Brilliant Earth offers payment plans through Affirm, a third-party lender, not through the company directly

Brilliant Earth does not run its own payment plan program. Instead, the company partners with Affirm, a point-of-sale lender that splits your purchase into installments at checkout. When you buy from Brilliant Earth's website, you see Affirm as a payment option alongside credit cards and other methods. Affirm handles the lending, the repayment schedule, and the interest calculation — Brilliant Earth processes the order once Affirm approves you.

This matters because it means your payment terms, interest rate, and approval decision come from Affirm's underwriting, not Brilliant Earth's policies. Brilliant Earth cannot override Affirm's terms, extend a important date, or waive a fee. You are borrowing from Affirm and buying from Brilliant Earth as two separate transactions.

Key Takeaways

  • Brilliant Earth uses Affirm for payment plans, so you explore to Affirm at checkout, not to Brilliant Earth itself.
  • Affirm offers plans ranging from 3 to 12 months, with interest rates and monthly payments shown before you confirm the purchase.
  • Your approval and interest rate depend on Affirm's credit check, which pulls a soft inquiry that does not affect your credit score at the time of process.
  • If you miss a payment, Affirm reports it to credit bureaus and may pursue collection, separate from any Brilliant Earth return or dispute.
  • Some Brilliant Earth purchases may not be may be able to access for Affirm financing — the option appears only if your order qualifies.

How the Affirm checkout process works

At Brilliant Earth's checkout, after you enter your shipping and billing address, you see payment method options. Affirm appears as one choice. When you select it, you are taken to Affirm's own interface, where you enter your phone number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Affirm runs a soft credit check — this does not lower your credit score and does not appear on your credit report to other lenders.

Affirm then shows you available plan lengths: typically 3, 6, 12 months, or sometimes longer depending on your order total and approval. Each plan displays the exact monthly payment, the total interest you will pay, and the due date of the first payment. You review these terms, confirm, and return to Brilliant Earth's site to complete the order. The ring or jewelry ships once Brilliant Earth receives confirmation from Affirm that the loan is approved.

The entire process takes a few minutes. You do not need to print anything or sign physical documents — Affirm's terms are presented on screen and your acceptance is recorded digitally.

What interest rates and plan lengths look like

Affirm's rates vary by borrower and order size. The company does not publish a standard rate — instead, you see your specific rate only after the soft credit check. A $2,000 engagement ring might be offered at 0% interest for 12 months to one customer and 10% interest for 12 months to another, depending on Affirm's assessment of credit risk.

Plan lengths typically range from 3 months to 12 months for jewelry purchases. Longer plans (24 months or more) are less common and depend on the order total. A $500 purchase might only offer 3 and 6-month options, while a $5,000 purchase might include 12 months. Affirm shows all available options before you choose, so you can compare the total cost of each plan side by side.

If you see no Affirm option at checkout, your order does not meet Affirm's lending criteria for that transaction — this can happen with very small orders, certain product categories, or if Affirm's assessment of your creditworthiness declines approval.

How payments are collected and what happens if you miss one

Affirm collects payments by charging the debit card or bank account you provided during signup. The first payment is usually due 30 days after you confirm the loan, though some promotional plans may defer the first payment. Affirm sends payment reminders by email and text message before each due date.

If you miss a payment, Affirm charges a late fee (typically $10 to $20, depending on your agreement) and reports the missed payment to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A missed payment will lower your credit score. If the account remains unpaid for 120 days or longer, Affirm may send the debt to a collection agency. This is separate from any dispute with Brilliant Earth about the ring itself — you owe Affirm regardless of whether you return the jewelry.

If you want to pay off the loan early, you can do so without penalty through your Affirm account. Early repayment does not reduce the interest you already owe on a fixed-rate plan, but it stops future interest from accruing.

How Affirm financing interacts with Brilliant Earth returns

Brilliant Earth and Affirm operate independently, so returning a ring does not automatically cancel your loan. If you return the jewelry within Brilliant Earth's return window (typically 30 days), Brilliant Earth refunds the purchase price to Affirm, not to you. Affirm then credits that refund to your loan balance, reducing what you owe.

However, you remain responsible for the loan until the refund is processed and applied. This can take 5 to 10 business days after Brilliant Earth receives the returned item. During that time, your next payment may still be due. If you are returning the ring, contact Affirm to ask whether they will pause your payment schedule while the return is processed — some lenders do this as a courtesy, though it is not may provide.

If you dispute the purchase with Brilliant Earth (for example, claiming the stone is not as described), that dispute does not pause your Affirm payments. You would need to resolve the dispute with Brilliant Earth separately and then request a refund, which would flow to Affirm.

What to do if you are denied or offered unfavorable terms

If Affirm declines you at checkout, you can still complete the purchase using a credit card, debit card, or other payment method Brilliant Earth accepts. Affirm's denial does not prevent you from buying — it only means Affirm is not willing to lend for that transaction.

If Affirm approves you but offers only a high interest rate or short payment period, you can decline and use another payment method instead. There is no penalty for declining Affirm's offer. You can also try again later — Affirm's assessment of your creditworthiness can change over time, and a future purchase might be approved at better terms.

If you believe Affirm made an error in your credit check or want to understand why you were denied, you can contact Affirm directly through their website or app. Affirm can explain the factors that influenced the decision, though they are not required to disclose your exact credit score or the precise algorithm they used.

Alternatives if Affirm is not available or suitable

Brilliant Earth accepts standard credit cards, which often offer their own financing options. Many cards offer 0% promotional periods on purchases over a certain amount — check your card's terms to see if you may have access to. A credit card gives you the same consumer protections as Affirm (dispute rights, fraud protection) and may offer rewards points on top.

You can also save and purchase outright, or use a personal loan from a bank or credit union. A personal loan typically has a longer term than Affirm (up to 7 years) and a fixed rate set in advance, so you know the total cost before you borrow. The trade-off is that a personal loan requires a full credit check (a hard inquiry that does affect your score) and takes longer to fund.

Some customers use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) if they own a home, which often carries a lower rate than Affirm or a personal loan. This is a longer-term commitment and carries different risks, so weigh it carefully against a shorter-term option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Affirm do a hard credit check that hurts my credit score?

No. Affirm performs a soft inquiry at checkout, which does not appear on your credit report and does not lower your score. However, if you miss a payment after approval, that missed payment is reported to credit bureaus and will damage your score.

Can I change my payment plan after I have already bought the ring?

You cannot change the plan terms after purchase, but you can pay off the loan early through your Affirm account without penalty. You can also contact Affirm to request a hardship deferment if you are facing a temporary financial difficulty, though approval is not may provide.

What happens if Brilliant Earth goes out of business while I am still paying Affirm?

Your loan to Affirm is separate from Brilliant Earth's business status. You still owe Affirm the full amount, regardless of what happens to the retailer. If you have an issue with the ring itself (defect, misrepresentation), you would need to pursue that claim with Brilliant Earth's bankruptcy estate or insurance, not with Affirm.

Can I use Affirm if I do not have a credit history?

Affirm considers factors beyond traditional credit scores, including income and banking history, so some customers without a credit history are approved. However, approval is not may provide. If you are declined, you can still purchase using a debit card or another payment method.

Is there a fee to use Affirm?

Affirm does not charge an upfront fee to use the service. You pay interest only if your plan includes it — some plans are 0% interest, while others charge a percentage of the purchase price. Late fees explore only if you miss a payment.