Brilliant Earth
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 5 sources
US jeweller selling engagement rings, wedding bands and fine jewellery.
There's no proof Brilliant Earth pays more than the legal minimum, which in the United States is below a living wage, and it has no full independent audit.
Better-graded engagement and bridal
Graded higher than Brilliant Earth, selling the same kinds of things.
No engagement and bridal brand selling new goods is Good yet. This is the strongest so far.
Know something we've missed? Send evidence. Represent Brilliant Earth? Send a right of reply.
Compare Brilliant Earth with another brand
Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden, unaudited supply chain in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as India and China, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Met: Conflict-free: diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough)
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Hidden supply chain, mostly in countries with poor worker rights
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Brilliant Earth's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.
Rings, Engagement & wedding rings, Necklaces & pendants, Earrings, Bracelets: Lacks transparency, the same as Brilliant Earth overall, because nothing we know differs between them.
Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.
Where it's made
Brilliant Earth says which countries it makes its products in, but doesn't name the factories.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Systematic violations | Below a living wage | Low |
| India | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| China | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Thailand | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Mexico | Regular violations | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Türkiye | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Very high |
Evidence
What we found
- Passes the raw-material check for jewellery and watches: conflict-free diamonds, gems and gold traced to the mine, lab-grown, recycled or Fairmined (the Kimberley Process alone isn't enough).
- Uses recycled metals or fibres
- Uses lab-grown diamonds or gemstones
Research notes In 2025, 99.5% of Brilliant Earth's gold and 96.4% of its silver was recycled ('repurposed'), and it also sells Fairmined gold from Colombia and Peru. Natural diamonds are traced to the country (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Canada) but not to named mines; lab diamonds come from India and China. The company says all natural diamond suppliers and 87% of lab diamond makers have been audited. Its jewellery makers are in the US, India, China, Thailand, Mexico and Turkey, but it names no factories, gives no split of output by country and makes no living wage commitment. It is not an RJC member itself; it says its metal refiners hold RJC or SCS certification.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Modern Slavery Register | Not covered | No Australian modern slavery statement from Brilliant Earth was identified; it is a US company with no Australian entity named. View |
| Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | Not listed | No labour abuse allegations involving Brilliant Earth or its suppliers were identified. View |
| B Corp directory | Not listed | Brilliant Earth does not claim B Corp certification. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 5
Show all 5 sources
- Brilliant Earth Group – Form 10-K FY2025 (SEC) · search the archive · 764 full-time and 21 part-time US employees; relies on long-term manufacturing partners; repurposed or Fairmined metal required.
- Brilliant Earth Group – Form 10-Q, quarter to 30 June 2026 (SEC) · search the archive · Still independent with Mainsail as sponsor; no material legal proceedings; names no manufacturers or new sourcing countries.
- Brilliant Earth Q4 2025 earnings call transcript (roic.ai) · search the archive · Management calls the company early leaders in lab diamonds; lab diamond fine jewellery bookings grew 61% in Q4 2025.
Published by Brilliant Earth or its owner
- Brilliant Earth – 2025 Mission Report · search the archive · 99.5% repurposed gold, 96.4% repurposed silver in 2025; Fairmined gold from Colombia and Peru; makers in US, India, China, Thailand, Mexico, Turkey.
- Brilliant Earth – Australia site · search the archive · Australian storefront with AUD currency option selling natural and lab-grown diamond engagement rings and jewellery.
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Employees
- About 785
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Brilliant Earth ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/brilliant-earth, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Brilliant Earth.