Brilliant Earth vs. Gorjana: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Brilliant Earth specializes in ethically sourced fine jewelry, including engagement and wedding rings made with conflict-free diamonds and recycled metals, placing it at a premium price point. In contrast, Gorjana offers affordable, minimalist, and trend-focused jewelry like layered necklaces and stackable rings designed for everyday casual wear.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right jewelry brand for your style and budget.

Brilliant Earth: The Leader in Ethical Fine Jewelry

Brilliant Earth is built on a foundation of transparency, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. The brand appeals to shoppers making significant purchases - like engagement rings or anniversary gifts - who value knowing their jewelry is responsibly made. They focus on classic, elegant designs with high-quality craftsmanship, positioning themselves as a go-to for heirloom-quality pieces that you can feel good about wearing.

• Product mix: Specializes in fine jewelry with a heavy focus on engagement rings, wedding bands, and pieces featuring conflict-free diamonds and ethically sourced gemstones.
• Price point: Mid to high-end. Simpler pieces start around $500, while custom engagement rings and more intricate designs can easily run into several thousands of dollars.
• Quality & Materials: Utilizes recycled precious metals like gold and platinum, along with lab-grown and Beyond Conflict Free™ natural diamonds. The construction is meant for longevity.
• Style & Aesthetic: Timeless, sophisticated, and classic. The designs favor enduring styles over fast-fashion trends, making them suitable for major life occasions.
• Sizing/Fit: Offers comprehensive ring sizing guides and custom sizing options to ensure a perfect fit, which is critical for investment pieces.
• Sustainability: A core pillar of the brand. They are known for supply chain transparency, B Corp certification, and a commitment to responsible sourcing practices.
• Return policy: 30-day return and exchange window, with free shipping on most items.

Brilliant Earth is the ideal choice for shoppers seeking investment-quality fine jewelry for milestone moments, with a firm guarantee of ethical and sustainable sourcing.

Shop Brilliant Earth: brilliantearth.com

Gorjana: The Go-To for Everyday Layering

Based in California, Gorjana captures a laid-back, chic aesthetic with its collection of delicate, wearable jewelry. The brand is designed for a youthful, trend-conscious customer who wants to build a versatile jewelry collection without a major financial investment. The emphasis is on minimalist pieces that can be easily layered, mixed, and matched to complement any daily outfit.

• Product mix: Wide range of trendy pieces including delicate layered necklaces, stackable rings, simple bracelets, hoops, and stud earrings.
• Price point: Very accessible and affordable, with most pieces falling between $30 and $150. This encourages collecting multiple items.
• Quality & Materials: Primarily uses gold vermeil, sterling silver, and plated metals. The pieces are well-made for their price but are not designed for heirloom longevity.
• Style & Aesthetic: Minimalist, versatile, and effortless. Gorjana’s designs are perfect for creating the popular layered look that complements casual and business-casual styles.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing is generally standard, with many necklaces and bracelets offering adjustable clasps for flexibility.
• Shopping Experience: Focused on convenience with a sleek, easy-to-use website, retail locations in popular areas, fast shipping, and easy returns.
• Sales: Frequently runs sales and promotions, making their already affordable pieces even more accessible.

Gorjana excels at providing stylish, budget-friendly jewelry perfect for everyday wear and for those who enjoy keeping up with modern trends.

Shop Gorjana: gorjana.com

Brilliant Earth vs. Gorjana Comparison

Price Comparison

The price difference between the two brands is significant and reflects their different market positions. Gorjana is built on accessibility, with nearly its entire collection priced under $150. It’s perfect for casual gifting, seasonal updates, or building a varied collection without a large investment. You can buy multiple pieces for the cost of a single, simple item at its competitor.

Brilliant Earth operates in the fine jewelry space, where prices start in the hundreds and rapidly climb into the thousands. The cost is justified by the use of solid gold or platinum, ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones, and the detailed craftsmanship required for engagement rings and heirloom pieces. This is an investment brand, not one for impulse buys.

Quality & Materials

Brilliant Earth's commitment to quality is evident in its materials: recycled 18k solid gold, platinum, and diamonds with transparent origins. These materials are durable, hold their value, and are meant to be worn for a lifetime, often passed down through generations. The value is in both the material and the ethical guarantee behind it.

Gorjana's jewelry uses materials like sterling silver, gold plating, and gold vermeil (a thicker layer of gold over sterling silver). While perfectly suitable for daily wear, these materials require more care to prevent tarnishing and are less durable than solid metals. The quality is excellent for the price point, but it's fashion jewelry - not fine jewelry.

Style & Aesthetic

Style is a key differentiator. Brilliant Earth focuses on classic, timeless designs that won’t go out of style. Think elegant solitaire settings, simple diamond pendants, and classic wedding bands. Their aesthetic is refined and sophisticated, intended for special occasions and to complement a polished look.

