James Allen Reviews: The Best Jeweler Online

I strongly recommend reading the full James Allen review below, however, if you are short on time, here is the bottom line:

• James Allen has the largest diamond inventory in the world: close to 600,000 natural diamonds and 60,000 lab-grown diamonds
• You can inspect each diamond easily with their 360 videos, allowing you to see the diamond under 40x magnification.
• They have strict quality control on their videos, meaning all show consistent colors. This way, you can compare diamonds side by side without being afraid of image manipulation and hiding the flaws of the diamond by the seller. What you see is what you get.
• They offer the best prices for natural diamonds; for example you can buy this 1.04 carat eye-clean diamond for as low as this price.
• They offer very competitive prices for lab-grown diamonds. You can find beautiful 2.00 carat diamonds such as this one without breaking the bank.

Overview of JamesAllen.com – A Pioneer in Online Diamonds

When it comes to buying an engagement ring, the traditional method (which is also the dumbest way) of shopping is to head to a couple of jewelry stores, look at a limited selection of diamonds and make a purchase decision without fully understanding what you are seeing or buying.

James Allen has changed all that and revolutionized the way consumers shop for fine jewelry. With their proprietary Diamond Display Technology, it gives you the ability to SEE and scrutinize diamonds upclose with complete transparency.

Rather than having to rely on a grading report or a salesperson’s opinion, you can examine diamonds at your own time and in full details. Click on this link to review the 360° video of the diamond above.

Compared to other jewelry retailers, James Allen also stands out by providing an unmatched shopping experience. Here’s a list of features that James Allen offers…

Diamond Selection: Are James Allen Diamonds Quality?

When people come to the James Allen site and take a look at the prices, they may think they’re getting a less-than-quality diamond, but that’s just not true. This is all part of the online retail model, where there are fewer overhead costs to affect the price of the merchandise.

Currently, James Allen has over 500,000 diamonds to choose from, the vast majority of which are earth-created. They are all GIA, IGI, or AGS-graded diamonds, so you know you’re getting a diamond that has been assessed quality.

How quality is up to you and your budget. Because they have so many diamonds in stock, you have room to experiment with cut, color, clarity, and carat to find the best diamond for your budget.

Not everyone has the budget for the most colorless stone with the highest clarity and most perfect cut. But fear not. James Allen offers diamonds in a variety of cut, color, and clarity grades.

When you begin your search, you can choose your budget or your grade preferences when you search for a diamond. Color and clarity run the full range of GIA assessments, but you can’t choose less than a good for cut.

If you’re looking to save some serious money, however, they have over 5,500 lab-created diamonds (the largest of all the major online retailers), which cost about 30 percent less. Structurally and visually, these diamonds are exactly the same as earth-created diamonds. They just didn’t come from the ground.

Take a look at the diamonds below. Can you tell which one is a natural diamond and which one is lab-created? Is it the 1-carat, E-VVSI excellent cut on the left, or the 1.01 carat E-VVS1 Ideal cut on the right? (Answer: It’s the one on the left!)

James Allen Pricing

James Allen offers a price-matching program for their diamonds. If you find a diamond that is certified by the GIA and is available for purchase online, James Allen will match the price within $100. To request a price match, you will need to provide the URL of the website where you found the lower price, as well as the carat weight, color, clarity, and cut of the diamond. James Allen will review the request and determine if the diamond is eligible for a price match. If the price match is approved, you will be able to purchase the diamond at the lower price – however many retailers have their diamonds in-house (like Whiteflash which deals in higher quality cut diamonds so this won’t be possible). Please note that price matching is not available for loose diamonds, and some exclusions may apply.

While James Allen offers a price-matching program that may seem enticing, it’s essential to consider some nuances in their pricing and marketing strategies. This information can help you make an informed decision:

• Potentially Inflated Prices: It’s worth noting that the price-matching program implies that James Allen may have room to adjust their prices by up to $100. This suggests that their initial prices might not always be the most competitive. It’s advisable to compare prices across different retailers and do your due diligence to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.
• Frequent Sales: James Allen frequently promotes sales with discounts of up to 25%. While this can be a great way to save on your purchase, it’s essential to be aware that these discounts may be a part of their regular marketing tactics. The ‘sale’ price may actually be closer to their intended retail price.

James Allen Lab Diamonds

Lab-created diamonds are real diamonds that are grown in a laboratory using advanced technology, rather than mined from the earth. They have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds, and are graded using the same standards as natural diamonds by organizations like the GIA.

One of the main benefits of lab-created diamonds is that they are more affordable than natural diamonds, making them a good option for those who want the look and feel of a diamond engagement ring or other piece of diamond jewelry, but don’t want to spend as much money. James Allen offers a wide range of lab-created diamonds in various shapes, sizes, and grades, so you can find a diamond that fits your budget and style.

