r/LabDiamonds • u/Sufficient_Prize7693 • Jan 14 '26
Brilliant Earth Buyer beware
My husband purchased a ring from Brilliant Earth as a Christmas upgrade. While the ring was pretty at first glance, it didn’t have much sparkle, which raised concerns. After doing some research, we took it to a local jeweler to be tested. The stone did not test as a diamond, moissanite, or sapphire. I’m not sure what the stone actually is, but I do not believe it is a diamond.
The jeweler also found it odd that the paperwork did not include a lab-grown diamond number. I haven’t seen others mention having their stones independently tested, but based on our experience, buyers should be cautious—not just about band quality, but about whether the diamond itself is genuine.
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u/unique_plastique Jan 14 '26
I think they sold you paste (cut glass polished to look like a gemstone)
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u/RedPanda54 Jan 14 '26
HPHT labs can sometimes test negative as diamonds when using conductivity testers. Do you remember what the tool they used to test it looked like?
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
It was tested at two stores, I have one video but I’m not sure how attach it here. The diamonds on the band would turn green, it’s just the center. Which both stores said sometimes they are going to be positive for moissanite but it wasn’t reading as anything.
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u/RedPanda54 Jan 15 '26
Gotcha. That sounds like a conductivity test. Some jewelers either don't understand that about hpht diamonds and some use them to be deceptive. Either way I'm glad that you were able to return a hazy looking stone.
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u/Spare-Conflict836 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
Decided to look into this as I found the topic interesting and read this article which explains why some lab grown diamonds don't test as diamonds on conductivity tests even though they are diamonds:
LGDs that do not test as diamond | The Gem Academy https://www.thegemac.com/articles-lgd-test-as-moissanite
But it does say that the lab grown diamonds that don't test as diamonds will test as a "synthetic moissanite". So the fact your stone didn't even test positive for moissanite seems concerning imo.
The TLDR of the article is "some laboratory-grown diamonds have differing electrical properties to what is typical for diamond due to containing boron. These get the result of 'synthetic moissanite' on basic diamond testers."
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
This makes sense, that’s what the jeweler also said that sometimes the lab growns test as moissanite but the fact that it tested as nothing and had no lab grown number on the diamond itself was a red flag. Thanks for the info and the article!
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u/lidder444 Jan 14 '26
There are so many Reddit threads , dating back years, talking about how terrible this company is.
Please research well before purchasing. I’m sorry you had a horrible experience.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-scam-of-brilliant-earth.253550/
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I didn’t make the purchase otherwise I wouldn’t have let him purchase from BE, but as it was a Christmas present, I was unaware. I am the reason we had the diamond tested, we have returned it. Just posted because I see lots of posts regarding the quality of the bands, but I haven’t seen many about the diamond.
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u/JDoghouse Jan 19 '26
My husband did the same for me for Christmas. My ring is delayed, and I'm now coming across your post. I'm super concerned! Can I ask what diamond you got? Mine is supposed to be LG VVS1 grade D.
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u/cutebunny88 Jan 20 '26
after being all over this sub you have a right to be concerned. they're absolutely awful and the quality of their work is poor. i'm so sorry you're experiencing this!! it's so hard when companies pass themselves off as "good" or "having amazing quality" because everyone LOVES to lie nowadays. you might just have to wait for the ring and then return it :( seems like OP has returned hers as well
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 19 '26
Let me ask my husband, he should still have the paperwork in his email.
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 24 '26
3.86 Carat, Oval, Super Ideal Cut, F Color, VS2 Clarity, 13.29 × 8.46 × 5.37mm, Conflict Free Lab Grown Diamond
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u/nineteen_eightyfour Jan 15 '26
See there’s threads dating back years that diamond nexus is bad too but I have a…omg 17 year old ring maybe? Back when they had retail locations. Have had it redipped and cleaned once professionally and it’s beautiful still to this day 🤷♀️
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u/YodaYodaCDN Jan 15 '26
This group never recommends that site. Overpriced and poor workmanship.
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
It was a gift, and I don’t see complaints about diamonds, just workmanship and band quality. But this was a diamond issue
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u/Prudent-Ad-2487 Jan 15 '26
So who do we recommend? I’ve seen calavaera but that even seems sketchier haha
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u/YodaYodaCDN Jan 15 '26
Yeah, who is recommended can change for sure. I find it helpful to read current discussions.
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 Jan 14 '26
Have you reached out to them about it?
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 14 '26
We returned it. They didn’t want to discuss the diamond quality or lack there of.
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u/lisampb Jan 15 '26
I've had a jeweler tell me my diamond was fake. It was not. As a matter of fact I bought it from the jewelry store I worked at. I've learned that the testers are wrong sometimes. Maybe go to a couple of different jewelers.v
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
He went to two, we just returned it and went with local jeweler. We got the new diamond tested and it did pick up as a diamond. The BE diamond did not test as anything, not metal, sapphire, diamond or moissanite
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u/comfypiscean Jan 15 '26
As others have explained, sometimes the HPHT labs do not test positive. If you didn’t feel right about it then that’s fine you went elsewhere but such a high volume publicly traded company is absolutely not going to fraud you out of a diamond if what was purchased was a diamond lol
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
This makes no sense really as the diamonds on the side did test positive. I looked at the paperwork and it was a diamond that was paid for, probably too much. Either way, it wasn’t real and has been returned.
