Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry Comparison 2023 – Where should you buy?

Last Updated on July 29, 2023 by Rolf Hartmann

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If you’re looking for diamonds or diamond jewelry, especially the cheaper and better lab-grown diamonds, you’ve probably heard of Clean Origin or Jared Jewelry. In this comparison, we’ll see if Clean Origin or Jared Jewelry is better for your next diamond purchase.

Both Clean Origin and Jared have a presence in both online and physical stores when it comes to selling jewelry. On the other hand, Jared has a more visible offline presence than Origin, which primarily focuses on online diamond shopping. This distinction is significant, as we will see in our comparison of Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry.

Our Jared Jewelry review noted that they outperform their competitors like Kay Jewelers, Helzberg Diamonds, Diamonds Direct, and Zales. However, compared to the top online diamond retailers like Ritani and James Allen, Jared falls behind. Let’s explore whether Jared Jewelry can match top-rated Clean Origin or not.

We will compare Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry in-depth, considering factors such as diamond selection, pricing, quality, and shopping experience. We will make our recommendation for the best place to buy diamonds after weighing the pros and cons of both.

Continue reading to learn if purchasing your next diamond from Clean Origin or Jared Jewelry is right for you.

A quick comparison of Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry

Introduction to Clean Origin

Three diamond jewelry industry heavyweights founded Clean Origin in 2017 to provide ethical and environmentally sustainable diamonds. They are one of the most popular online diamond jewelers, specializing in lab-created diamonds.

Clean Origin sells lab-grown diamonds, custom-made jewelry (including lab diamond engagement rings), wedding sets, earrings, and bracelets. They offer lab-grown diamonds that have been independently graded, free resizing, a generous 100-day return policy, and free expedited and insured delivery.

Learn more in our thorough Clean Origin review.

Introduction to Jared Jewelry

Jared Jewelry, a Signet subsidiary, has a long history dating back to 1910 when Henry Shaw founded Sterling Jewelers. It grew over time through strategic acquisitions to become one of the top jewelry brands in the United States. Signet, the world’s largest jewelry retailer, bought Sterling Jewelers in 1987 and has since acquired other well-known jewelry brands such as Zale Corporation, James Allen, and Blue Nile.

Jared stands out among the many Sterling brands as a more upscale diamond jeweler typically found outside mall establishments. The store offers a more expensive and superior shopping experience.

Sterling and Jared have been involved in several controversies, including a class-action lawsuit for alleged discrimination and a case involving customer pressure to purchase services.

Learn more in our in-depth Jared Jewelry review

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Lab-grown diamond selection

To begin, let’s compare the diamond and jewelry selections of Clean Origin and Jared Jewelry to see who has more options. We’ll start with Clean Origin’s inventory, then move on to Jared Jewelry’s, and finally compare the two.

Clean Origin diamond quality and inventory

Clean Origin has a wide range of high-quality lab-grown diamonds. There are approximately 70,000 loose lab-grown diamonds in various shapes, sizes, and quality. We found 45 matches in their inventory when looking for our reference diamond (see below), and nearly all we found were of exceptional quality.

Our reference diamond is a round brilliant-cut lab-grown diamond between 0.93-1.07 carats. The reference diamond clarity is in the range VS1 to VS2 and with a diamond color grade of I or J. The lab diamond cut grade is always the highest. For most lab-grown diamonds (certified by IGI) that is ideal.

Clean Origin also has a large selection of ready-to-ship jewelry designs, ranging from traditional to more modern and creative styles.

Jared Jewelry diamond quality and inventory

Surprisingly, both Jared and Clean Origin offer a diverse selection of diamonds. Our review of Jared Jewelry shows that their loose diamond collection is sourced from the same platform as the well-known James Allen.

If you’re looking for diamond jewelry, consider James Allen’s selection. They have an impressive inventory of 11,639 lab diamonds. In comparison, Jared Jewelry only has 5,294 lab diamonds with the same minimum standards of excellent/ideal cut, J color, and VS clarity listed. James Allen is one of our most highly-rated diamond jewelers.

Learn how James Allen compares to Clean Origin.

The diamond selection differs significantly between Jared and Clean Origin. Jared has higher color grades, which results in a wide range of D and E grades. On the other hand, Clean Origin has over 600 options for I or J lab diamonds with a minimum VS2 clarity and ideal cut, compared to only 41 at Jared Jewelry. While Jared has a large selection of high-color grades, they are more expensive.

Unfortunately, Jared does not offer lower-color grades for lab diamonds, frequently the best diamond deals. The D or E grades are typically more expensive, while the difference between an H, G, or F may be imperceptible. Choosing an I or J may be a great option, too.

Jared’s larger lab diamonds have been graded as ideal for the cut, the highest grade available. This is a significant benefit for customers seeking the highest quality. If you want a smaller diamond, be wary of those with a “very good” cut grade, as they may not be very good.

We’ve noticed that some lab diamonds graded VS1-2 by Jared may not be completely eye-clean, despite their satisfactory clarity grade. Before making a purchase, it is best to conduct extensive research and carefully examine the clarity grade of each diamond.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Price comparison

In this section of our Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry comparison review, we will analyze and compare the prices of both brands, beginning with Clean Origin.

