Has anyone here done a diamond upgrade with Brilliant Earth?

[sunshowers]

I’m considering a diamond upgrade and am wondering if anyone here has been through this process with Brilliant Earth.

Via the online chat, I was informed:

We can upgrade orders with natural diamonds with a new diamond that is 50% greater in value than the original. You will send your existing ring back. In most case, we will have to remake all or part of the setting, but you will be able to apply metal credit of your existing ring towards the purchase of the new one. Around $50- $100 or so depending on the setting you have.

Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near a BE showroom, so I’m told that I can’t view the new diamond beforehand. I would need to send in my ring for them to make a new setting and put the new stone in, and then 3 weeks later voila. This makes me nervous! Is this typical?

Also, when the time comes, would the good people of PS help me to choose a new stone? I feel I would be much less nervous about the upgrade knowing that I have expert help from this very discerning group. I know BE isn’t a preferred vendor, but I hope there are still pretty diamonds to be found through their site.

 

[lovedogs]

We can help you choose when you'd like to upgrade. Not being able to view in person is typical for online vendors. Just don't let them choose the stone for you.

 

[sledge]

Their chat seems inline with their policy they have posted on their website, which is basically get full credit of the original stone with the purchase of a new stone that is 50% or greater than the price of the original stone.

Also, depending on the size increase, it would be expected your setting would need a new head or may require an entire new setting depending on the style and specifics. Not sure how much you paid for the setting but sounds like they are giving you scrap value. Doubtful you will do much better, as selling settings by themselves can be difficult.

As far as the diamond, absolutely we can help. Do not agree to purchase/upgrade any stone until you've viewed the cert, analyzed performance, etc. We don't want them playing "match maker" of your upgrade.

Most importantly -- have you been happy with BE thus far? I only ask because if you aren't then now is the time to consider possibly selling the stone yourself or trading to a different vendor and getting in a different upgrade program that is more favorable. Also, making sure their ask price on their stones aren't inflated is essential as you don't want inflated ask prices to devalue your trade value.

https://www.brilliantearth.com/shop-online/

Brilliant Earth is proud to offer free lifetime diamond upgrade. Any loose diamond purchased from Brilliant Earth, excluding our lab created diamonds, can be exchanged for credit equivalent to the original purchase price for a new diamond that is at least fifty percent greater value. In order to be eligible, the diamond being upgraded must be accompanied with original documentation and must be in saleable condition. Upgrades are not available for colored gemstones, settings and jewelry, or lab created diamonds. Upgrade credit does not include duty or tax paid on the original purchase. All applicable duties and taxes will be charged on the full retail price of the new diamond before any credit is applied. If the upgraded diamond cannot be set in your original engagement ring setting, you can exchange it for a precious metal credit as determined by Brilliant Earth. We will recycle gold or platinum jewelry and offer a credit based on current metal prices. Please call us at 1.800.691.0952 for more information on our diamond upgrade policy.

 

[sunshowers]

Also, depending on the size increase, it would be expected your setting would need a new head or may require an entire new setting depending on the style and specifics.

...

Most importantly -- have you been happy with BE thus far? I only ask because if you aren't then now is the time to consider possibly selling the stone yourself or trading to a different vendor and getting in a different upgrade program that is more favorable. Also, making sure their ask price on their stones aren't inflated is essential as you don't want inflated ask prices to devalue your trade value.

https://www.brilliantearth.com/shop-online/

I would be looking to go from a 0.8 to 1.2-1.3 carat oval. The current setting (which I love and want to stick with) is the BE Aria, a three-stone style with little pears on either side of the center. I think that means it’s likely I’ll be paying for a new setting?

I did think about whether or not to stay with BE, but I don’t know where I’d start trying to sell the stone myself. I’m also somewhat counting on getting the full purchase value to put back into the upgrade. How can I tell if BE is inflating prices?

 

[Rose-gold-or-bust]

I would be looking to go from a 0.8 to 1.2-1.3 carat oval. The current setting (which I love and want to stick with) is the BE Aria, a three-stone style with little pears on either side of the center. I think that means it’s likely I’ll be paying for a new setting?

I did think about whether or not to stay with BE, but I don’t know where I’d start trying to sell the stone myself. I’m also somewhat counting on getting the full purchase value to put back into the upgrade. How can I tell if BE is inflating prices?

I just went through this and BEs stones seemed to be a few hundred dollars more expensive than similar ones elsewhere. In fact, I found one stone with identical Gia for about $600 less and BE wouldn’t even match the price. So off I went elsewhere

 

[sunshowers]

Bumping to ask... what combination of specs should I go for if based on my budget, I’m aiming for the total value of the upgraded stone to be around $10,500 to $11,500 CAD? That would work out to about $7,850 to $8,600 USD.

First priority is eye-clean, next is size, and I don’t think I would want to go below H in color?

 

[lovedogs]

Bumping to ask... what combination of specs should I go for if based on my budget, I’m aiming for the total value of the upgraded stone to be around $10,500 to $11,500 CAD? That would work out to about $7,850 to $8,600 USD.

First priority is eye-clean, next is size, and I don’t think I would want to go below H in color?

Cut is always king. We can try to help you find contenders on the BE website. Fancy shapes are always harder than rounds, and the videos are super important to see how the stone performs.