Gorjana is the opposite, leaning heavily into current trends. Dainty chains perfect for layering, minimalist stacking rings, and small huggie hoops are hallmarks of their brand. The aesthetic is casual, effortless, and Californian-cool. It's designed for the person who sees jewelry as part of their daily fashion expression.

Sustainability & Ethics

For Brilliant Earth, sustainability is not a feature - it's the entire brand identity. They are leaders in supply chain transparency, using recycled precious metals to reduce mining impact and offering both Beyond Conflict Free natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds. Shoppers who prioritize ethical considerations above all else will find Brilliant Earth aligns perfectly with their values.

Gorjana also makes efforts toward sustainability, including using recycled metals, but it is not the central focus of its marketing or brand story. They prioritize responsible manufacturing, but they do not provide the in-depth sourcing reports or achieve the level of certification that Brilliant Earth does.

Shopping Experience

Shopping at Brilliant Earth often involves a more considered, high-touch process. Their website offers educational guides, 360-degree views of rings, and detailed customization options. They also offer virtual appointments and physical showrooms for a personalized consultation, which is crucial for a large purchase.

The Gorjana experience is fast, easy, and very user-friendly. Their website is optimized for quick browsing and purchasing, with an emphasis on style guides showing how to layer pieces. With frequent sales, fast shipping, and a simple return policy, it’s a low-risk, convenient shopping experience.

Return Policies

Brilliant Earth offers a 30-day return policy for a full refund, crucial for a high-value purchase. This gives customers peace of mind if an expensive piece isn't exactly what they envisioned. Most made-to-order engagement rings are included.

Gorjana also offers an easy return process that encourages trying new styles. Their policy is straightforward and aligned with their focus on customer convenience, making it simple to send back pieces that don't work out.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands offer excellent products, but they cater to completely different needs and priorities.

Choose Brilliant Earth if:

• You are buying an engagement ring, wedding band, or another piece of fine jewelry meant to last a lifetime.
• Ethical sourcing, sustainability, and transparency are your top priorities in a jewelry brand.
• You have a larger budget and view jewelry as a long-term investment.
• You prefer classic, timeless styles over fast-fashion trends.

Choose Gorjana if:

• You want affordable, trendy jewelry for everyday wear and layering.
• You like to update your jewelry collection frequently to match current styles.
• You're looking for a stylish, high-quality gift under $100.
• Your priority is a casual, effortless look and a convenient shopping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brilliant Earth or Gorjana more expensive?

Brilliant Earth is significantly more expensive. Its pieces are considered fine jewelry, often costing thousands of dollars, whereas Gorjana focuses on affordable fashion jewelry, with most items priced between $30 and $150.

Which brand has better quality jewelry?

The brands' quality reflects their purpose. Brilliant Earth offers superior quality suitable for heirloom pieces, using solid gold, platinum, and high-grade diamonds. Gorjana provides excellent quality for its price point but uses gold-plated and gold vermeil materials that are designed for trendy, everyday wear rather than lifelong durability.

Which brand is better for engagement rings?

Brilliant Earth is the clear choice for engagement rings. They specialize in this category, offering a wide array of customizable designs, conflict-free stones, and expert guidance for a major life purchase. Gorjana does not offer engagement rings.

Is Gorjana jewelry real gold?

Gorjana primarily uses gold-plated brass or gold vermeil, which is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver. This makes it more affordable than solid gold. Brilliant Earth uses solid 18k gold (both white and yellow) and platinum.

Is Brilliant Earth a trustworthy, ethical brand?

Yes, Brilliant Earth is one of the most recognized leaders in ethical and sustainable jewelry. It is a certified B Corporation and goes to great lengths to ensure supply chain transparency, from sourcing conflict-free stones to using recycled metals.

Can you wear Gorjana jewelry in the shower?

It's generally not recommended to wear gold-plated or vermeil jewelry like Gorjana's in the shower, as repeated exposure to water and chemicals can cause the plating to wear away faster. Removing it will extend its life and shine.

What is Brilliant Earth's return policy?

Brilliant Earth offers complimentary 30-day returns and exchanges, giving customers time to ensure they are happy with their significant purchase. This includes free return shipping for U.S customers.

Does Gorjana have sales?

Yes, Gorjana has sales periodically throughout the year, especially around major holidays. This makes their already affordable jewelry even more accessible.

Which brand is better for gifting?

It depends on the occasion. Gorjana is perfect for birthdays, holidays, or "just because" gifts thanks to its accessible price point and trendy styles. Brilliant Earth is the better choice for major milestone events like engagements, anniversaries, or graduations where a significant, lasting piece is more appropriate.