Drop shipping is a method of delivery in which a customer purchases a product online with a merchant, but the customer receives the product directly from the manufacturer. This method has gained popularity recently, particularly with the advent of online diamond shopping – websites like Bluenile.com or Jamesallen.com use this method extensively to save money on shipping expenses. While this setup can be beneficial to smaller retail shops, internet-only storefronts, and catalogue-based sales, it is quite risky for customers purchasing loose diamonds online.
Many online diamond retailers boast they have 70,000 to 100,000 diamonds in their database, but truthfully, none of those retailers own the diamonds in question, much less have them in stock – or have even seen them. Thus, the quality of the stones cannot be guaranteed. In this scenario, the customer is grossly disadvantaged – some retailers have mistakenly sent loose diamonds that don’t match diamond reports once taken to a gemologist.
Although we now provide all consumers with the highest quality jewelry, engagement rings, and loose diamonds, we originally started out as a diamond wholesaler, selling diamonds to local jewelry retailers. As more consumers began purchasing diamonds online, Brilliance.com was created as a means of offering certified diamonds at the same competitive prices we’d always offered as wholesalers.
At Brilliance we don’t drop ship loose diamonds. Rather we receive every diamond into our offices and keep tight quality control by having each one visually inspected prior to shipment by our Master Gemologists. Customers can browse our selection in a pressure-free, convenient environment online, and can be confident in the quality of their purchase. Additionally, visual inspection can be conducted by our diamond and jewelry experts to verify appearance and quality before a purchase is even made.
For over 25 years, Brilliance has been privileged to have a part in our customers’ special occasions, providing stunning jewelry for engagements, marriages, anniversaries, graduations, birthdays, and births.
Occasionally, a satisfied customer shares with us how our jewelry enhanced their proposal or celebration, which makes the hard work and effort that we put into our products well worth it. Last week, we watched a video of a happy customer proposing on stage at a concert with a custom diamond engagement ring from Brilliance.com. The diamond ring, designed by the customer himself, was cast, set, and polished in house by our Master Jewelers. Here is the video for you to enjoy – what a great proposal!
Customers often ask, why should I choose Brilliance? What makes Brilliance so unique and why should I choose Brilliance.com over our local Jewelry retailer? How do I know that I’m getting a quality loose diamond when I can’t see it like I can at a retail store?
To answer these questions, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten reasons why you should buy your diamonds online, as well as the advantages of purchasing with Brilliance.
Price and value for your money. The greatest advantage of buying diamonds online with Brilliance is that our customers save around 40-80% off retail prices. We manufacture all of our jewelry and our diamonds come directly from the source. This means you spend thousands less than you would at a local jewelry retailer and can get more size and quality for your diamond, engagement ring, or jewelry budget.
Expert service. We have expert gemologists on staff that can conduct a visual inspection of any of our diamonds and provide you with a detailed description. Our customer service agents can send you images of most of our diamonds and offer honest guidance to help you make your choice.
Conflict free and certified. All of our online diamonds are 100% natural, conflict-free and most importantly, certified by one of the five most trusted third-party gemological laboratories. Each of our loose diamonds comes with its original gemological certificate.
Free shipping. Enjoy free express shipping on all domestic orders. We also offer convenient options like FedEx® Hold at Location and shipping to an alternate address.
Experience in the diamond industry. Our parent company was established in 1987 as a diamond wholesaler, selling diamonds to retail jewelry stores. With over 20 years of experience in the diamond and jewelry business, we pride ourselves in being one of the top sources for online diamonds, engagement rings, and fine jewelry.
Free cleaning and maintenance. At Brilliance, we offer complimentary cleanings and prong inspections twice a year for as long as you own your product. This unique service, which can cost up to $100 per cleaning at a retail store, helps maintain the luster and longevity of your diamonds and jewelry.
Free gemological appraisal. All orders come with a full Gemological Appraisal reviewed by a Master Gemologist for free – a $150 value. This document states the retail value of your purchase and is required by most insurance companies before they insure your diamonds or jewelry.
