In the market for a diamond and don’t know where to buy it from? If you’re deciding on online retailers, James Allen and Blue Nile are by far the best online sources for purchasing diamond accessories because of the guarantees such as; 24/7 diamond experts, possible real-time inspections, over 150,000 certified conflict-free diamonds, photographed in 360° HD, lifetime warranty, free shipping worldwide, and hassle-free returns with 100% money back guarantee. But which one is better?
James Allen was founded in 1998 and it soon became the largest privately held online diamond and bridal jewelry retailer in the world by striving to offer online consumers, the highest quality diamonds and largest selection at the best price! James Allen provides the highest quality in diamond viewing services and many other features to make purchasing an ease.
Blue Nile was founded by Mark Vadon when he became frustrated with bad in-person services when buying an engagement ring so he turned to the web and purchased one from internetdiamonds.com, which he later purchased. Because of Blue Nile’s pursuit of excellence in quality and service, tens of thousands of couples have embraced Blue Nile as their Jeweler of choice.
![]() At Blue Nile, their jewelry is designed and crafted with high-caliber, quality materials and inspected with exceptionally high standard. • Highest Diamond Quality Standard & Authenticity Certified • Get More For Less & Always Have The Best • Best Price: Find a comparable GIA graded diamond for less and they’ll match the price. Pay 20% up to 40% less than traditional jewelers |
![]() At James Allen, their diamond and gemstone fine jewelry collection offers hand-crafted pieces of unforgettable luxury that are perfect for any occasion. • Their mission is to offer consumers online the highest quality diamonds & largest selection at the best price. • 150,000+ certified conflict-free diamonds, all photographed in 360° HD • 24/7 Diamond Experts, with option for Real-Time Diamond Inspections • Lifetime Warranty, Free Shipping Worldwide • Hassle-Free Returns with 100% Money Back Guarantee |
James Allen
- Wider Selection: James Allen has over 85,000 diamonds at every price, shape, and size.
- Magnified Videos: James Allen’s 360 Super Zoom feature allows you to view diamonds as if you’re holding a jeweler’s loupe.
- Ideal-scope Images. Request up to three (3) ideal-scope images for free on James Allen. These images show the light performance of the diamond. Most jewelers at traditional stores do not have ideal-scope images.
- Accessibility: Shopping from the comfort of your own home means you can spend hours browsing at your leisure. No pressure to buy, no pushy salespeople, no up-selling.
James Allen provides the customer with great control over their diamond buying experience. This online diamond retailer has many tools to help customers know exactly what they’re getting when purchasing with James Allen.
James Allen is by far the best online source for purchasing diamond accessories because of the guarantees such as; 24/7 diamond experts, possible real-time inspections, over 150,000 certified conflict-free diamonds, photographed in 360° HD, lifetime warranty, free shipping worldwide, and hassle-free returns with 100% money back guarantee.
Blue Nile
- Competitive Pricing: Blue Nile offers very competitive pricing by having a Price Match Guarantee.
- Large Selection: Blue Nile has a great selection of other fine jewelry with diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. You can even design your own
of other fine jewelry with diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.
At Blue Nile, their jewelry is designed and crafted with high-caliber, quality materials and inspected with exceptionally high standard – as a result, Blue Nile leads the industry in quality and timeless collections.
Blue Nile offers the largest scale collection of the world’s finest cut diamonds. Selected for exceptional quality, cut, color, and clarity, their loose diamonds are evaluated based on a standardized grading scale. Each loose diamond is accompanied by a grading report from either GIA or GemEx, independent diamond grading labs highly respected for their consistency and stringent grading standards.
James Allen vs Blue Nile
Online Retailers | James Allen | Blue Nile |
---|---|---|
Selection | Inventory sourced from local diamond suppliers | Largest selection of online diamonds, sourced from suppliers around the world |
Customer Service | 24/7 customer service | 24/7 customer service |
Data | Grading report, 360-degree HD video | Grading report |
Return Policy | If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may return it in its original, unworn condition within 30 days for a full refund or exchange. Free return shipping only applies to U.S customers and is limited to three per customer. | 30-day money back guarantee. Blue Nile will send you a fully insured free shipping label via email. Items must be in their original purchase condition, including all product documentation. |
Warranty | James Allen warrant that all items will be free from any manufacturing defects at time of delivery. James Allen will repair and maintain your jewelry for a lifetime. Lifetime warranty offers free prong tightening, re-polishing, rhodium plating and cleaning services. | Lifetime manufacturer warranty. Terms and exclusions apply. |
Buyback | None | Diamond buyback program through Mondiamo based on market value. |
Resizing | All engagement rings and wedding bands, excluding eternity bands and alternative metals, may be resized once for free within the first 60 days of purchase. | Blue Nile provides complimentary resizing for Build Your Own Rings®, and Diamond Bands when within the manufacturer’s recommended sizing range, during the first year. |
Upgrade Policy | Any loose diamond purchased from James Allen can be exchanged at 100% credit for any replacement diamond of at least 2X or greater value. The diamond that is being upgraded must be in original condition and accompanied by the original laboratory grading document. | Lifetime diamond upgrade program on all GIA and AGSL graded diamonds. You will receive credit equal to 100% of the original price toward the purchase of a new diamond. The price of your new diamond must be at least twice the price of your original diamond. Your diamond must be in its original condition with the original diamond grading report. |
![]() At Blue Nile, their jewelry is designed and crafted with high-caliber, quality materials and inspected with exceptionally high standard. • Highest Diamond Quality Standard & Authenticity Certified • Get More For Less & Always Have The Best • Best Price: Find a comparable GIA graded diamond for less and they’ll match the price. Pay 20% up to 40% less than traditional jewelers |
![]() At James Allen, their diamond and gemstone fine jewelry collection offers hand-crafted pieces of unforgettable luxury that are perfect for any occasion. • Their mission is to offer consumers online the highest quality diamonds & largest selection at the best price. • 150,000+ certified conflict-free diamonds, all photographed in 360° HD • 24/7 Diamond Experts, with option for Real-Time Diamond Inspections • Lifetime Warranty, Free Shipping Worldwide • Hassle-Free Returns with 100% Money Back Guarantee |
Bottom Line
People often trust pioneers or the first ones in the game, not necessarily because they’re the best, but because history and credibility go hand in hand. Blue Nile has been around far more than the other online retailers, and this makes them one of the pillars of diamond shopping. And despite having a huge inventory, they’re still able to serve quality customer service.
I would recommend Blue Nile if you are on a budget and want a lot of options. Because of their large selection of rings, you’re sure to find something that matches what you want at the budget you have or plan to set. The main problem with online retailers is that your options are limited because their selections aren’t as large, but Blue Nile has over 100,000 diamonds to select from!
James Allen is a highly reputable online retailer for diamonds as well. Long term customers’ experiences with James Allen are most definitely reinforced my long-standing position that James Allen is the best source online for engagement rings.
Good luck with your diamond purchasing and be sure to come back to HustlerMoneyBlog for all of your financial needs!
![]() The Chase Freedom FlexSM offers a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% - 27.99%. You'll earn: • Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel?, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service • Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases You cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back. This card has no annual fee. |