At Alx&Co., we do 100% of our diamond and gemstone sourcing on a completely customized basis. This means that we do not keep an inventory of diamonds or gemstones on hand; rather, we order directly from our trusted vendors based on each client’s individual goals.

We start by discussing your goals for your selection, your budget, and any sourcing considerations that you would like us to keep in mind. We then order a collection of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, or any other gemstone for you to review in-house with your Design lead. Your Design Lead will walk you through the grading of each gem and you’ll learn how to evaluate which one works best for your own specific goals.

Before we begin sourcing your gemstone, we secure a $300 deposit which is credited towards your final design balance.

Natural mined conventional diamonds

Natural mined Canadian diamonds

Lab created diamonds (we prefer USA-made, carbon-neutral, non post-production treated diamonds, but we source other varieties as well)

Recycled diamonds

Antique & uniquely-shaped diamonds

Salt & pepper diamonds

Natural Montana sapphires

Natural fine Ceylon sapphires

Natural fine rubies & emeralds

Other gemstones by request

We realize that not all clients benefit from an iterative process, so for those who prefer a more expedited sourcing option we offer house-selected round diamonds for both natural or lab-created options. We limit this option to round diamonds because truly - most round diamonds, if well selected, will appear very similar different designs. Our price point for our Expedited Diamond Sourcing option is on-par with what you would find in an online market.

Many other jewelers and jewelry stores work the opposite from us. They purchase parcels of diamonds and gemstones in bulk from their vendors and then sell that inventory to their clients over time. We find that our approach makes us nimble to our client needs and ensures that we take a completely neutral approach to your sourcing preferences. This results in a dialogue that is free from sales pressure for our clients, ensuring that they get the education and options needed to make the right choice for their own project, rather than the right choice for your sales person. We find that by slowing down and evaluating all options, our clients leave with an educated and confident perspective on this very personal decision.

With major names such as Brilliant Earth and Blue Nile offering convenient delivery options and seemingly easy online browsing options, it might feel like you can snag a deal by purchasing your diamond through a “direct to buyer” vendor. We do work with clients who source their diamonds this way, but we offer caution to those considering this route. Buying a diamond is a very subjective decision, and while you can do lots of research online to figure out which combination of grading is “right”, we feel quite strongly that seeing diamonds or gemstones in person and having the opportunity to compare like-to-like is the essential ingredient to selecting the option that is right for you. Often, we find that clients overbuy when sourcing online (i.e. buying a grade or two higher than they can actually distinguish), which drives up the cost of the diamond unnecessarily. We also find that clients who purchase diamonds through “direct to buyer” vendors don’t have a good grasp of their selection. They have never looked at it under a loupe, they don’t understand the cut characteristics, or they may not have understood treatment annotations about their piece.

We also find it extremely useful to work directly with your ring designer to source your feature gemstone, because your designer will be able to help you contextualize how your selection will work for your design goals. By keeping both the gemstone selection and the design element under one roof, you will ensure that your process is seamless, thoughtful, and tailored to your own preferences, from start to finish.

Finally, we gently encourage you to consider that small businesses like ours distinguish ourselves through impeccable service, creative design, and quality craftsmanship that we stand behind. Larger retailers simply do not have the same approach: theirs is a model of quantity over quality, and your selection is just another transaction in their books. If you are interested in keeping service-based companies such as our in business, you’ll want to consider that each purchase with Brilliant Earth or Blue Nile removes a potential source of revenue from small businesses like ours who employ skilled craftspeople right here in your neighborhood.