A company you can trust. Brilliance is a verified member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, representing our trusting relationships with our customers and our prompt resolution of any customer complaints. We are also members of Jewelers of America and the Jewelers Board of Trade, organizations that build trust within the diamond and jewelry industry and with customers.
Lifetime warranty and upgrades. We offer a Lifetime Warranty on all rings and jewelry, protecting your purchase against any manufacturing flaws. Our Lifetime Upgrades on all certified diamonds allows you to plan for a larger diamond in the future.
Risk-free return policy. We stand behind each of our products with a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee and free exchanges. If you’re not absolutely satisfied with your purchase, simply return it for a full refund or exchange, no questions asked. We also offer free ring resizing for 90 days after you purchase your ring.
The Education section of our website in an in-depth online resource, packed with valuable tips, information, and terminology pertaining to diamonds, gems, and fine jewelry. As you shop for jewelry or diamonds, our dedicated staff of experts will guide you through the process with clear, honest advice, and ensure that your choice reflects your personal style and preferences. After a secure and stress-free experience, many customers comment that buying diamonds online was better than shopping at any jewelry retailer and that Brilliance is an easy choice for future purchases.
At Brilliance halo diamond engagement rings have been our most popular and best selling settings this year. Halo, which means a ring or a crown, is an engagement ring style in which diamonds or gems encircle a center loose diamond. Many attribute the halo shape or design to infinite and everlasting love. Halo engagement rings come in many varieties. A popular type of halo setting is where the center stone prongs are raised slightly above the encircled diamonds, which has a more prominent association. Another variation is the bezel-style halo ring setting, where there is no gap between the encrusted diamonds and the center stone. The bezel halo diamond ring is also very popular and elegant.
What draws customers to the halo diamond setting is that it accents your center stone of choice making it appear larger and adds an overall sparkle and fire to the ring. In today’s economy, not many can afford large loose diamonds but with the halo setting you can own a ring that adds the appearance of a large loose diamond without paying thousands of dollars for a larger stone. Another advantage of halo engagement rings is that the diamond’s pavilion, bottom part of the diamond that bridges the girdle to the culet, is visible when viewed from the side. The pavilion is essential to the light performance of the diamond.
Brilliance carries a variety of halo set engagement rings in all types of metals to fit every budget. In addition, we can create any number of settings that feature diamonds or gemstones surrounding the center stone. Round and square are the most popular halo shapes encircling center diamonds, however we can create a Halo engagement ring with any diamond shape. Lastly we can create custom halo engagement rings for those who desire a ring that isn’t found on our website.
Part of my job at Brilliance is to help customers find a loose diamond and engagement ring that meets their budget without sacrificing quality and style. I recently worked with a bride who shared with me her story of how she ended up shopping for her bridal jewelry with Brilliance and how satisfied she was with the care and service she received. If you are reading this post, you have surely turned to the internet for answers, perhaps because you find yourself in the same frustrating situation as she did. Here I retell her story to show you how Brilliance can make your loose diamond purchase as easy and stress-free as hers:
It was finally my time to say “I do”, and everything had to be perfect. Growing up in New York, I was always told that the absolute best place to buy a diamond was from “the big guys” in the New York Diamond District. So off I headed to 47th street to begin my quest for my dream diamond.
Walking into the showroom, I immediately felt intimidated by the pushy salesman. It was clear to me that he was solely interested in making money on me and not at all interested in answering my questions. After an hour of listening to his sales pitch, he had only shown me a small selection of diamonds, all of which seemed a little pricey for their quality. I knew that I would never be happy with my loose diamond purchase with the level of care I was receiving from these “big guys” and decided to look for a different avenue to get the diamond quality that I wanted.
After the horrible experience with the salesman at the Diamond District, I decided to then go online and look up some pricing. I tried the first site that came to mind: Ebay. There I found great prices, but no customer service representative to talk to about my concerns and no assurance that the quality of the diamonds were as stated. As I continued searching and visited sites like Amazon and Craigslist, I kept thinking to myself, I am buying a diamond. Is there anywhere I can get a good price without sacrificing the quality, selection, or customer care?
