Is Blue Nile worth it?
Blue Nile is a legit online jeweler, but with the offer of more affordable diamonds than physical stores and questions raised over whether these are sourced ethically, the purchase must meet customers’ expectations, especially for such important occasions as engagements and weddings.
Online Jewelers like Blue Nile offer high-quality diamonds with the option for customers to customize engagement rings. They offer virtual appointments with diamond experts, secure shipping, and lifetime warranties. But are they worth the price, and is the quality up to scratch? We aim to find out by looking into the company and the experiences shared by their customers.
Blue Nile Company Information
| Official Website: | https://www.bluenile.com/ |
| Headquarters Location: | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founded: | 1999 |
| Industry: | Jewelers, Retail |
| Ownership: | Mark Vadon |
| Contact: | +353-1-899-1351, serviceuk@bluenile.co.uk |
| Trust Score: | High |
| Social Media: | Instagram, Facebook |
What is Blue Nile?
Blue Nile is an online jeweler that was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. They’re similar to Tiffany & Co offering high-quality diamond jewelry including engagement and wedding rings. They offer a variety of diamond shapes and also have an option for customers to build their engagement rings making them a great choice.
Jewelers like Blue Nile who offer high-quality diamonds will always fall under scrutiny due to questions over how they source their diamonds. There is always a risk that diamonds can be sourced unethically, causing things such as human rights abuses. However, Blue Nile states on their website that their diamonds are ‘conflict free’ and that they are very passionate about stopping the unethical sourcing of diamonds. Items like engagement rings are the most expensive and important jewelry purchases a person will make in their lifetime, so it is important to get this just right.
Is Blue Nile legal and safe or a scam?
Blue Nile is completely legal and has a secure connection with a valid security certificate. It is safe to enter sensitive information onto the website including card details and passwords.
Upon searching for Blue Nile on search engines the official website appears at the top of the list with a green tick next to it to confirm the website is safe by McAfee WebAdvisor.
The site has a privacy policy that was updated in January 2022. The policy is very detailed and outlines information about how customers’ data is used and stored. It covers customers from different locations around the world and there is also a designated contact email address and phone number assigned for any queries around this.
It is important to be wary of sites selling fake diamonds. There appear to be no fake sites purporting to be Blue Nile, but always ensure when looking for the company that you use the official website link or when searching through an engine such as Google, to pick the result that shows at the top of the results with the green tick next to it.
Is Blue Nile reliable and trustworthy?
Blue Nile’s customer reviews are overall positive. They are rated as great on Trustpilot with a score of 3.9 out of 5 stars from over 300 reviews. SiteJabber gives an overall rating of 4.34 stars out of 5 from 119 reviews. They also have an extensive review from a company called The Diamond Pro where they rate Blue Nile 4.5 out of 5 stars. Your Diamond Guru gives them a slightly less favorable review with an overall 3 out of 5 stars.
Blue Nile has a 30-day money-back guarantee whereby you can return an item within 30 days, free of charge and with no questions asked. However, there are exclusions as to what can be returned such as items on a special offer or engraved items other than rings. Once the item is received it may take up to 10 days for the money to be refunded.
Overall there are more positive reports compared to scam reports. There are a handful of reports. There is a report on a website called Dirty Scam where a customer left a review to say they feel they lost out on a lot of money to Blue Nile. However, the majority of their customers have had a positive experience.
Blue Nile has plenty of contact options on its website, including live chat, email, phone, SMS, and WhatsApp.
The pros and cons of Blue Nile
Pros:
- More affordable than physical stores
- Custom options
- Free returns
- Ethically sourced
- High-quality
- Price match guarantee
Cons:
- Incorrect sizing
- Item not meeting expectations
- Item not as advertised on site
- Reviews from customers feeling ripped off
How does Blue Nile make money?
According to PipeCandy Blue Nile made website sales of $500m-1B within the last 12 months and they have an order volume of 10-50,000 per month.
In 2020, Blue Nile also expanded their operations to include a host of physical showrooms and stores which extends its reach and maximizes sales from customers.
They have a large inventory with more than 150,000 diamonds available which makes them a popular choice, and their engagement ring customization options help bolster money spent by the customer.
Best Blue Nile alternatives
An engagement ring is a big purchase and will be one of the most expensive investments a person will make in their life. Although they have a huge choice on offer and are well established, they are still quite pricey, so you may want to check out other Jewelers to see what they have to offer. So, we have a list of alternatives to take a look at.
FAQ
Is Blue Nile better than Tiffany & Co?
Blue Nile and Tiffany & Co are two of the largest diamond and jewelry retailers. However, it is reported that Blue Nile has a bigger inventory, lower prices, and an overall smoother buyer experience. Tiffany & Co, however, gives a more personal experience, whereas Blue Nile mostly leaves things to the buyer to decide. But as it stands, both companies are extremely well established and reliable, so this comes down to personal preference.
Is Blue Nile GIA certified?
All of Blue Nile’s loose diamonds are analyzed and graded for quality by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). This is known as one of the most respected and accurate labs in the diamond industry.
Why is Blue Nile cheaper than other jewelers?
Blue Nile is mostly web-based, therefore they don’t have all the costs involved with running physical stores. This allows them to sell their products at a lower price, which in turn means they can also maximize sales due to the affordability.
Does Blue Nile have a phone app?
Yes. Blue Nile has an app available via the App store although it does not appear to have been updated for several years.
Does Blue Nile offer international shipping?
Blue Nile offers to ship to 45 different countries around the world. It also has an option of 23 different currencies to pay by on its website.
Does Blue Nile have discounts or sales?
Blue Nile tends to run discounts on popular holidays or discount days such as Black Friday and Valentine’s day. However, you can simply visit their site directly all year round to look for sales and offers.
Is Blue Nile a rip-off?
From our research and through reading numerous customer reviews and feedback, Blue Nile is genuinely considered as good value for money. It’s considered cheaper than large rival jewelers such as Tiffany & Co.