Vs
PeterNorman Jewelery as an Alternative to Brilliant Earth
If you’ve been researching where to buy a diamond ring, you’ve probably already come across Brilliant Earth. They are one of the USA’s biggest brands when it comes to Engagement rings. but does a bigger brand indicate a likely better result? Or better value? Maybe not.
There are many factors to consider when buying a diamond engagement ring. Quality, craftsmanship, price, originality of design, value, and price. How trusted is the provider? How many of their customers talk about the wonderful outcome they experienced?
We compare Brilliant Earth side by side with Peter Norman and the results might surprise you!
Peter Norman vs Brilliant Earth Comparison
Peter Norman | Brilliant Earth | |
---|---|---|
Build a ring Option? | ||
Online Consulting? | ||
Has a celebrity clientele? | ||
Excellent Reviews? | ||
Wholesale Pricing for Diamonds? | ||
Truly Custom or only Customized? | ||
OK to bring own gemstones? | ||
Natural mined and lab grown diamonds? |
what our clients say
Reviews

Why choose
Peter Norman?
If you are looking for something truly custom, whether you have an idea in mind or not, then Peter Norman is your best option. He provides a boutique engagement ring consulting service for everyone.
Maintaining a 5 Star review average over 20 years is hard to achieve in any business, but when it comes to something so subjective as engagement ring design it’s quite a marvel.
When might Brilliant Earth
be a Good Option?
If you simply want an “IKEA” style solution, where you choose from components and mix and match your own ring, the Brilliant Earth is a good option.
They also have a good though not stellar reputation and they have many very serviceable designs to choose from. If a customized ring rather than fully custom is more your style, then Brilliant Earth might be the place for you.
Comparison Details - Peter Norman vs Brilliant Earth
Build a ring option
Peter Norman
Because every ring made by Peter Norman is a unique piece, the “build a ring” service at Peter Norman is not an online tool, where you may swap in some set, programmed features. Peter Norman himself, is your “build a ring” service
Peter Norman provides design consultation services to really understand what you are trying to create, learn about the ring recipient, and then create a custom design to match. A digital ring builder is no match for an actual jewelry designer!
Peter Norman’s 5-star average ratings have been achieved this way.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth offers pre-made rings for sale, with an online option selection tool offering their clients the chance to build their own ring, choosing stones, sizing, and settings.
Whilst this might sound like a good idea, in practice it rarely is. Designing the perfect engagement ring requires years of experience considering the best matching band styles, stone sizes, setting types, and more. Even the finger length and circumference of the wearer will impact the design.
You would use an online tool to design a wedding dress, likewise, such a tool is really not suitable for designing jewelry.
Online Consulting
Peter Norman
Peter Norman provides both an online and in-store ring consulting service. Custom requests can also be made online
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth offers an online video consultation service with a sales representative, but not specifically with a jeweler or a jewelry expert.
Has a celebrity clientele?
Peter Norman
Peter Norman has numerous red carpet clientele, most notably he recently designed an engagement ring for a member of the British royal family, as well as having multiple American celebrities as clients.
Brilliant Earth
Whilst Brilliant Earth is known for making designs similar to those worn by celebrities, they don’t actually have a celebrity clientele.
Excellent Reviews?
Peter Norman
Peter Norman has perhaps the highest rating of any jeweler in the US. With those reviews coming over a more than 20-year period, that’s some feat. Keeping so many people happy, year in and year out.
Peter has a 5-star average on Yelp, a near 5-star (4.8) rating on Google and a 4.6 rating on Facebook.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is by no means poorly thought of, with 4.1 out of 5 being their average review score on Yelp and Google.
Not nearly as high as Peter Norman though. For every 82 people who thought Brilliant Earth was worth 5 stars, 98 thought Peter Norman was worth 5 stars.
Diamonds at Wholesale Prices
Peter Norman
Peter Norman is in the business of making wonderful jewelry, not selling diamonds at retail prices for maximum profits. Wholesale pricing is available for both conflict-free mined, and lab-grown diamonds alike.
Peter has long-standing relationships with some of the best Diamond suppliers from around the world and uses his connections to ensure his clients receive the best possible diamond for their money.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is in the business of selling mass-produced, retail jewelry with a level of customization. Selling a retail product, means selling diamonds at retail prices. Their diamond selection and variety are huge, but expect a 20 to 50% markup on wholesale pricing.
Truly Custom or only customized?
Peter Norman
At Peter Norman, every piece is an original, custom, one-of-a-kind. The rings on our website are there for demonstration only to show the rings previously made for clients. Your ring? Will similarly be absolutely unique.
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth offers off-the-shelf designs that can be customized, but not unique pieces. The buyer chooses from a variety of set options, bands, stones, and setting types and then the ring is made based on these selections.
There is little opportunity for personalization or true customization.
OK to bring your own diamond?
Peter Norman
Sure! Very often a client will come in with a family heirloom ring wanting to have the stones and metal incorporated into an entirely new piece. In some cases, the original can be remodeled but often, the desired changes are so drastic that a total rebuild is required.
Or in some cases the client has already bought their own gemstones from a dealer. However you came by your gemstones is fine with us!
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth’s business model requires them to also profit from the sale of gemstones so they don’t offer a “We can work with your gemstones” service.
Natural and lab grown diamonds?
Both Peter Norman and Brilliant Earth offer naturally mined, conflict-free diamonds and lab-grown diamonds. Likely you will get more diamond for your money at Peter Norman as he sells his gemstones at wholesale prices.