As a last resort for my online quest, I googled a random search for “loose diamond, good price.” The first link I found was a website called Brilliance.com. I was impressed with the elegance and the beauty of the site. I found the box that read “certified loose diamond search” and began my search for the “perfect diamond.”
The left side of the page had everything I was looking for. I selected the shape, carat size, color, clarity, cut, price, and the certification that I wanted. Expecting to be disappointed again, I thought there would only be maybe 10 diamonds that had the qualities that he wanted. Shocked, I got a search result of 77,089 diamonds that fit exactly what I wanted. How could it be that the Diamond District office that I thought I could trust had only 3 options when I received 77,089 results in the comfort of my home? The prices were almost half of what I saw at the Diamond District and I didn’t have to sacrifice on the diamond quality or care. I spoke with a Brilliance representative, who answered all my questions with patience and concern. Within minutes of completing my purchase, I received an email confirming my purchase and a lifetime guarantee for the diamond. A week later, my diamond arrived at my home, carefully packaged and insured for my peach of mind.
With the help of a Brilliance.com representative, I got the care and patience I needed to make this wedding the dream it is supposed to be!
With Wedding Season approaching, more and more couples are looking for ways to have the wedding of their dreams while still keeping costs low. The price tag on the average American wedding has dropped by nearly a third from 2007, down from $29,000 to $20,000. The good news is, you don’t have to resort to a cash bar or homemade food to stay within your budget.
Collected from wedding experts and party planners, here are some tips to help you make your budget wedding:
Don’t say “Wedding”
When you call vendors for quotes, let them know you are planning an event or party, but don’t specify that it is a wedding. Florists, bakeries, reception venues, photographers, and other vendors often add a 25-30% mark-up to their prices when they know you’re inquiring for a wedding.
Reporters at a Boston television station called 11 venues to get quotes for a wedding reception. When those same venues were called for quotes for a retirement party on the same day, 8 of 11 had a wedding mark-up; one venue raised their quote from $65 to $90 per person.
Vendors will also offer only their most expensive options to those they know are planning a wedding. Ask the reception venue for all of their menu options, and explore cakes that aren’t specifically marketed for wedding events. If a florist notices your diamond engagement ring and starts suggesting that exotic flowers be imported, ask what local, lower cost options they offer.
Choose a restaurant for the reception
When you eat at a restaurant, there is no rental fee or surcharge for your table, chairs, napkins, glasses, silverware, and table décor. The price of the meal includes everything necessary for the dinner, and the same applies when purchasing a meal for 200 people. Plus, there are no transportation and setup fees, and parking is usually free, making your favorite restaurant the perfect place for your budget wedding. In fact, restaurants have focused lately on catering towards special events and making it affordable for the hosts.
Schedule it right
If you are flexible with your dates, avoid the traditional “Wedding Season” when scheduling the event. Vendors sometimes add a surcharge to provide services at weddings held during the months of May, June, and July. Additionally, venues will always charge more for an event held on a Saturday than an event held on a Sunday or a weekday.
Avoid stores that cater to bridal couples
It may not seem romantic to purchase your cake, wedding favors, or flowers at wholesale stores like Costco, but they provide the same services offered for a premium at specialty bridal stores. You can also avoid those premiums by choosing micro-vendors, like artisans and craftspeople, who sell things like bridal accessories and invitations directly to couples. To save on the wedding dress, brides have turned towards less traditional white garments and dresses that can be found at regular retailers and cost in the hundreds, instead of going to boutique bridal dress shops and paying in the thousands.
Shop online
Shopping online gives brides planning a budget wedding access to many more purchasing options than shopping locally. Almost anything needed for a wedding can be found online, from wedding invitations to wedding favors to a bridal dress, often at lower prices than at brick-and-mortar stores. Couples looking to save on the bride’s engagement ring and the couple’s wedding rings can turn to an online diamond retailer like Brilliance, which offer the same quality jewelry as traditional retailers at 30-50% lower prices.
Are you interested in reading Brilliance.com reviews about the service we have provided in the past? Do you have anything great to say about our skilled team of Expert Jewelers and Certified Gemologists? Would you like to share your fantastic experience shopping for custom jewelry and certified loose diamonds on Brilliance.com with your family and friends?