In addition to offering a variety of lab-created diamonds, James Allen also provides customers with educational resources about lab-created diamonds. This helps customers make informed decisions about their diamond purchases, whether they choose a natural diamond or a lab-created diamond.

Using the Website

Beginning with a setting, James Allen follows Blue Nile’s theme and allows the same extensive filter options for choosing a diamond.

James Allen now offers the 360° diamond view that was first used by Blue Nile; however, it is its imagery that set it apart from other loose stone sellers.

The lens used to photograph the diamond is extremely powerful; it is as effective, if not more so than a jewelers loupe.

The high-quality images used by James Allen allow even a diamond novice to assess the inclusions within the diamond with ease. James Allen has invested millions into its technology, including outsourcing to an office in India, where its diamonds can be photographed 24/7 from its vendors.

It is yet another example of James Allen’s focus on quality and customer experience. Each diamond is assessed, photographed and filmed by experts to ensure a consistently high-quality stone is presented across the website.

James Allen’s quest for luxury and exclusivity continues with its impressive collection of fancy diamonds. Rare, expensive and unusual, James Allen offers a rainbow of gemstones with the same abundance and quality as its colorless stones. In this way, it set itself apart from competitors, adapting to the times and understanding the need to break tradition in modern jewelry.

JAMES ALLEN ADVANTAGES

As stated above, James Allen’s primary advantage over its online competitors is in its online presentation. Their 360° Diamond Display Technology is currently second to none and offers them a unique advantage against the other online sellers. Additionally, their diamond search filters are more in-depth, allowing for a more fine-tuned search.

You’ll also notice that James Allen uses IGI and AGS certifications as well as the industry standard GIA. While most of the inventory will be GIA certified, you can find the other two sprinkled about. Generally speaking, we find these IGI and AGS certifications perfectly at par with their GIA counterparts and should be viewed as the same. A side benefit is that these other certified diamonds are usually slightly more affordable.

While their total inventory is not as large as Blue Nile, we find that the combination of HD photos and extra search parameters provides you with an ample database to choose from. James Allen also offers the following features to their customers:

• Conflict-free Diamonds: Conflict-free diamonds are gems not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. James Allen makes make sure that their customers receive conflict-free diamonds.
• Diamond Certification: James Allan uses either a Gemological Institute of America (GIA), American Gem Society (AGS), or International Gemological Institute (IGI) diamond certificate to assure the value and quality of your diamond. GIA, AGS, and IGI are the gold standard in diamond grading. Their reports detail the key characteristics of each diamond.
• Upgrade Policy: Any diamond can be exchanged for 100% credit towards a new purchase valued at least 2x the original amount. The diamond being upgraded must be in original condition and accompanied by the original laboratory grading document. They can also remodel most rings to accommodate the new diamond for a minimal charge.
• Secure Delivery: All items are fully insured during transit. All purchases require a signature at the time of delivery.
• 30-day Returns: James Allen will accept returns for refund or exchange within 30 days of shipment from their facility. Free returns only apply to U.S. and Canada customers and are limited to three per customer. Please note: There will be a $25 repolishing fee if an engraved item is returned. To return an item, simply follow their Return Procedures. Exceptions to this include:
  • Improperly packaged items without a RAN number
  • Damaged and Used Items: Returned merchandise must be undamaged and in “new and unused condition.” Items showing obvious signs of wear or alteration by a jeweler other than James Allen will not be accepted.
  • The original laboratory grading report must accompany loose diamonds, or a $150 charge will be assessed to replace the certificate.
  • Special orders
• Lifetime Guarantees: James Allen stands behind its products and warrants that all items will be free from manufacturing defects for the life of the products.
• Complimentary Cleaning And Inspection Services: All jewelry purchased from James Allen is eligible for a complimentary cleaning every six months. You may also return your jewelry to their offices for free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating, and cleaning.

On the contrarian side, James Allen should be treated as an engagement ring specialist. I’ve never ordered a gemstone through them, but their selection seems a bit more limited and on the high-end. I’m sure I’ll get around to it one day, and if you’ve had a good gemstone experience, please feel free to let us know. Thus far, though, Blue Nile is my go-to for non-diamond jewelry.

There are really not enough good things you can say about James Allen. Great product, great service (my last order was under a tight time frame, and they went out of their way to make sure I got it even earlier than the day they promised), and great packaging. The packaging is something people really love about James Allen. For me personally, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I understand, though, that when you might only make one large diamond purchase in your life that their oversized beauty box with the pull-out drawer and gorgeously finished interior adds an extra flair to the experience.

Can you trust James Allen?

James Allen guarantees customer satisfaction. I argue they are just as trustworthy — and even more so — than the 20th Century giants of jewelry like Cartier, and Tiffany. The reason may surprise you. 

