GemsGlitz and Brilliant Earth both sell lab-grown diamond jewelry, but they’re set up for different shoppers. GemsGlitz is a small, online-only store selling lab-created diamonds in affordable 925 sterling silver. Brilliant Earth is a much larger, US-based fine jewellery retailer that sells both natural and lab-grown diamonds, mostly set in gold and platinum, with a broad range that includes custom-designed engagement rings. Here’s how the two compare, point by point, so you can see which one actually fits what you’re looking for.
Both sell lab-grown diamonds — that’s where the overlap ends
A lab-grown (or lab-created) diamond is chemically the same as a mined one — the same carbon, grown under controlled conditions instead of underground, and just as hard. What differs between GemsGlitz and Brilliant Earth isn’t the stone itself, it’s everything built around it: the metal it’s set in, whether natural stones are also on offer, how much design flexibility you get, and the price that comes with all of that. If you want the fuller picture on how lab-grown and natural diamonds compare, we cover it in lab-grown vs natural: which is better.
Brilliant Earth sells lab-grown diamonds as one option among several, alongside natural stones. GemsGlitz sells lab-grown diamonds exclusively — it’s the whole catalogue, not a category within a larger one. That single difference in focus explains most of what follows.
GemsGlitz vs Brilliant Earth at a glance
Brilliant Earth is a much bigger company than GemsGlitz, and what it offers can change over time. Treat the summary below as a starting point, and check Brilliant Earth’s own site for their current pricing, policies and designs before you decide anything.
- Metal. GemsGlitz: every piece is 925 sterling silver with a rhodium finish — see our materials page. Brilliant Earth: settings are mainly gold and platinum.
- Stone options. GemsGlitz: lab-created (lab-grown) diamonds only. Brilliant Earth: both natural and lab-grown diamonds.
- Price range. GemsGlitz: $99–$189, with the price listed on each product page. Brilliant Earth: typically priced well above that range — see their site for current pricing.
- Range and customisation. GemsGlitz: a small, curated catalogue — five rings and six pendants, no earrings. Brilliant Earth: a much broader range, including custom and bespoke engagement ring design.
- Lead time. GemsGlitz: made to order, dispatched in 5–7 business days, then roughly 10–20 days in transit. Brilliant Earth: see their site for current lead times.
- Returns. GemsGlitz: 30-day returns on unworn pieces. Brilliant Earth: see their site for their current return policy.
- Sourcing. Brilliant Earth publicly emphasises responsible sourcing — see their site for the specifics of what that covers today.
What GemsGlitz actually sells
Since “a small, curated catalogue” doesn’t say much on its own, here’s what’s actually in it. GemsGlitz sells five rings, all 925 sterling silver with a rhodium finish: the Eternal, a 1.0ct six-prong solitaire; the Radiance Classic, a 0.6ct solitaire; Luminous, a 0.8ct pavé solitaire; Celeste, a 0.8ct half-eternity band; and Aura, a slim eternity stacking band. Ring sizes run US 5–10 across most of the collection, though Luminous is currently only offered in 6–7 and Aura in 6–9 — check each product page for exact sizing.
The six pendants follow the same approach: a 1.0ct solitaire, a teardrop design (Cascade), a snowflake-cluster design (Ethereal), and three further styles including Devotion at $99. There are no earrings. Brilliant Earth’s range, by contrast, spans far more styles, metals and stone types, plus custom and bespoke design — see our rings or necklaces to browse the full GemsGlitz collection, or Brilliant Earth’s own site for theirs.
Why the price gap is so large
A few ordinary factors stack up to explain why Brilliant Earth’s pieces typically cost so much more than GemsGlitz’s. Gold and platinum are precious metals in their own right and cost meaningfully more than sterling silver before a single stone is set. Natural diamonds — which Brilliant Earth also sells — are generally priced higher than lab-grown diamonds of comparable size, since mining, sorting and rarity all add cost that growing a stone in a controlled setting doesn’t. Custom and bespoke design work adds labor and consultation time that a fixed, ready-to-order catalogue doesn’t carry. None of that makes either approach better — it’s just what a wider, more customisable, natural-plus-lab-grown offering costs to run compared with a small, made-to-order, lab-grown-only one.
Choose Brilliant Earth if…
Brilliant Earth is likely the better fit if any of the following matter most to you:
- You want your setting in gold or platinum rather than silver.
- You want a natural diamond, not only a lab-grown one.
- You want a fully custom or bespoke design built around your own specifications.
- You want a certified stone — ask Brilliant Earth directly about certification and grading when you inquire.
- Your budget goes well beyond $99–$189 per piece.
Choose GemsGlitz if…
GemsGlitz is likely the better fit if any of the following matter most to you:
- You want a lab-created diamond and don’t need it in gold or platinum.
- A budget under $200 per piece is what you’re working with.
- A ready, curated design suits you better than a custom build.
- You’d rather order online and receive a straightforward made-to-order piece than go through a custom design process.
One honest trade-off: sterling silver needs more care
Sterling silver is a softer metal than gold or platinum, so it’s more prone to everyday scratches, and it can tarnish if it isn’t looked after. That’s true of sterling silver jewelry in general, not just ours — it’s simply a property of the metal, not a mark against either store. If a metal that shrugs off scratches with almost no maintenance matters most to you, gold or platinum will need less upkeep over the years, which is part of what you’re paying for at a retailer like Brilliant Earth.
If you’re comfortable with an occasional clean and a bit of care in how a piece is stored, sterling silver is easy to live with day to day, and it’s part of what lets GemsGlitz keep prices where they are. Our guide to lab-grown diamond care tips walks through the routine in full, including what to avoid and how often to clean a piece.
Frequently asked questions
Does Brilliant Earth sell lab-grown diamonds?
Yes — Brilliant Earth sells both natural and lab-grown diamonds. That mix is one of the clearest differences from GemsGlitz, which sells only lab-created stones.
What metal does GemsGlitz jewelry use?
Every GemsGlitz ring and pendant is 925 sterling silver with a rhodium finish. We don’t offer gold or platinum settings, so if you specifically need one of those metals, Brilliant Earth is a better starting point.
Is GemsGlitz cheaper than Brilliant Earth?
Generally, yes. GemsGlitz pieces are priced $99–$189. Brilliant Earth, which also sells natural diamonds set in gold and platinum, is typically priced well above that range — check their site for current pricing before you compare. Some of that gap comes down to the diamond (natural stones generally cost more than lab-grown ones of similar size), and some comes down to the metal, since gold and platinum both cost more than sterling silver.
Can I get a custom ring design at GemsGlitz?
No. GemsGlitz sells a curated, ready-to-order catalogue rather than bespoke design work. If a fully custom engagement ring is what you’re after, Brilliant Earth’s site is the place to look.
What if I specifically want a certified stone?
GemsGlitz doesn’t issue certification or grading reports on its stones. If certification matters to you, ask about it directly when you inquire with Brilliant Earth, or see our guide to diamond grading standards for background on how certification works in general.
Both stores sell lab-grown diamond jewelry, just for very different budgets, metals and levels of customisation — and neither approach is the “right” one across the board, only the right one for a particular shopper. If sterling silver, lab-created stones and a simple made-to-order piece sound like what you’re after, browse our current rings and necklaces to see what’s available now. If gold, platinum, natural stones or a fully custom design are closer to what you have in mind, Brilliant Earth’s own site is the better starting point.