
Additional FAQs
Is Brilliant Earth Ethical?
Yes. Our ethical practices go beyond industry standards to provide our customers with top-quality designs that do not compromise their ethical and sustainable values.
Does Brilliant Earth Sell Quality Diamonds?
Yes. We only sell top-quality diamonds that are rated as J color and higher, SI2 and higher, Fair cut and higher, meaning that any stone you see on our site is an excellent choice to set in your engagement ring or piece of fine jewelry.
Are Brilliant Earth Diamonds Fake?
No, our diamonds are 100% real. Both natural and lab grown diamonds are ‘real’ as they are both created from the same carbon particles.
Does Brilliant Earth Make Real Diamonds?
Yes, all of our diamonds are real. While we are not responsible for ‘making’ them ourselves, each of the diamonds that we source are 100% real and derive from extremely ethical mines and laboratories.
Where Do Brilliant Earth Lab Diamonds Come From?
Our lab diamonds come from vetted, highly controlled laboratories that go through an extensive screening process.
Do Brilliant Earth Diamonds Have Resale Value?
Our diamonds have the same resale values that a similar diamond from another company would have. Generally, natural diamonds have better resale value than lab diamonds, though this will vary greatly depending on the quality of the diamond itself.
Are Natural Diamonds Better Than Lab Created Diamonds?
Neither is better than the other: it’s a very personal preference. Some customers prefer natural diamonds as they are sourced from the Earth and are considered incredibly rare. Others prefer lab as they retain the same physical appearance as natural diamonds but can be purchased at a much better price point.
Do You Need an Appointment to Go to Brilliant Earth?
Nope! Come in and see us. While appointments are recommended for anyone hoping to view a specific product or diamond, we’re also open to walk ins and happy to help with whatever you need.
Final Thoughts
The most important part of the diamond buying process is verifying that your new sparkle isn’t harming someone else or another thing – like the Earth we inhabit. Here at Brilliant Earth, you can feel confident that any diamond you choose, be it lab or natural, is vetted and completely ethically and sustainably sourced. Still curious about more diamond info? Check out these diamond facts or read our 2022 Mission Report to learn more about Brilliant Earth.
Wishing you a wonderful diamond buying journey!