I’ll get to specific online ratings in a minute. But the reason James Allen is so trustworthy is its system. Its organization.

All the 20^th Century jewelers mean well. But most jewelers have been operating the same way for over 100 years. They’re stuck in the past. Meanwhile, James Allen’s systems are so efficient, you’ll feel better treated. 

You know the difference you feel between your experience buying something from Amazon and buying it from Best Buy? 

Best Buy means well. And often they take care of you well. But sometimes, going into a big box store is just a hassle. 

On the other hand, your life is just easy when shopping at Amazon, 99% of the time. 

James Allen is like that, but with diamonds. The customer experience at James Allen is easy, from start to finish, because of their purpose-built system, created from the ground up. 

JAMES ALLEN PACKAGING & PRESENTATION

When writing a James Allen Review I, of course, can’t leave out the packaging. And I can say one thing about James Allen packaging and presentation: it is simply exquisite. It is by far the most beautiful I’ve seen in the diamond industry. And I’ve bought from a lot of high-end jewelers over the years, like Cartier and Tiffany, so I’ve seen their packaging.

What’s great about James Allen’s packaging box is that it’s also a keepsake jewelry box with space to store other items. It has a pullout drawer that can be used to secure the grading report and jewelry appraisal papers.

This is what you can expect to see in the package with your diamond engagement ring from James Allen:

• Your diamond engagement ring will come in a beautiful cherry wood presentation box. This red-colored ring box contains your ring.
• AGS Proprietary Light Performance & Diamond Quality Report: In the diamond-grading world GIA and AGS are the only two trustworthy labs offering reliable and consistent diamond grading standards.
• James Allen provides the Appraisal Document: If you intend to ensure your ring, this appraisal document will be required. If your purchase exceeds $1,500, you will receive the appraisal free-of-charge.
• Warranty Cards & Rewards: Your warranty cards provide information on your jewelry’s lifetime warranty as well as for instructions for taking care of your pieces. You will also receive a discount code that can be used for 10% off the purchase of a wedding band.
• Quality Assurance Card: Various quality assurance professionals inspect each diamond along with the finished product against the specifications on the order card. This way they ensure the ring’s quality and that it is exactly as you ordered.
• Your Printed Invoice

If you are considering to buy a traditional round shaped diamond with an excellent cut then let me tell you that CUT is KING. It’s as simple as that! If you want a brilliantly sparkling diamond engagement ring, the cut will determine whether your diamond is a top or a flop. As discussed above, James Allen lets shoppers see an ideal scope image for free.

Any decision to buy a diamond should be based on an educated assessment of all the data on the stone. So far, every ring I’ve seen from James Allen absolutely had a superior cut quality that perfectly matched the attached GIA certificate.

The pressing question remains: How do the prices of diamonds and rings at James Allen fare in terms of competitiveness or affordability?

With over 12 years of experience navigating through an ocean of diamond stores, we’ve found that James Allen’s pricing for diamonds stands among the most affordable, whether online or in brick-and-mortar establishments.

And this isn’t solely our perspective – various authorities and online sources echo the sentiment that James Allen often outshines traditional brick-and-mortar jewelers when it comes to value.

Given the unique nature of each diamond, drawing a direct comparison can be quite challenging. However, for a clearer understanding, let’s compare the prices of James Allen with another reputable vendor, Blue Nile.

We’ll use the following criteria for our comparison: Ideal cut, H color, VS2 clarity, 1 carat, excellent polish & symmetry, GIA certified, and no fluorescence.

This search on James Allen provided 77 diamonds, with prices varying between $5600 and $6500.

When conducting the exact same search on Blue Nile, 69 diamonds were found with prices fluctuating between $5800 and $6800.

You might say that prices aren’t that much different, but keep in mind, we’re comparing James Allen with the largest competitor in terms of inventory & prices, if you compare to other “regular stores”, prices would be completely different (up to $1000)

Their primarily online operating model drastically trims overhead costs, a saving grace they generously pass onto their customers. As such, their prices are often more budget-friendly without skimping on the quality or variety of their diamonds and jewelry.

Adding another feather to their cap, James Allen has rolled out a Price Match Guarantee for all their diamonds. If you stumble upon a better price for an “almost” identical diamond (with all 4Cs aligning, alongside numerous other diamond attributes), they’re more than willing to match that price for you.

James Allen Customer Service Review

When purchasing diamonds, customer support is of paramount importance due to the high-value and nuanced nature of the product. In this regard, many have found that James Allen offers robust customer service, with a team that operates 24/7 and usually responds in less than a minute.

James Allen’s customer care representatives are well-equipped to answer any questions related to diamonds or any specific items on their platform. This is a result of an intensive 6-week training program on diamonds and jewelry that each representative undergoes before interacting with customers.

