David Adams
Director & software engineer. Founder of TheCaratCut. I write transparent, data-driven jewelry research because nobody else seemed to be doing it honestly.
Why I built TheCaratCut
I couldn’t find a single jewelry review site that was honest about how it makes money, what it actually researched, or who was behind the recommendations. So I built one — same way I’d build any product: define the problem, gather the data, ship something useful.
I am not a GIA-certified gemologist. I don’t pretend to be one. What I bring instead is the toolkit I use in my day job: read the source documents (grading reports, retailer T&Cs, pricing pages), build spreadsheets, look for patterns, talk to real buyers, and write up what I find in plain English.
My day job
I’m a director and software engineer with strong soft skills in mentorship, communication, and teamwork. I’ve led and shipped software for some of the biggest names around, including mobile apps with over 300K daily active users and healthcare projects across diverse user profiles.
Other things I run
How I research and write
- Primary sources
Retailer pricing pages, GIA / IGI / AGS grading report databases, manufacturer documentation, and direct correspondence with brands where possible.
- Real shopping
I shop the retailers I review. I open accounts, request quotes, test return policies, and document what I find.
- AI assistance, disclosed
I use AI tools (including large language models) to help with research synthesis, drafting, and structural editing. Every published article is reviewed and edited by me before it goes live. AI is a tool I use; it is not the author.
- No pay-for-placement
Affiliate partners do not influence editorial decisions. If a partner ranks well, it is because of my own assessment. If a non-partner is the better choice, I say so.
Corrections & contact
If you spot an error, a stale price, or a policy change I missed, email me at davidthecaratcut@gmail.com. I update articles when I learn something is wrong; substantive corrections will note the date and what changed.