The Clear Cut
The Clear Cut is a NYC-based direct-to-consumer natural diamond jewelry brand selling bespoke custom engagement rings and fine jewelry through virtual and in-person consultations with GIA graduate gemologists, powered by its proprietary gem. platform. Acquired by Signet Jewelers in 2026 and integrated into the Blue Nile segment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Clear Cut does
The Clear Cut is a direct-to-consumer natural diamond jewelry company headquartered in New York City, founded in 2017 by Olivia Landau (CEO, 4th generation diamond expert and GIA Graduate Gemologist) and Kyle Simon (COO, Columbia MBA). The company sells bespoke custom engagement rings alongside an expanding fine jewelry catalog (ready-to-ship rings, wedding bands, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and curated sub-collections such as Tennis, Chelsea Chain, Colette, and Gemstone). All diamonds are GIA-certified and natural, and the company maintains a stated policy of not selling lab-grown diamonds except for a complimentary travel ring add-on. Rings are handcrafted in NYC over a typical 3-6 week production cycle.
The core operational asset is the proprietary "gem." software platform, which powers the customer journey from initial Calendly-scheduled consultation with a GIA Graduate Gemologist, through a personalized gem portal showing curated diamond selections, into custom setting design, production tracking, and shipping. Select diamonds carry Tracr blockchain-based provenance records. The company combines digital-first sales (Shopify storefront, virtual consultations) with a by-appointment NYC showroom and ships globally via FedEx priority overnight with signature-required, fully insured delivery. Affirm provides customer financing up to $15,000, and payment structure is a 1/3 deposit to reserve a diamond with full payment 75 days after deposit or before shipping.
Commercially, The Clear Cut operates a single-segment DTC model targeting millennial and Gen-Z couples seeking transparent, expert-led engagement ring purchases, with a secondary persona of fine jewelry enthusiasts. Marketing leans on Instagram-led content, the Clear Cut Classroom and Clear Cut Couples editorial properties, a podcast, and high-frequency earned media placements in Forbes, Vogue, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Business Insider, and Nylon. In 2026 the company was acquired by Signet Jewelers Ltd (NYSE:SIG, market cap ~USD 3.4 billion) and integrated into its Blue Nile segment to accelerate premium positioning; Forbes has referenced the business as having scaled to approximately $100M in revenue prior to the deal.
The Clear Cut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Clear Cut
- Legal name
- The Clear Cut
- Website
- https://theclearcut.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Clear Cut is a NYC-based direct-to-consumer natural diamond jewelry brand selling bespoke custom engagement rings and fine jewelry through virtual and in-person consultations with GIA graduate gemologists, powered by its proprietary gem. platform. Acquired by Signet Jewelers in 2026 and integrated into the Blue Nile segment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Clear Cut industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Jewelry & Bridal
- NAICS
- Jewelry Retailers (458310)
- SIC
- Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911), Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bespoke Fine Jewelry (Precious Metals & Gemstones) (CRAKAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fine Jewelry Manufacturing & Atelier Production (CRAKAAAK), Polished Diamond Trading & Brokerage (CRAKAJAD), Made-to-Order Gemstone Sourcing & Custom Cutting Coordination (CRAKAHAF)
Keywords
Where The Clear Cut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Clear Cut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Custom Engagement Rings: Bespoke engagement rings created through virtual or in-person consultations. Customers work with GIA gemologists to select diamonds and design custom settings. 1/3 deposit required to reserve diamond.
- Ready-to-Ship Fine Jewelry: Pre-made fine jewelry pieces including engagement rings, wedding bands, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings available for next-day shipping.
- Financing Services: Partnership with Affirm for financing up to $15,000, enabling customers to pay in installments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Engagement Rings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-Stock Fine Jewelry |
| Other | Monthly | Financing Option |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Clear Cut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Clear Cut is a digitally native natural diamond jewelry company that designs, sells, and handcrafts bespoke engagement rings and fine jewelry. Customers work with GIA Graduate Gemologists through virtual or in-person consultations, using a proprietary gem. platform to curate diamonds and design custom settings. The company also offers a ready-to-ship fine jewelry collection made in NYC.
Product overview
The Clear Cut is a digitally native natural diamond jewelry company offering a dual-channel product strategy: (1) a bespoke custom engagement ring service powered by their proprietary gem. platform, where customers consult with GIA graduate gemologists to select natural GIA-certified diamonds and design handcrafted settings made in NYC; and (2) an in-stock fine jewelry collection (The Collection) featuring ready-to-ship rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings with natural diamonds, available for next-day shipping. The company also offers curated sub-collections including the Chelsea Chain, Colette, Gemstone, and Tennis collections, plus a complimentary lab-grown travel ring for engagement ring purchasers. Key differentiators include their gem. customer portal, Tracr blockchain traceability for select diamonds, educational resources (Clear Cut Classroom), and their scholarship program supporting BIPOC women in the jewelry industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Engagement Rings Bespoke natural diamond engagement rings handmade in NYC through a fully virtual or in-person consultation process. Customers work with GIA graduate gemologists to select diamonds and design custom settings.
