Affiliate Disclosure

The short version (FTC disclosure)

JewelEditor participates in affiliate programs run by major engagement-ring retailers, typically through networks like CJ Affiliate, Impact, and Awin. The specific retailer mix changes as we get accepted into (or apply to) different programs. Where we link to a retailer with affiliate disclosure language nearby, assume we may earn a commission when you click and complete a qualifying purchase. The commission is paid by the retailer, not added to your price.

What affiliate commission does and doesn't buy

What it buys:

• The web hosting, domain, and software that runs the site
• The time we spend researching, testing, photographing, and writing
• The data subscriptions we use for price tracking and SEO research
• Occasional sample purchases when we test something hands-on

What it doesn't buy:

• Editorial recommendations. We don't list a retailer because the commission is higher.
• Coverage. We don't add a brand to a guide because they reached out. We add them if they belong in the comparison set on merit.
• Removal of negative findings. If a retailer has a bad return policy or weak grading, we say so even if they pay us commission.
• Sponsored placements disguised as editorial. We have never accepted payment for a review, and never will. If we accept paid coverage in the future, we'll mark it "Sponsored" in 16pt at the top of the page.

How our recommendations are actually made

For every brand or product we recommend:

1. We compare it against the relevant alternatives at the same price tier. A retailer doesn't get into a "best of" guide unless they'd be there if no commission existed.
2. We verify pricing against the actual retailer page at publication time, and re-verify quarterly. Prices change; we update.
3. We disclose tradeoffs both ways. If a retailer has lower prices but a weaker return policy, both facts go in the guide.
4. We use the same product the reader would. No special relationships, no early-access pricing, no industry discounts.

Two specific commitments

1. No commission-weighted recommendations. Affiliate commission rates vary meaningfully across jewelry retailers, sometimes by a factor of three or four. If we ever recommend a higher-commission retailer over a better lower-commission option, you should call us out. Email editor@jeweleditor.com.

2. No "buy now or miss out" manipulation. We don't run countdown timers, false "limited stock" claims, or fake-urgency language to push purchases. Engagement rings are not a clearance sale. If we ever do, same email above.

Why we disclose this so explicitly

The jewelry affiliate space has a credibility problem. Many sites, especially the ones that get bought up and consolidated, drift toward optimizing their "recommendations" around which retailer pays the most. We'd rather be the site that loses money by recommending the better option than the site that loses readers by recommending the higher-paying one.

The site's long-term value depends on you trusting our picks. Our long-term business model depends on the site being trusted. Those incentives align, and this disclosure exists so you can verify they do.

Inline disclosure on every page

Every blog post, FAQ entry, and tool result page that contains affiliate links displays a small "We earn affiliate commission" line in the footer. This page is the long-form version. See also our editorial standards and methodology.

Questions or concerns

editor@jeweleditor.com. We read every email.