James Allen Engagement Ring Reviews
If you like the idea of buying your engagement ring online – but can’t imagine purchasing a diamond without seeing it with your own eyes first – James Allen is the jeweler for you. An established online jeweler since 1998(!), James Allen offers Risk-Free engagement ring shopping. Features including 30-Day Free Return policy, 100% Refund, Lifetime Warranty and Free Shipping have set shoppers at ease for almost 2 decades. But don’t take my word for it. You can find reviews from happy customers all over the internet. Start with their on-site product reviews and shopping experience reviews via Yotpo, and then explore independent 3rd party reviews on Google, BizRate, and iVouch.
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- James Allen Customer Feedback
- James Allen Diamond Viewing Technologies
- James Allen Certified Diamonds: GIA, IGI and AGS
- James Allen Lab Diamonds
- James Allen True Hearts Diamonds
- James Allen Designer Engagement Ring Settings
- James Allen International Shipping
- James Allen vs. Tiffany & Co.
- James Allen vs. Blue Nile
- James Allen Sales Schedule
James Allen Customer Feedback
What truly sets James Allen apart from other online engagement ring retailers is the level of transparency they offer into the engagement ring buying process. It starts with their patented viewing technologies which allow shoppers to see each and every diamond they offer. They were the first online jeweler to offer this feature. Making the online ring buying process easy to understand is their specialty, and they offer excellent customer service they provide at every step of the buying process.
James Allen Customer Reviews and Photos
Another huge benefit to shopping with James Allen, the numerous ways they allow customers to rate them and share their feedback with the company and the public. You’ll find reviews of both individual products as well as the engagement ring shopping experience as a whole threaded throughout the James Allen website. It’s not unusual to find products on their site with 100+ customer reviews, many containing customer’s own photos. The review technology they employ on the website allows customers to easily submit images of their engagement rings and other jewelry, providing would-be customers with the information they need to make an informed purchase.
For this reason, James Allen is the #1 retailer that I recommend when shoppers come to me for advice on purchasing an engagement ring online.
READ JAMES ALLEN CUSTOMER REVIEWS
When it comes to James Allen, glowing customer reviews like these are not uncommon.
Seeing the actual diamonds really helped me find one I loved. Great selection of rings (…) and the final packaging was gorgeous.the photos and videos of the actual diamonds gave me the confidence that what I bought, I was going to be happy with.
Trev
Choosing James Allen was the best decision I have ever made. My girlfriend got a one-of-a-kind ring and absolutely loved it!
Benny
Want to learn more about what real customers have to say about their rings and shopping experience at James Allen? Reviews abound, as James Allen participates with iVouch, BizRate and Google Wallet to compile reviews. Click here to read their most recent customer reviews.
James Allen Diamond Viewing Technologies
At the time of writing, James Allen currently has 91,421 diamonds in its database. Each and every one of these can be viewed in their patented 360-degree HD technology so that any inclusions may be viewed up close from all angles.
Setting James Allen apart from other online jewelers is their Virtual Loupe technology. Shoppers can zoom in and rotate the images of over 100,000 diamonds in the James Allen collection. Take it one step further by initiating a live diamond consultation with one of their experts. This lets you examine your chosen stone point-by-point with a certified gemologist. GIA certification is also available directly beneath the diamond images so you can see the official documentation of each stone from the comfort of home. If that is still not enough for you and you wish to inspect your diamond in person, James Allen will allow you to purchase the diamond, have it shipped to you for inspection, and then send it back to be set into your dream engagement ring.
James Allen Certified Diamonds: GIA, IGI and AGS
All diamonds sold by James Allen are certified by one of the major certification labs to ensure the value of your diamond. These are the labs that James Allen works with:
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA),
- American Gem Society (AGS)
- International Gemological Institute (IGI)
When browsing diamonds on the James Allen website, you’ll be able to determine which lab has certified the diamond from the browsing page by clicking the 3 dots below the image to the right. The specs of the diamond will slide out – including the lab certification.
From the diamond page, you’ll see an icon directly below the diamond image noting which lab has certified the diamond. Clicking on the image will open the certificate so you can view all of the grading information for the diamond you have selected.
When you receive your completed ring, earrings or pendant, this same lab certification will accompany your purchase.
True Hearts Diamonds at James Allen
Hearts and Arrows from James Allen
If your goal is to copy a Tiffany & Co setting to the “T”, these are the diamonds to pick which adhere to the high standards Tiffany uses to select their diamonds. Their sparkle and brilliance are unmatched by anything you’d find at your local mall jewelry outlet, and you’ll be able to create a replica of an iconic Tiffany & Co. style which will leave them guessing whether you shelled out big bucks for the little blue box.
