If you’re looking to mark a special moment, from a milestone event to a heartfelt Valentine’s gift, or even thinking about popping the question, few things make the moment as special as diamonds. With rich cultural and symbolic meaning alongside their timeless elegance, they are unmatched.
However, finding a diamond that matches both the quality and the budget that you want can be tough, especially when looking at all the many shops online. This is where Rare Carat, an online diamond retailer, can come in. In this review, we’re going to take a look at what they offer, how it works, and whether it could be your go-to place for buying diamonds in the future.
Who Is Rare Carat?
Founded in 2016 by Ajay Anand, Rare Carat has quickly grown into the #1 rated jeweler on Trustpilot in the U.S., consistently earning 5-star reviews for both diamonds and fine jewelry.. Anand created Rare Carat after struggling to find a trustworthy, transparent way to purchase an engagement ring online. It was built to bring together a wide selection of diamonds from multiple reputable sellers, while offering tools for customers to make more informed choices.
As a retailer, Rare Carat offers customers access to over a million diamonds sourced from vetted suppliers. All jewelry is made in Rare Carat’s own U.S. workshops, and the company is the merchant of record on all orders. It also uses an intuitive UI, combined with input from GIA-certified gemologists, to evaluate diamonds and guide customers.
Rare Carat’s customer support is so noteworthy in the diamond industry that Trustpilot featured a case study on Rare Carat’s customer experience, vetting the legitimacy of their reviews: https://business.trustpilot.com/customer-stories/ecommerce/how-rare-carat-wins-with-trust.
Why Choose an Online Diamond Retailer?
Traditionally, you would have to visit a jewellery store in person if you wanted a diamond, negotiating prices often without a full understanding of the market. Nowadays, many prefer buying their diamonds online, where online jewelers like Rare Carat can play a helpful role.
Rare Carat’s role as a direct retailer also means they typically offer more layers of certification and consumer protection. By vetting partners to ensure diamonds meet industry standards and come from reputable sellers, they protect buyers from low-quality stones and inflated prices.
These tools also tend to offer transparency and education, providing customers with the knowledge they need to see whether or not they’re getting a good deal on their diamonds.
What Does Rare Carat Bring to the Table?
This online platform offers a place to buy both natural and lab-grown diamonds, as well as a variety of jewelry, including engagement rings, wedding bands, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.
The smart search engine that powers the site sifts through over a million diamonds, helping buyers narrow down their options with a host of filtering options. All diamonds come with a Rare Carat Report and Deal Score, which combine AI analysis with expert gemologist input to provide a comprehensive view of the diamond’s value and quality.
For those who prefer human support, Rare Carat also offers free consultations with GIA-trained gemologists available via live chat and phone, as well as a Diamond Concierge Service, which offers more personalized guidance beyond AI recommendations.
The Advantages of Shopping on Rare Carat
There are several clear benefits to purchasing through Rare Carat, with one of the most compelling being your ability to get immediate, data-driven evaluations of the diamonds you’re looking at. AI-powered pricing and quality checks help you avoid overpaying or ending up with subpar stones. The “Deal Score” in particular is a simple metric you can check to understand whether a product is a good value deal at a glance.
That said, the availability of expert and unbiased advice from the team’s own gemologists is highly beneficial as well. Reviewing stones based on the traditional 4 Cs of diamond grading (carat, cut, color, clarity) as well as highlighting any treatments, damage, or fluorescence can give you a better idea of what, exactly, you’re buying.
Customer convenience is a big priority for Rare Carat, too. As such, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which lets buyers return diamonds or jewelry if the purchase doesn’t meet expectations. They also provide a 90-day resizing service for rings, which is useful if the initial ring size isn’t quite right. They have one of the lowest return rates in the industry thanks to quality craftsmanship.
Their shipping is another highlight, as all orders come with free insured shipping with signatures required to add a little extra peace of mind. The elegant packaging is also a nice touch, making that unboxing experience a little more special.
Potential Drawbacks of Using Rare Carat
No service is without its limitations, including Rare Carat. For one, they operate exclusively online, providing no physical storefronts or showrooms. While providing 360-degree product views and high-resolution images, you can’t physically inspect or try on any jewelry before purchasing. That’s where their free return policy comes in handy, though.
Rare Carat’s diamonds are sourced from vetted suppliers, while all jewelry is designed and handcrafted in their New York and New Jersey workshops. This allows Rare Carat to control quality while still offering the largest diamond selection in the U.S.
As a US-based and focused seller, deliveries and customer service policies may differ for those looking to buy from outside the US and Canada, too.
Final Thoughts: Is Rare Carat Worth It?
Those in the market for diamonds or fine jewelry who value transparency, expert guidance, and competitive pricing will find Rare Carat to be a powerful resource. Its extensive inventory, combined with cutting-edge AI tools and expert gemologist support, offers an insightful and convenient shopping experience that stands out in the online diamond space.
If you don’t mind a less tactile experience than buying diamonds in person, Rare Carat makes up for it by making diamond buying much more accessible, less intimidating, and with the confidence of consumer protections.
I like that they offer a lab grown option, which gives people further choice over what type of diamonds they want. Very interesting! I had not heard of this brand before, I will have to read up about them.