Carat Hunter · Diamond retailer comparisons

Brilliant Earth vs Diamonds Direct

Side-by-side store comparison. Independent and non-promotional.

Data current as of October 29, 2026 · Updated daily. Zero affiliate revenue.

At a glance

Brilliant EarthDiamonds Direct
Founded20051995
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CACharlotte, NC, United States
Current listings1,074,10396,055
Origin mixLab + NaturalLab + Natural
Cert labs acceptedDF · DFC · GCAL · GIA · HRD · IGIGIA · HRD · IGI
Ships toUS · CA · UK · AUUS
Return window30 days10 days
Terms checkedNot yet verifiedJune 15, 2026

Current listings, origin mix and accepted labs are updated daily. Founded, headquarters and shipping come from public sources. Return terms are our summary of each retailer's own policy page, dated per retailer in the table. Retailers change their terms, so check the retailer's own returns and shipping pages before you buy.

What each store stocks

Inventory composition observed across each store's current listings.

Brilliant Earth

Origin mix

Lab-grown 82%Natural 18%

Most common shapes

Round 33%·Oval 16%·Pear 11%·Emerald 9%

Diamonds Direct

Origin mix

Lab-grown 4%Natural 96%

Most common shapes

Round 42%·Oval 12%·Emerald 10%·Pear 9%

Stones stocked by both

No overlap right now

These stores do not currently share any of the same physical diamonds. Their inventories are mostly distinct.

Pick by what you are looking for

  • Need shipping to Ireland? Neither store ships there.
  • Need GIA grading? Both stores carry it.
  • Need IGI grading? Both stores carry it.
  • Need HRD grading? Both stores carry it.
  • Brilliant Earth stocks more lab-grown. Diamonds Direct stocks more natural.

Looking for a specific spec?

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Questions we get

Does Carat Hunter earn commission from either store?

No. We earn zero affiliate revenue from any retailer in our index.

Why do you not show price comparisons on this page?

Pricing varies per stone, not per store. Click through to any matched diamond above and you'll see both retailers' prices on the exact same physical stone, which is the real comparison.

How fresh is this data?

Listings refresh as we re-read each retailer, most of them every day. Static facts refresh monthly.

How do I find a specific stone at both stores?

Use the GIA or IGI certificate number in our search.