James Allen Designer Engagement Ring Settings
Whether you are looking for a traditional solitaire, an ornate double halo, or a funky east-west setting, James Allen has it all. Their collection of contemporary tension settings is unmatched anywhere online, and they even offer a wide selection of their settings in popular rose gold.
But what really sets James Allen apart is their selection of designer brand-name engagement rings not widely available online. From ornate handcrafted engagement ring settings by Verragio to the whimsical settings by Jeff Cooper. Here are some of the designer engagement ring settings you can customize with a well-priced diamond on their site:
James Allen International Shipping on Engagement Rings
Need to send an engagement ring overseas or to an FPO/APO military address? James Allen will ship it to you for FREE whether you are in Australia or Austria, Spain or Singapore. Many jewelers offer international shipments, but none exhibit the commitment to overseas engagement ring orders that James Allen does. Whether you are in You can easily shop their website in your own national currency by selecting it on the top right-hand corner of the site, and use their VAT/Tax calculator to determine what duties you’ll be responsible for when your ring arrives.
Learn more about making an overseas purchase from James Allen.
James Allen Vs. Tiffany & Co.
An engagement ring from Tiffany & Co. is the ultimate status symbol and meets the highest standards in both materials and workmanship. In fact, if you’re purchasing your ring from them you must select from a limited number of very high-quality stones and set your ring in platinum – the only white metal choice they offer. But is a ring from Tiffany truly better than a ring from James Allen? I would argue no – their prices cannot be justified against the market price of diamonds and metals.
With engagement rings priced at up to 3 times the commodity price of the diamonds and metals alone, you’re paying a hefty fee for the brand name at Tiffany & Co. James Allen offers near-identical setting styles and the ability to select your own diamond from their extensive collection. I even show you how to customize a James Allen ring to Tiffany & Co.’s exacting diamond parameters so you can get a ring that would easily be mistaken for a Tiffany & Co. creation.
Plus, with Free International Shipping, James Allen can send your ring almost anywhere in the world including Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Making them just as accessible as Tiffany & Co – for a fraction of the cost.
Looking for a setting that is a near replica of Tiffany style? Here are a few good picks from James Allen.
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- Tiffany Soleste Double Halo Cushion Cut look-alike = James Allen split shank double halo setting.
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- Tiffany Soleste Single Halo = James Allen Pave Halo
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- Tiffany Harmony replica = James Allen rounded cathedral solitaire
James Allen Vs. Blue Nile
Many shoppers ask “Which jeweler is better, James Allen or Blue Nile?” In terms of customer satisfaction, both of them get top marks from consumers. (See James Allen’s customer reviews here).
However, when it comes to sales and promotions James Allen comes out ahead of Blue Nile. While neither jeweler will discount their already competitive diamond prices, James Allen’s sales and promotions extend to their Build-Your-Own settings. Blue Nile, on the other hand, does not discount diamonds or settings.
James Allen and Blue Nile are undoubtedly the two most prominent names when it comes to online engagement ring shopping, and they both offer many benefits. When it comes down to it, here are the ways in which I believe James Allen excels and delivers slightly more value:
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- 360-degree high-definition zoom of every diamond they offer.
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- Huge assortment of engagement ring styles including designer styles, and premium designer replica rings.
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- Free engraving on any engagement ring purchase.
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- Free Insurance on International Orders.
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- Ultra-premium packaging including ring box and document holder for certification documents standard with every order.
James Allen Blue Nile Comparison Chart
Does James Allen Have Sales?
The next question you’re probably asking is “Do they have sales?” and the answer is YES! Like other build-your-own ring sellers online, James Allen never discounts the price of loose diamonds. Their diamond prices are already competitive and beat mall and local shop prices hands down. But here’s where the savings come in. James Allen will deeply discount the price of settings and pre-set jewelry (earrings, wedding bands, pendants, etc) up to 25% at certain times of the year.
How does this work? Imagine you have your eye on an ornate pave setting (like this one) and a well priced 1 ct diamond. If the setting costs $3350 and the diamond is priced at $4060, you will save $837.5 on the setting with a 25% off sale at James Allen. This brings your complete ring down to $6572 from $7410. Not bad.
So, when does James Allen run sales on engagement rings? James Allen follows a traditional retail schedule with most of their sales happening around these times of year:
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- Mother’s Day Sale at James Allen / First week of May
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- Memorial Day / Last weekend of May
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- Labor Day / First weekend of September
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- Black Friday/Cyber Monday (Thanksgiving Weekend / Last week of November-First week of December.
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- Valentines Day Sale at James Allen / February 1-14th