Clean Origin diamond prices

Clean Origin has some of the most reasonable and competitive prices for loose lab-grown diamonds on the market. Clean Origin is comparable to Ritani in price (see our Ritani review). As a result, when you shop at Clean Origin, you’ll get a great deal!

Clean Origin’s price ranged from $800 to $1,170 compared to our reference diamond. According to our comparisons with other diamond jewelers, these are among the most affordable lab-grown diamonds we’ve seen anywhere.

The pre-set diamond jewelry from Clean Origin is very cheap, too. Their 1/2 carat (tw.) solitaire pendant, for example, costs $695, which is less than at Ritani ($900) or James Allen ($950) using a similar-sized but better-cut graded diamond.

Rather than buying a pre-made diamond jewelry piece, we strongly advise you to create your own by selecting your own diamond. Doing it this way will give you a much better diamond. Clean Origin is a great place to make your own jewelry.

Jared Jewelry diamond prices

We will again use our reference diamond to compare the prices of Clean Origin and Jared Jewelry.

Jared Jewelry sells 1-carat lab diamonds for between $1,470 and $2,670. However, our research suggests that the lower-priced options’ diamond clarity may be lower than their grade suggests.

When assessing the selection of loose diamonds, it appears that the lowest price for a 1-carat lab diamond with acceptable diamond clarity at Jared is around $1,800. However, Clean Origin, Ritani, Grown Brilliance, and With Clarity provide top-notch 1-carat lab diamonds for under $1000, while James Allen and Brilliant Earth offer exceptional 1-carat lab diamonds starting at $1000.

So compared with our recommended best places to purchase lab diamonds, Jared’s prices are significantly higher. However, they are not as excessive as those of mall jewelers like Diamonds Direct or Zales, who charge much more.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry price summary

After comparing diamond prices at Clean Origin and Jared Jewelry, we discovered that Clean Origin’s are the lowest we’ve seen, on par with, if not lower than, those at Ritani and much lower than at Jared.

While the prices at Jared Jewelry are higher than what we’ve found at our top-rated diamond jewelers, they are still reasonably priced compared to other mall jewelers. However, when it comes to online jewelers, we prefer Clean Origin over Jared Jewelry.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Shopping experience

The shopping experience and the ability to inspect prospective diamonds are important factors to consider when purchasing a diamond. In this comparison, we will analyze and compare the purchasing experiences at Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry.

The Clean Origin shopping experience

Clean Origin has a user-friendly website and provides a simple, hassle-free purchasing experience. You can view 360-degree high-definition videos and images of all diamonds and all diamond data and grading reports to assess diamond quality. On the site, diamond certificates from independent grading institutes are readily available.

Clean Origin also provides expert assistance through email, phone, and live chat with diamond experts. Every Clean Origin customer service team member has at least five years of diamond industry experience and is well-trained to assist you in selecting the ideal diamond.

The setup isn’t quite as sophisticated as James Allen’s, but it’s still excellent. In addition, you can visit the Clean Origin store in Dallas or set up a video consultation with them to walk you through the diamond-buying process.

The setup isn’t as advanced as James Allen’s, but it’s still very good. You can also visit Clean Origin stores in Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and DC. Or you can schedule a video consultation to walk you through the diamond-buying process.

Next, let’s compare Jared’s diamond-buying experience with Clean Origin’s.

The Jared Jewelry shopping experience

When comparing the shopping experiences of Jared Jewelry and Clean Origin, remember that Clean Origin focuses on online sales, whereas Jared is primarily a physical diamond retailer.

Jared, predominantly a brick-and-mortar retailer, has established its brand as a premium alternative to mall jewelry stores, setting itself apart from sister Signet brands such as Kay, Zales, and the new addition Diamonds Direct. When you walk into a Jared store, the shopping experience does have a more upscale feel to it.

But our recommendation is to do your shopping online. This is because you will not only find more competitive prices, but your shopping experience will also be enhanced. You can compare thousands of diamonds side by side from the comfort of your couch and examine diamond grading reports and magnified HD images.

Furthermore, diamond jewelers such as Grown Brilliance and James Allen allow you to preview how a specific diamond will appear in various settings.

The best part, however, is that you won’t have to deal with pushy salespeople.

The shopping experience at Jared Jewelry can be hit or miss. Shopping for loose diamonds is similar to that of James Allen, as mentioned previously in our comparison of Jared vs. Clean Origin.

Unfortunately, inventory is limited, and prices are higher. Despite the absence of certain James Allen features, the shopping experience remains satisfactory.

This online platform not only assists you in locating loose lab diamonds but it also allows you to design your own diamond ring. The selection of ring settings is quite impressive, allowing you to pair the ideal diamond with the perfect ring design. Unlike James Allen’s advanced ring designer tool, you can only see the ring with a standard diamond image.

Jared Jewelry employs the same platform and user interface as Kay and Zales when looking for pre-set diamond jewelry. Which is not a good thing.

It appears to be an out-of-date design from ten years ago. Worse, the functionalities are limited, the details are insufficient, and the options are few. So, your options are limited if you want to personalize something other than a diamond engagement ring.