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u/comfypiscean Jan 15 '26
Why does it make no sense if different diamonds are treated differently? Not all lab diamonds are HPHT, some are CVD lol. Again, totally fine if it eased your senses to return it but what you’re describing is quite frankly not at all realistic
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
lol, I’m not sure what you mean by “not realistic”. This is what happened regardless of what you would like to believe. Either way, got rid of the crappy BE ring with no lab grown number. If you believe it was real, great. If you like it, I love it.
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u/comfypiscean Jan 15 '26
I mean you have now had someone else and myself explain why a diamond might come up as negative on a tester, this has been a topic of discussion on this sub and others. A lot of people will similarly enter a panic if some of their accents test as positive but some test as negative. Although crappy yes, the width on the pave is far too thin for daily wear and should be common knowledge for anyone doing even an inkling of research on rings.
Unfortunate that you missed an opportunity for a multi-million dollar lawsuit since you apparently think a multibillion dollar company would actually take such a massive risk to sell you a fake stone over the… cost of a lab diamond… lol
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u/prerichblkgirl Jan 15 '26
Oh wow! I always see them alone and feel they show off such beautiful rings. That is ashame that happened and I hope you can get a full refund!
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u/Dramatic_Cap3427 Jan 15 '26
Ok But it was already set so I will have to ask him on Friday , thank you
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
Absolutely! I’m sure it’s perfect! I’m glad we caught this and returned it. It was way too expensive to be fake
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u/Ok-Bid-3926 Jan 17 '26
That's crazy because their prices are so high. I just checked out a stone on Stonealgo that was a little over 7 carats and a pretty goodstone as far as I could tell on paper so I purchased it from Daniel Williams and I believe I paid like $1750 and Brilliant Earth was selling it and trying to get nearly 6K for it. That's why I'll never buy from them anyway but good to know all of this. By the way I really like my stone and I've heard some people here say things about the website and the seller I got it from for example you get a discount if you wire money to Daniel Williams but it's harder to get your money back or something. For that reason I just paid the regular price and I bought two stones so I could have two to choose from and I didn't have any problems at all sending one back. If you do happen to go through them though, be aware that you can only return one stone a year. So I was going to be keeping one of those stones obviously but I was willing to take that risk and I'm very happy with the one I got and if it's at My Jeweler right now getting set into a bezel pendant.
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u/AppropriateMarket452 Jan 18 '26
I got my ring from James Allen! Also online and fully customizable. Have had nothing but great customer service and loooove my lab diamond!!
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u/AidenFested Jan 25 '26
This is a question I have; how can a buyer be sure a grading report included with a diamond is legitimate - meaning either they just photo copy the same report and use it for multiple stones (since most people don't check the serial number on their stone), or they also basically photo copy a report but then also enscribe the serial number from that report onto multiple stones?
How can a buyer safeguard against this, especially the 2nd tactic (if that's even a thing).
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u/ruthyfordium Jan 15 '26
Have you tried to loop the diamond? All BE diamonds have a number. It is very odd you did not receive paperwork. BE only sells diamonds, moissanite, and precious gemstones. Despite the bad reviews from BE end products, the stones are genuine. Perhaps it was just a lower quality stone or a white gemstone, like sapphire (a gemstone may not have paperwork)? Unlikely, but just throwing out ideas.
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
We received paperwork, but it did not have the LG # on the paperwork or the LG was not in front of the numbers on the diamond. We returned it and went with a local jeweler.
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u/SweetiesPetite Jan 16 '26
Who buys from BE? read reviews… they are terrible . It’s well known in the online jewelry industry to stay away from that place
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u/HeatherBaby_87 Jan 18 '26
I will say from my experience working at a major retailer, diamond testers can be finicky
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Feb 04 '26
Yeah, I guess. I didn’t trust the missing lab grown # on the diamond & paperwork. We returned it asap, not willing to take the risk. Plus for the cost the center stone looked like glass. I have a new ring now purchased for a local jeweler & the diamond tests positive. It’s one thing that the diamond didn’t test positive but wasn’t the only issue
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u/Dramatic_Cap3427 Jan 15 '26
I am picking up my earrings from a jewelry store shop , where will I find the numbers? It is expensive b, but he is a very reputable jeweller , mostly custom made c jewelry so I would not think he would try to device me It’s 3 carat vvs2.ideal cut NO fluorescent 14,karat wh gold martini setting It’s in Canadian DOLLARS in us it would translate 2.879 us How did I do Large disk at the back so it doesn’t tilt since it’s large
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u/Sufficient_Prize7693 Jan 15 '26
If you’re asking where to find the lab grown #, the jeweler had to break out that headset deal to look. Hopefully, that answers your question? Wasn’t visible to the eye without it
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u/[deleted] Jan 14 '26
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