The company aims to ensure that its employees can address customer needs independently and effectively. Furthermore, in an uncommon practice for the industry, James Allen’s customer service teams are non-commissioned, implying they are dedicated to providing professional service without the pressure of sales quotas.

Some customers have reported that representatives will candidly highlight potential issues with a specific diamond, offering advice to steer clear if necessary. James Allen’s customer service can be reached via live chat—a particularly helpful feature when inspecting a diamond—email, phone calls, or through their Customer Support page form.

The Highest Possible Quality?

As you would expect from a top-end retailer much emphasis is placed on the 4 C’s when they refer to the quality of the gemstones and jewelry they have on offer.

Every gemstone carries an accreditation from either GIA or IGI. This is your reassurance that the gemstone you are spending all that money on is what it claims to be and is not a cheap stone being passed off as one of a higher quality. If you’re looking for Hearts and Arrows Diamonds though I would still head to Whiteflash as they offer a better all-round service and quality.

James Allen and Blue Nile have the largest market share in the online diamond industry. They also operate on a similar business model, sourcing diamonds from a network of vendors and presenting them under their respective brands. While this approach broadens the selection available to customers, it occasionally leads to situations where a chosen diamond has already been sold elsewhere.

For James Allen customers, this can be particularly frustrating. While the company makes earnest efforts to offer alternative options, the experience can disrupt the seamless purchasing journey that customers anticipate. Such instances underscore the complexities of the shared inventory model and highlight the importance of real-time inventory updates for online diamond retailers. This is why I recommend purchasing in-stock diamonds.

The Information on Offer

James Allen demonstrates a strong commitment to educating its customers about the intricate world of gemstones. They’ve carved out a dedicated ‘Education’ tab on their website, showcasing their dedication to helping customers make informed decisions. While the depth of information may not match that of industry leaders like Whiteflash, it undeniably fulfills its purpose, especially for those who are venturing into the realm of gemstones with limited prior knowledge.

Under this ‘Education’ section, James Allen provides a comprehensive overview of essential topics, such as the Four Cs (Carat weight, Color, Clarity, and Cut), which are the fundamental criteria for evaluating a diamond’s quality. They offer clear explanations and examples to demystify these concepts. For instance, they illustrate how a diamond’s cut impacts its sparkle and brilliance by comparing a well-cut diamond to a poorly-cut one, making it easy for even novices to grasp the significance.

Moreover, James Allen delves into the different diamond shapes, offering not only textual information but also high-quality images and 360-degree videos. This visual aid allows shoppers to explore the unique characteristics and appearance of various diamond shapes, such as round, princess, cushion, and many more.

One notable feature of their education efforts is their ‘Diamond 360°’ technology, which enables customers to scrutinize every facet of a diamond through a 360-degree video. This hands-on experience helps buyers gain a profound understanding of the diamond’s attributes, including its fire, scintillation, and overall brilliance. By offering this level of detail, James Allen empowers customers to make choices that align with their preferences and priorities.

While James Allen may not offer the most in-depth educational resources in the industry, their commitment to helping customers understand the key aspects of diamonds is commendable. They bridge the knowledge gap for those who may be new to the world of gemstones, ultimately aiding them in selecting the perfect ring that will leave a lasting impression. In summary, James Allen’s ‘Education’ section may not be the most extensive, but it is certainly effective, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to make an informed purchase.

Is James Allen as good as Blue Nile?

James Allen and Blue Nile are the largest online jewelry retailers. But let me tell you a secret: In 2022 Signet Jewelers, the company that owns JamesAllen.com acquired Blue Nile. Do you see where I’m going with this? Basically, James Allen and Blue Nile are now sister companies. The money goes to the same pocket. This is why you can find GIA lab diamonds on Blue Nile with the same photography as James Allen.

You can buy your engagement right from James Allen, your wedding ring from Blue Nile, and vice versa. If you can’t find your perfect ring on James Allen, sure! Visit Blue Nile. In fact, Blue Nile has some beautiful wedding rings and fine jewelry that are worth checking out.

Wrapping Up Our JamesAllen Review

When it comes to online engagement rings and diamonds, it is fair to say James Allen has set an impressive bar. The extensive style options, combined with its extremely high-quality stones appeal internationally, and its innovative and detailed approach to customer service rounds of the experience with an undeniably professional glow.

Customers may face issues with ring sizing, as is the nature of an online purchase, but I have no doubt that when the technology becomes available to iron out this crease, James Allen will be one of the first to invest.

While James Allen attempts to replicate a brick and mortar jewelry experience, it is yet to truly deliver on this promise. Quality diamonds and attractive branding aside, there is an element of ‘rolling the dice’ when it comes to the finished product. For every handful of glowing reviews, there will be one dissatisfied customer whose stone has come loose from an inferior setting. Nevertheless, James Allen remains a top choice for buyers, and will continue to strive for the ultimate customer experience.