Rare Carat Reviews: Legit or a Scam?
Many of our readers reached out to us asking our opinion about Rare Carat. An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases you will ever make, so is Rare Carat a good place to buy yours?
LinkedIn tells me that in just 5 years, Rare Carat has grown to be America’s number one marketplace for diamonds, and was called the “Secret to Buying A Diamond” by the New York Times.
Whilst I personally only have limited experience with the company, I wanted to help our readers and see what the fuss is all about. So I have embarked upon a journey to find out everything I could including what others say about the company, what Rare Carat reviews are out there, and how they compare to some other popular jewelers.
I also checked the website’s features to see exactly how it works, and how easy it is to use. Read on to discover everything I learned about Rare Carat… I hope this helps you on your ring-buying journey!
Is Rare Carat Legit?
In a word – yes! Rare Carat is a legitimate operating jewelry retailer.
Rare Carat has become a popular place to go for ring buyers in the US as it handles all aspects of buying the perfect ring, including the selection process, the consultation(s), payment processing, logistics, customer service as well as reliable shipping.
Each customer can ask as many questions as they want to GIA Graduate Experts to get advice on their diamond.
The GIA is the Gemological Institute of America, and is THE training authority in the American jewelry industry – so yes, this makes Rare Carat gemologists trustworthy.
I tried talking to them on the website’s chat – they were very responsive and truly helpful. I even got detailed answers about my ring’s diamond, which was not bought on Rare Carat. In Trustpilot reviews, this free-qualified advice is a recurring detail that customers mention a lot.
Check out their video, featuring their founder Ajay Anand, which I found really useful to start understanding more about Rare Carat.
How does Rare Carat compare on price?
I wanted to check out how the price of a diamond on Rare Carat compared to some of their key competitor websites.
Customers assessed in their reviews that Rare Carat had cheaper prices than other online competitors: “The quality to price is insane!”, “Same style ring and diamond at fraction of the price.”, “Largest selection of lab diamonds. And really good prices.”.
Is Rare Carat a Reliable Platform for Diamonds?
Once a user has selected their preferences for a diamond, the platform’s algorithms analyze a large database of diamonds from various vetted wholesalers and then present the user with a curated list of options to choose from. It is worth noting that you end up purchasing from Rare Carat and not from the wholesaler – meaning Rare Carat is a true retailer and protects your purchase.
The specs such as the cut and clarity of each diamond are clearly displayed so it’s very transparent (excuse the pun) for the user.
Each diamond purchased via Rare Carat will be issued with a GIA diamond certificate. These are so reliable that the entire diamond industry relies on their accuracy and precision.
I personally think that the Rare Carat Guarantee makes it a reliable platform too. They vet each of their vendors, from credit checks to ethical sourcing certifications and industry reference checks.
Plus the money-back guarantee makes you feel secure in your decision to make this purchase here.
Business Model
When they first launched, Rare Carat started as a diamond search engine powered by artificial intelligence. As they grew, they transformed themselves into a full-service marketplace, with over a hundred gemologists as staff to offer advice and help you compare the best prices..
They work directly with over 150 online diamond wholesalers- you can either shop for natural or lab diamonds directly on their site.
They guarantee the quality of all products bought via their site.
Policies
Reading the Rare Carat policies in detail gives me confidence in them too. Here are the details:
- Shipping: Rare Carat will ensure free shipping on your item to the US and Canada that is insured. You will also have 90 days for one free re-sizing if needed.
- Returns: They offer 30-day returns – no questions asked.
- Warranty Inspection: They offer a lifetime warranty on your ring meaning you are always covered, backed by Rare Carat – no matter the seller.
- Inspection: Rare Carat inspects every diamond order before it ships out to you, ensuring the laser inscription on the girdle matches your certificate. This means you will receive the authentic diamond that you purchased.
Rare Carat Reviews
Rare Carat reviews seem to be consistently very positive.
One common pattern that I can see in the online Rare Carat Reviews is how helpful the customer support staff is – this always makes me feel more confident when making a big purchase online. A diamond can easily be the price of a small car, so having technical people to advise you is very welcome. But unlike car sales people, the staff on Rare Carat is not incentivized on sales, and you do feel the difference when talking to them.
Here I have picked a few recent reviews to highlight real experiences of the site.
Google Maps
First I checked out what Google had to say – there are almost 2,000 Rare Carat reviews on Google and they equate to a huge 4.9 / 5 score. So many of the reviews talk about the great price of the diamonds, which matches my research mentioned above. The quality of the final products is often mentioned by users too. People seem delighted with their purchases – they are very happy to post photos of their glistening engagement rings.
Reddit can be a bit of a manic place for me to explore but overall the Rare Carat reviews and comments seem to all be pretty positive. I see that lots of people seem to be using the Rare Carat search tool to understand what diamonds are available out there and what kind of prices are being offered for their specific requests.
TrustPilot
There are over 2,100 Rare Carat reviews on TrustPilot; 97% of which are 5* which is very impressive. Here are just a few recent ones;
“The live chat helped me get something that I was after so easily. The service was friendly, the operator answered all my questions and the postage was even quicker than I expected. Great service and value for a beautiful diamond ring.” (Nov 2023)
“The quality to price is insane! With RareCarat, why would anyone buy from the big stores. Not only was the team so helping in selecting my ring for my special someone, but through shipping and handling, they were very helpful. I would recommend this to every man to use this resource.” (Dec 2023)
GlassDoor
GlassdoorRare Carat reviews on Glassdoor shows that 79% of employees would recommend working there to a friend. They have an overall high rating of 4.3 out of 5. Here is an example of one of the recent reviews I saw:
“The company fosters a fantastic work environment with a supportive and inclusive culture that makes you feel valued from day one.”
