russian brilliants simulated diamonds




Frequently Asked Questions

Russian Brilliants® The World’s Finest Lab Grown Simulated Diamonds

Want to be an informed consumer?
 Here are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Russian Brilliants®. We encourage you to contact us if you have any additional questions. We will reply to all of your inquiries. For more information about natural diamonds visit Matt Meis Goldsmith.

Is Russian Brilliants® Really a Diamond?
Russian Brilliants® is a laboratory-grown stone that is classified as a diamond simulant.  A simulated diamond simulates or imitates the appearance of a natural diamond, but does not duplicate the characteristic chemical and physical properties of the natural gemstone. While Russian Brilliants® simulated diamonds do an excellent job of duplicating the appearance of a natural diamond, they are not the same thing as a natural diamond.  This applies to all simulated diamonds on the market today including all of our online competitors.

Russian Brilliants® have their origins in a synthetic material first developed by the French in 1960 and later perfected by the Russian’s in 1973 for use as an optical material in their space program.  Over the last 40 years there have been many advances in the chemical and optical quality of this man made material.  We are the exclusive distributors of Russian Brilliants® which we believe is the most natural looking diamond simulant available today.  Every stone is hand cut and faceted to ideal proportions to most accurately replicate the look of a fine quality natural diamond.  A one carat Russian Brilliants® stone with its brilliance and fire is visually equivalent to the world's finest DE color VVS clarity diamond valued at $17,000.

Are Russian Brilliants® as hard as a real diamond?
Many people don’t realize that if you are overly rough with a natural diamond you can damage it.  That being said, a natural diamond set in a ring or other jewelry will not show the signs of normal daily wear over time such as minor abrasions or scratches.  Anything that’s not a diamond, whether it’s a sapphire, ruby, emerald, blue topaz, amethyst, or any semi-precious or simulated diamond material, will be susceptible to some scratching, chipping or minor abrasions over time as a result of daily wear.  It all depends on your lifestyle and what you do with your hands throughout the day. 

What is your guarantee?
Every Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond comes with a Lifetime Warranty Insurance Policy that covers the following; If at any time your Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond should become abraded or damaged in any way, we will replace the stone with a new one of the same size and shape. You pay only a $75 per carat deductible (minimum deductible $75) which includes the cost to remove the old stone and set the new stone. Additional charges may apply to bezel set stones, stones set in platinum, or if the setting needs repair. Shipping charges will also apply.  This Warranty does not include loss, theft or disappearance.

Will the color ever fade?
Russian Brilliants® are guaranteed never to fade or discolor internally. Some other simulants have internal microscopic pinpoint inclusions that implode when exposed to sunlight, leaving the stone looking cloudy and discolored. 

Will Russian Brilliants® cut glass?
Don’t be confused by this old sales pitch.  Almost all gemstones common in fine jewelry will cut glass.  Why? Diamond is a 10 on the mohs hardness scale.  Glass has a mohs hardness of only 6.5.  Since most gemstones used in jewelry (i.e., sapphire, ruby, topaz, quartz, citrine, amethyst) have a hardness above 6.5 they will all cut glass.  And yes, almost all simulated diamonds including Russian Brilliants® will cut glass. 

What is the difference between Russian Brilliants® and other diamond simulants?
Russian Brilliants® are hand cut, faceted and polished like a natural diamond to ideal proportions to most accurately replicate the look of a fine quality natural diamond.  Russian Brilliants® were the first fine simulated diamond offered online and are still the best simulated diamond available.  We are the most trusted name in the industry. See the BBB link on our home page for details.

How much money does it cost for the average engagement ring?
 See our billboard.  Every customer has their own budget in mind.  We believe it’s our job to create the best ring for you on YOUR budget.  You have many options where to buy your fine jewelry.  Our goal is to earn your trust and then your business.  Keeping your budget in mind is an important part of that process.

Will other people believe your Russian Brilliants® is a natural diamond?
We believe they will.  We have heard many stories from our customers about showing their rings to another jeweler who was impressed with the quality of their “diamond”.  And we have many jewelers who recommend Russian Brilliants® to their customers.

Can Russian Brilliants® be laser inscribed with a personal message on the girdle of the stone?
Yes they can. Your laser inscription can be seen under 10X magnification.  The cost for laser inscription is only $80.

Can my ring be sized if I gain or lose weight?
We will resize your ring one time at no charge up to 60 days from the date of purchase.  Additional re-sizing can be done for a nominal fee. Shipping charges will apply.