Unfortunately, your options are limited, and you do not have the freedom to choose the exact diamond you want. Although Jared Jewelry sells loose diamonds, the selection is limited to specific price ranges that lack critical information about the diamond’s quality.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry shopping experience summary

We discovered that Clean Origin outperforms Jared Jewelry in all areas, including customizing jewelry, purchasing loose diamonds, and finding pre-set jewelry, after comparing their shopping experiences.

The experience of shopping for loose diamonds and customizing rings at Jared Jewelry was satisfactory, but the experience of shopping for anything else was disappointing. Clean Origin, on the other hand, exceeded all expectations.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Sustainability

When we compared Clean Origin vs. Brilliant Earth, we found that while Clean Origin has an impressive sustainability profile, Brilliant Earth and Vrai and Pandora are leaders in sustainability and ethical diamond retail. But what about Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry? In the following, we’ll compare Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry to learn who provides the most sustainable diamond options.

Clean Origin sustainability

Clean Origin was founded to drive sustainability and quality and provide conscious shoppers with ethical diamond alternatives. As a result, they have always favored lab-grown diamonds over mined diamonds because they are more environmentally friendly.

Clean Origin also promises to plant one tree for every dollar spent, and all of the company’s metals are recycled, including white, yellow, rose gold, and platinum.

Jared Jewelry sustainability

When comparing Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry, it is clear that Jared’s advertising does not promote diamond sustainability. Although Jared briefly mentions sustainable and conflict-free sourcing on their website, it appears to be a minor concern with little information.

According to Jared, Signet has signed various protocols to address sustainability concerns, though some may argue that these protocols have limitations.

Clean Origin prioritizes sustainability over Jared Jewelry. Jared does not promote lab-grown diamonds, a more sustainable diamond option, and they do not strive for sustainable practices in their sourcing and packaging processes.

So, in terms of sustainability, Clean Origin outperforms Jared Jewelry.

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Shipping and Returns

Every domestic US order from Clean Origin includes free FedEx expedited shipping that is fully insured, and all orders from Jared Jewelry include free 2nd-day delivery via UPS. We believe that for high-ticket items like diamonds, even for better-priced lab-grown diamonds, you should expect expedited delivery. While Jared does not offer this, Clean Origin delivers.

Jared Jewelry provides a standard 30-day return policy that includes free return shipping. While this is expected in the industry, Jared Jewelry sets itself apart from other mall-favorite peers. Nonetheless, Clean Origin outshines both with an impressive 100-day return period!

Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry: Pros and Cons

We’ve compiled a list of the benefits and drawbacks of Jared Jewelry and Clean Origin for you to weigh to make an informed choice between the two.

Pros of Clean Origin (Pros)

Cons of Clean Origin

Pros of Jared Jewelry

Cons of Jared Jewelry

Summary Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry Comparison

If you didn’t read all the way to the end, you might have guessed that Clean Origin outperformed Jared Jewelry in our review. Clean Origin is unquestionably the clear winner.

It’s OK if you skipped ahead, but let’s summarize our Clean Origin vs. Jared Jewelry comparison.

Clean Origin is the clear winner when finding high-quality diamonds at low prices. Their inventory is extensive, and their diamonds, particularly those with an ideal cut grade, are high quality.

Clean Origin is the best place to go if you want to make your own personalized jewelry. They provide a variety of customization options, high-quality diamonds, and reasonable prices.

Clean Origin has a more extensive selection of diamonds, including lab-created diamonds, than Jared. Their loose lab diamond selection and shopping experience particularly impressed us.

Having said that, we were pleasantly surprised by Jared’s decent collection of lab-grown and mined diamonds. Shopping there was decent, but mostly good when searching for loose diamonds for customization.

However, Jared falls short in terms of offering other diamond jewelry options. Rather than utilizing James Allen’s platform, Jared opts for the same platform as Kay and Zales (read our Kay review and Zales review to learn why this is not great).

However, Jared falls short of providing additional diamond jewelry options. Rather than using James Allen’s platform, Jared uses the same platform as Kay and Zales (read our Kay review and Zales review to find out why this isn’t a good idea).

When it comes to pricing, Clean Origin once again takes the lead. Jared Jewelry is less expensive than comparable physical jewelry stores but lags far behind online jewelers such as Clean Origin. Expect to pay a significant premium at Jared vs. Clean Origin.

Jared and Clean Origin only have one thing in common: shipping and returns. Jared provides exceptional services on par with the best diamond retailers online.

In short, if you’re looking for the best mall jewelers, Jared Jewelry is probably the place to go.

But why settle for less when you can shop online, save money, and get a better diamond from Clean Origin?

Clean Origin is so much better than Jared Jewelry – and is one of our recommended best places to buy diamond engagement rings and lab-grown diamonds.

More diamond seller comparisons and reviews

At LabGrownCarats.com, we review diamond sellers with a particular focus on lab-created diamonds. We want to help you get the best places to purchase diamond jewelry and the perfect lab-grown diamond. We compare diamond sellers in our vs. reviews to help you decide between specific jewelers – should you be in doubt.