The Brilliance Team is pleased to announce the launch of our newest addition: iVouch Brilliance Reviews!
So what is iVouch?
iVouch is a website that allows you to share recommendations with your real-life friends, the people you know and trust the most. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a babysitter, restaurant, diamond jewelry retailer, or favorite park, iVouch features reviews within every industry and makes it easier for you and your friends to find and share your local favorites.
Okay, but what exactly is a “vouch”?
A Vouch is the utmost endorsement you can make for a business. It is a direct reflection on you, therefore only companies that are valued and trusted are vouched for, such as Brilliance.com.
Brilliance reviews listed on iVouch are easily accessible to our loyal fans and those that are interested in learning more about the unparalleled service and products Brilliance.com has provided in the past.
I want to share a review! How do I get started?
Registering for an iVouch account is simple, completely free, private, and safe – iVouch never sells or shares any contact information that you provide. You have the ability to invite your friends to link to your account to start reviewing and vouching for your favorite businesses across the World Wide Web.
We understand the process of buying a Certified Loose Diamond online can be speculative; therefore, Brilliance.com strives to provide you with as many resources as possible to answer your questions and ease your mind leading up to and during the certified loose diamond and custom engagement ring buying process. Get started today by leaving a review of your own or by reading what our fans have to say in their Brilliance reviews!
Carlos Defex is the newest member of the Brilliance team, bringing with him a lifetime of knowledge and passion for jewelry. As the head of our custom jewelry department, Carlos will be working tirelesly to bring his own style and experience to Brilliance jewelry. The Brilliance Blog took some time to sit down with Carlos so that you could get to know him better.
Brilliance Blog: How long have you been in the jewelry business?
Carlos Defex: I started in the jewelry business nearly 15 years ago when I received a bachelor’s degree in Metals and Fine Jewelry with specialization in Jewelry Design. The passion that I have for jewelry has taken me to different cities around the world, where I‘ve been exposed to different life styles and customs. I believe that my experiences shows in the caliber of jewelry that I design.
BB: What made you decide to go into jewelry?
CD: What I love about jewelry is the transformation of rare materials that are found deep beneath the earth through millions of years of evolution. To be able to transform those materials and give them an expression related to love and passion. I believe that jewelry is the perfect blend between science, art and nature.
BB: People obviously enjoy jewelry for the beauty and style, and you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of jewelry they are wearing. What can you say about different cultures and their jewelry?
CD: Jewelry has played an important role throughout the history of human kind, and has been a channel to communicate emotions, status, power, and beliefs. We can see it from the first Homo sapiens in Africa, barbarian tribes like the Celts, Mayans in Central America, or the Andean cultures in South America that created beautiful pieces of jewelry. India has probably the longest tradition of jewelry making and trading, dating back as far as the people of the Indus Valley Civilization more than 1,500 BC; also they were the first country that mined diamonds. As we can see, jewelry has been linked with the development of different cultures throughout the history and will be part of more generations to come.
BB: What do you find special about Brilliance, and what do you hope to add?
CD: Our jewelry is versatile, stylish, and at the same time shows a sense of tradition. It is made for the versatile woman that goes to work, takes care of the family, drives her kids to soccer games, and goes to a dinner party or cocktail at night; our jewelry is made to wear at any occasion. I believe that jewelry needs to be fun, enjoyable, accessible, and at the same time rare or unique.
BB: So we’ve heard about your passion for jewelry. Do you have anything to say about diamonds and other precious gems.
CD: I frequently hear from people, “it is only a rock”. And they might be right. But it is not just any rock…it is “The Rock”, whether we are referring to a loose diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire… these precious gems contain thousands of years of history, culture, and chemical and physical changes occurring deep within the earth. These are rare materials that symbolize a tradition, a special moment for the individual and the collective. Matched with the right jewelry, a precious stone can say who you are without words, a sensual piece of distinctiveness and self expression.
Thirty nine round cut diamonds are pave set in this white gold diamond engagement ring setting, accenting your choice of center diamond. 3/8 carat total diamond weight.
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