- In-Stock Fine Jewelry Ready-to-ship fine jewelry collection including rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings made with natural diamonds, available for next-day shipping.
- Wedding Bands Wedding band collection including diamond bands, comfort fit bands, and classic styles in various metals including white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum.
- Men's Bands Men's wedding band collection featuring knife edge, pave edge, and herringbone styles.
- Tennis Collection Tennis bracelet and necklace collection featuring emerald cut and other stone shapes set in gold.
- Chelsea Chain Collection Jewelry collection featuring the signature Chelsea chain design combined with diamonds and gemstones.
- Colette Fine Jewelry Collection Curated fine jewelry collection featuring diamonds with elegant, feminine designs including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and charm hoops.
- Gemstone Collection Jewelry collection featuring natural rubies, emeralds, and sapphires alongside diamonds in various settings.
- Personalized Fine Jewelry Pieces Custom and personalized jewelry pieces including initial pendants, engravings, and custom design inquiries.
Quantifiable outcome
- Next-day shipping on in-stock fine jewelry
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Clear Cut
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Clear Cut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
The Clear Cut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Signet Jewelers (Blue Nile)coreSignet Jewelers completed the acquisition of The Clear Cut in 2026, integrating the brand into its Blue Nile segment to accelerate premium positioning. The acquisition strengthens Signet's digital-native natural diamond jewelry portfolio.
- GIA (Gemological Institute of America)coreAll diamonds are GIA-certified. The company employs GIA Graduate Gemologists for customer consultations and diamond education.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform powering the online store, enabling product catalog management, checkout, and order fulfillment.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Clear Cut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brilliant Earth: DTC jewelry brand offering both natural and lab-grown diamonds with strong online configurator and educational content. Closely comparable to The Clear Cut in digitally native bridal positioning and GIA-graded supply, though broader in lab-grown assortment.
- Blue Nile: Online diamond and fine jewelry retailer now operating alongside The Clear Cut within Signet's portfolio. Directly comparable in DTC bridal focus, configurable engagement ring buying, and emphasis on education/transparency.
- James Allen: Signet-owned DTC diamond retailer with 360° diamond viewing technology and custom ring design. Highly comparable in online-first bridal model and now a sister brand within Signet's ecosystem.
- Vrai: Vertically integrated lab-grown diamond DTC brand with strong direct-to-consumer design language. Comparable in digitally native bridal positioning and design-led storytelling, though opposite in lab-grown vs. natural-only positioning.
- Mejuri: DTC fine jewelry brand targeting millennials and Gen-Z with everyday fine jewelry and gold pieces. Comparable in digitally native positioning, social-first marketing, and accessible luxury segment, though broader category than bridal.
Broad incumbents
- Kay Jewelers: Signet's largest U.S. mall-based jewelry banner offering bridal and fine jewelry at mainstream price points. Comparable in bridal product category and now part of the same parent company as The Clear Cut.
- Tiffany & Co. Iconic luxury jewelry house (LVMH) with flagship bridal collection. Comparable in bridal category leadership and natural diamond focus, but operates at far higher price points and broader luxury scale.
- Zales: Signet-owned national jewelry retailer with bridal focus. Comparable in bridal product overlap but operates at lower price points and broader retail distribution than The Clear Cut's premium positioning.
Emerging players
- Grown Brilliance: Lab-grown diamond DTC jewelry brand focused on bridal and engagement rings. Comparable in digital-first bridal model and target demographic, though differentiated by lab-grown-only positioning.
- Ritani: Online diamond and engagement ring retailer offering in-store try-on through partner jewelers. Comparable in online-first bridal and customizable engagement ring buying, with hybrid online/offline distribution model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Clear Cut social profiles
Digital presenceThe Clear Cut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Clear Cut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Clear Cut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Clear Cut M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Clear Cut
What does The Clear Cut do?
The Clear Cut is a digitally native natural diamond jewelry company that designs, sells, and handcrafts bespoke engagement rings and fine jewelry. Customers work with GIA Graduate Gemologists through virtual or in-person consultations, using a proprietary gem. platform to curate diamonds and design custom settings. The company also offers a ready-to-ship fine jewelry collection made in NYC.
Is The Clear Cut a public or private company?
The Clear Cut is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Clear Cut founded?
The Clear Cut was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Clear Cut based?
The Clear Cut is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Clear Cut make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Engagement Rings are the primary driver. The others are ready-to-Ship Fine Jewelry and financing Services.
Who are The Clear Cut's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brilliant Earth, Blue Nile, James Allen, Vrai and Mejuri. Broad incumbents are Kay Jewelers, Tiffany & Co. and Zales. Emerging players are Grown Brilliance and Ritani.
Does The Clear Cut have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Clear Cut.
What industry is The Clear Cut in?
The Clear Cut's product category is Fine Jewelry & Bridal. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAHAA, Bespoke Fine Jewelry (Precious Metals & Gemstones), with a secondary code of CRAKAAAK, Fine Jewelry Manufacturing & Atelier Production. Its NAICS code is 458310 and its SIC code is 3911.