Does Russian Brilliants® offer other fine jewelry services?
We offer stone setting, sizing, repair, cleaning and polishing services for any of your other fine jewelry.  All expertly done and at competitive prices.  If you prefer to have your local jeweler size or repair your Russian Brilliants® fine jewelry, just let them know it’s a simulated stone and not a natural diamond.  Tell them we recommend they handle it like they would almost any semi-precious gemstone ring.  They should know what to do. 

Do Russian Brilliants® come in different shapes and sizes?
 Yes. You can purchase sizes ranging from 0.10ct to 15ct, from 3mm to 15mm in diameter.  Custom stone cutting is available if you have a specific shape and size in mind.

Can I purchase Russian Brilliants® in different colors?
Yes. The most popular are the D-E (white) stones.  Light fancy yellow, medium (canary) yellow, and intense fancy yellows are also currently available, in addition to our beautiful pink stones which are stocked in limited quantities and are readily available as a special order from our cutters.  Also available by special order are sapphire blue, ruby red, aquamarine blue, tanzanite blue, emerald green and padparadsha orange.  

How do I clean my Russian Brilliants® fine jewelry?
Our Russian Brilliants® simulated diamonds are guaranteed never to fade or discolor.  What often happens is that over time the ring simply gets dirty, causing it to appear cloudy.  The back of the stone is the most difficult area to keep clean.  Soap and hand lotion and just general daily “stuff” accumulates on the back surface of the stone which prevents light from shining through.  If you’ve ever worn a sapphire, blue topaz, amethyst or just about any semi precious gemstone jewelry you probably noticed the same thing happens.  Our stones are no different from other semi precious gemstones.  They need to be kept clean in order for them to look their best. 

In a small jar mix about 1/3 of a household cleaner with 2/3 water.  I recommend either Mr. Clean, Fantastic, 409 or even Windex.  If they contain some ammonia its ok, but not bleach.  The trick to really cleaning the back of the stone and all the hard to get at little nooks and crannies is to soak the ring overnight.  This gives the cleaning solution a chance to dissolve the built up “stuff” in all those hard to reach places.  After your ring has soaked for several hours place a wash cloth in the bathroom sink, close the sink drain and turn on the cold water.  Hold the ring firmly (it will be slippery) over the wash cloth and rinse it in the running water.  You can even use a wet toothbrush to poke at the open areas of the ring to help remove any loose remaining “stuff”.  Never use toothpaste to clean your jewelry.  And never do this in the kitchen sink.  You would not want your ring to end up in the garbage disposal.

This method will work on yellow or white gold or platinum jewelry set with most natural or simulated gemstones including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, amethyst and blue topaz.  Do not soak pearls, opals, onyx, emeralds or other soft gemstones which may be damaged by the cleaning solution. 

If you would like to send your jewelry to us we will be happy to inspect it.  For a nominal fee we offer professional cleaning, polishing and rhodium plating.  Return Fed Ex ground shipping is only $12. 

Can I trade in my Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond for a larger stone?
We offer you a lifetime ability to upgrade your Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond to a larger Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond or a natural diamond of similar or larger size. The original purchase price of your Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond will be credited in full and will be applied towards the new purchase.  The condition of your Russian Brilliants® simulated diamond may affect the trade in price.  Simply call our office if you wish to upgrade. 

What is your return / refund policy?
Russian Brilliants® has a seven (7) day refund/return/exchange policy.  The seven (7) days begins on the date you receive the package from Russian Brilliants®.  Returned packages must be postmarked within seven (7) days of receipt.  Shipping costs are non-refundable.  Sales with free shipping will be charged the applicable rates.  Time extensions are available on request.  Requests must be made prior to the seventh day and be approved by Russian Brilliants® owner, Matt Meis. 

Every Russian Brilliants® loose stone or jewelry item is examined by two Russian Brilliants® employees prior to shipping to insure the item is in good condition and free of any material defects.  When items are returned to our office they are again examined by two Russian Brilliants® employees to insure they are in their original condition.  We reserve the right to refuse refund or exchange on returned items that have been damaged in any way.   

Stones returned with damage of any kind, whether shipped loose or set in jewelry, will result in a charge of $75 per carat in accordance with our Lifetime Warranty and Insurance Policy posted on our website.  Jewelry returned showing signs of excessive wear or damage will result in appropriate repair charges.