Platform Features & Functions
On the Rare Carat site you’ll find a search tool that allows you to specify your preferences for the diamond ring – everything from the diamond shape, cut, carat weight, color, clarity to the settings of the ring.
You’ll then be given personalized recommendations based on these criteria, making the process of selecting a diamond easy and well suited for your specific preferences.
When starting with the diamond, your first decision is whether you want a lab-grown or natural diamond (more on this later). From there you’ll need to go through lots of other specifics to find your perfect diamond ring.
I tried out all the features of the search tool and here is what I learnt…
Feature 1 – Choosing the shape of your diamond
You’ll find ten different shapes to choose from – starting with simple shapes like circle and oval, then moving onto different options like princess, pear and marquise shapes. It’s great to actually see an image of each shape to help make your decision. And you can choose more than one shape if you are not 100% certain which is great to compare later.
Other visual guidance is offered throughout the process too – this is great when it comes to choosing the setting of your ring. I wasn’t certain on the difference between a solitaire, a halo and a pave setting but once you see the images you get a good idea of what each option is, and it’s therefore easier to select the one you prefer for your own ring.
Feature 2 – Choosing the color of your diamond
Most people don’t know too much about the specifics of diamonds (myself included!) so it’s handy that at every point within the tool you are guided through your options. For example, when asked to pick the color of your diamond you can click for more information and will be given a simple guide to talk you through your options D- K. I like how it tells you which is the most popular selection; ‘The sweetspot for average people is a G-H color, which shows quite white but will not destroy your wallet.’ That is super helpful to know.
It’s the same for selecting the clarity, cut and carat – the Rare Carat site literally walks you through it all step by step and explains what everything means… how else would I know the difference between VS2 and VVS1 clarity!?
Feature 3 – The ring viewer
The ring viewer tool is an amazing feature that lets you see every type of diamond ring actually placed on a hand so that you really can start to picture how your design may look. You can even upload a photo of your own hand (or your girlfriend’s!) so that it’s even more lifelike. It’s incredibly useful to not only play around with the sizes of the diamonds in order to understand the differences but also the shapes to ensure you make the right decision.
Once you’ve made your decisions you are then presented with all the diamonds that meet your criteria, making it very easy to shop and compare each one.
Feature 4 – Displaying your chosen design
When you have finished making all your choices and selected your diamond, your setting, and your color metal you then get a visual of your chosen ring so you can admire your hard work before purchasing.
But it doesn’t end there – you will also be shown a short video of your ring in motion, meaning that you can see it from all angles and double-check that you are happy with the finish, the band etc.
Throughout the whole process, you can easily go back and make amends, changing any of the elements until you get the perfect design for you.
It could not be easier to create your design.
FAQs
Are Rare Carat Diamonds Real?
Yes – you can choose real natural diamonds for your engagement ring. You can also choose a real lab diamond, and compare the benefits of both options.
Who owns Rare Carat?
Ajay Anand is the founder and owner of Rare Carat
How long has Rare Carat been around?
Rare Carat was launched as a start-up in 2016 in New York and has grown very fast since then to become the number one marketplace it is today.
What is Rare Carat’s return policy?
They offer 30-day returns – no questions asked – meaning you have security in this very important purchase.
What is Rare Carat’s shipping policy?
Rare Carat offers free shipping within the US and Canada that is insured- with one free resizing option available.
The duration of the production process will vary depending on the diamond you have chosen and the wholesaler. On each diamond page, you will find an anticipated shipment date. That date is reliable according to customer reviews.
Where is Rare Carat based?
Rare Carat is based in New York. They predominantly sell to buyers from the US and Canada.
How competitive are Rare Carat prices?
Rare Carat is known for its competitive prices. These prices are often less than other major online and offline retailers like James Allen, Brilliant Earth and Blue Nile, their main competitors.
What’s the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond?
A natural diamond was formed naturally over millions of years in the Earth’s mantle whilst a lab-diamond is man-made. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical and physical qualities as their natural counterparts; even jewelers cannot tell them apart easily without special equipment.
Lab-grown diamonds are considered a more sustainable option as there is no mining process. As a bonus, lab-grown diamonds can be bought for significantly lower prices than mined ones.
How do I understand all the jargon around diamonds?
If this is your first time exploring the world of diamonds, you might find that there is a lot of jargon out there – I know I did! There is a lot to know about diamonds. Rare Carat has actually put together this useful glossary which should help you understand the meaning of some of these terms and phrases.
Do Rare Carat offer discounts or sales?
Every new user to the Rare Carat site will be offered a 10% initial discount by signing up with their email address to the rare Carat database. You’ll also get gemologist tips and price alerts sent to you. Totally worth it in my opinion!
It seems that they also have additional sales and offers throughout the year.
In Summary: Rare Carat Reviews: My honest opinion
I have enjoyed exploring the Rare Carat website, using the search tool, chatting with their diamond experts and understanding what they have to offer their potential buyers. It turns out that buying a diamond engagement ring is not simple, there is a lot to know about diamonds and there is a huge amount of choice out there.
I think that Rare Carat really can help buyers understand their many options as well as the specifics of ring selection.
Reading so many positive Rare Carat reviews has been insightful and it should give you confidence to purchase such an important piece of jewelry from Rare Carat knowing there are so many happy online customers out there.
Lastly, I wish you lots of luck with your ring buying, your proposal, and of course your wedding!