Custom design and special order jewelry are non-refundable and non-returnable. See Custom Design below, or our Design Your Dream Ring page for more details.

Do you offer custom jewelry design services?
Our specialty is creating the finest quality custom jewelry available anywhere.  We go through several steps to insure that you will be happy with your custom design purchase.  Following several conversations with one of our experienced design consultants we will prepare detailed computer generated images of your custom jewelry.  Two changes to the initial renderings are included in the price of your purchase.  More than two sets of changes will result in additional charges.  After you have approved the design you may elect to have us create a silver model of your jewelry to send to you for your final approval.  This allows you to try on your jewelry to guarantee you will be happy with it.  The cost of one silver model is included in your purchase.  Once you are completely satisfied with your custom design item we will ask you to sign and return to us our custom design approval form stating you approve the design and agree that the item is non-refundable and non-returnable.  Approximately two to three weeks later you will receive your newly created custom fine jewelry creation. 

Is Russian Brilliants® fine jewelry available in platinum?All of our fine jewelry can be special ordered in platinum.  Platinum special orders are non-returnable and non-refundable.  We take extra time with each customer to insure they will thoroughly enjoy their platinum fine jewelry purchase. 

Can you help me with earrings, tennis bracelets or other fine jewelry purchases?
Yes. With our 30 plus years of experience in all areas of the fine jewelry business, we strive to be your jewelry supplier for life.

I'm in San Diego. Can we visit your store?
We are an online company so we do not have a traditional retail store.  However if you are local or are visiting San Diego we would be happy to make an appointment to meet with you.  Please call our Customer Service Dept. (858-564-9480 / 800-322-0995) to arrange an appointment.  We look forward to an opportunity to assist you with your fine jewelry needs.

What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards for both online purchases and phone orders.  For your convenience we also accept PayPal.  You may also pay by check if you prefer.

What about sales tax?
If you are a California resident, 8.75% sales tax will apply. 

I'm a jeweler, how can I offer Russian Brilliants® to my customers?
Simply call our office and introduce yourself to our owner Matt Meis. We'll ask you to provide us with your resale and business licenses to qualify for wholesale pricing.

Do you offer a payment plan?
Yes, we want to make purchasing as easy as possible. For complete details see Easy Pay Plan.

How long does delivery take?
Loose stones are normally shipped within 3 days.   All Russian Brilliants® fine jewelry is hand made especially for you by our team of fine craftsmen and quality takes time.  Most items take between 2 to 4 weeks to create depending on the design.  If you have a special occasion coming up soon we will do our very best to expedite your order to insure you have your new Russian Brilliants® fine jewelry in time for your special event.  Just give us a call to discuss your individual needs.

How much do you charge for shipping?
Our corporate shipper is Federal Express.  For your security we ship “signature required.”

FedEx ground = $12 (ground shipping is free on all purchases excluding repairs)
3-day FedEx = $19
2-day FedEx = $29
1-day FedEx = $39

Saturday Fed Ex Delivery = $50
International = $45

Shipping to Hawaii:
Priority Overnight FedEx = $45.00 (Afternoon delivery)
 2-day FedEx = $29.00 (2-day service arrives in 3 days)
FedEx Ground = $12.00 (Arrives in approximately 5 working days)

What is your International shipping Policy?
Russian Brilliants® ships international orders by Federal Express International Priority with signature required.  It is possible that the delivery of your order could be delayed due to customs processing in your country.  Russian Brilliants® has no control over the length of time required for packages to clear customs at the country of destination. 
Custom Fees:
Your packages may be subject to customs fees (taxes, duties, processing fees, brokerage fees, etc.) by the country to which you have your order shipped. These additional charges are the responsibility of the customer.  If you refuse to pay the customs fees when your order arrives, the shipment will be returned to Russian Brilliants® and we will be charged return fees and shipping costs by the customer’s country.  Russian Brilliants® does not issue refunds to customers for customs fees, shipping charges or the cost of your order if you refuse to pay the customs fees and abandon your order.  If you are not familiar with the customs fees and requirements in your country please check with your local customs office for more information

Do you have any other questions we didn’t answer?
Please feel free to call our office to speak with one our friendly Customer Care representatives.

 7 Days a Week  /  7:30AM – 9PM PST

  • (800) 322-0995 Toll Free Customer Care
  • (858) 564-9480 Local Customer Care
  • (888) 991-1299 Vicki
  • (877) 544-2327 Christine

Contact Customer Care