Question:
Hi. I was just wondering does anyone know where is a good place to buy diamonds? I don't want to do it on the internet as I would like to see them for myself. I have tried Hatton Gardens but I think it is still too expensive. I am thinking about travelling abroard. I have heard diamonds are cheaper in New York and Dubai. Any thoughts on this? My lovely new fiance wants to buy one for my engagement ring
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When I got married we were very fortunate to have a family jeweller but the advice that I have always takem aboard is buy second hand. If you don't like the ring get the stone/s reset.
You will need to do your homework but it might be worth looking at auction houses for estate pieces etc. of course a family jeweller who you can trust also helps.
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My boyfriend got my engagement ring wjile we were in new york in jan 06 paid £1100 and just got it valued here and its worth £4000 so well worth a trip (as well as the hol)
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Wow that is an amazing saving!! I also like the idea of second hand as I was planning to buy a loose diamond anyway and have it made.
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have you thought about buying from jersey??tax free
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hmmm no I hadn't thought of that. Anyone had experience of this?
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Unless you shove it where the sun dont shine, you'll get taxed on it when you bring it into the country......whether USA or Jersey.
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If you're wearing the ring, customs officers will never know if you left the country with it and are unlikely to question you about the baubble. My ring was $1,200 in the US and when we priced it in the UK, it would have cost close to £2,500. Well worth a cheap plane ticket to the east coast.
Otherwise, Costco is a good place for diamonds. Good quality, good prices.
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Great post.
Who would have thought you'd ever hear the words 'diamond; and 'Costco' in the same sentence
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Best thing i can say is to get some background knowledge -
see here for one i wrote earlier:
if your looking at travelling to New York - consider Visiting Good Old Gold - Jonathon is a good bloke, very honest, and a diamond enthusiast.
Closer to home, Antwerp - Infinity Diamonds again the chap who owns it is another diamond enthusiast.
Also for consumer independant info on diamonds - see
best thing i can say is look at alot of diamond to begin with - so you get an idea for sizes, style, look... try and view a diamond outside of the jewellers shop lighting - as quite often their lights would make a lump of coal sparkle...as well as hide nasties... like clouds and inclusions.
Important to get a diamond that is Mind Clean - as in that your happy to look at - inclusions arent bad in themselves - its how you react to them.
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Thanks Stumpjumper!! Really useful info. I was just wondering do you have any thoughts on yellow/canary diamonds? Also what is the best cut to show these off? Saw a cushion cut yellow the other day which was just beautiful!!
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Thanks Stumpjumper!! Really useful info. I was just wondering do you have any thoughts on yellow/canary diamonds? Also what is the best cut to show these off? Saw a cushion cut yellow the other day which was just beautiful!!
best off looking on pricescope for better info on fancy coloured diamonds, as i'm not too up on specifics.
They are priced on different citerior to the 'colourless/yellowish brown' range you normally find...
coloured diamonds are cut more to show off their colour rather than sparkle - there is one poster/vendor on PS who has the most wonderful Radiant fancy Yellow stone as her avatar - which i believe is her diamond
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- I have recommended this retailer in a previous thread about jewellery. Take a look at the prices of his certified stones. I think they are unbeatable - better than the jewellery quarter and certainly much much better than high street jewellers like H Samuel. Don't forget that under distance selling regulations if you don't like it you can return it. All you lose is the postage costs.
Mike
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Thanks everyone you have all been really helpful. I am finding some good information on the websites some of you have directed me to and also I am going to look into Antwerp too. My partner really wants to go to New York but I feel that the cost of getting us out there will outstrip the benefits of buying a diamond cheaper.
If anyone has any info on Dubai then I would be happy to hear as we were thinking of going on holiday there anyway in a few months.
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relies of ours went to south africa and brought back diamonds each to have set, they also set them for you there if you know what you want etc.. HTH
Pash x
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I think the first thing to do is decide on the spec of stone you want. Once you've got colour, clarity, carat and cut decided on (which you can do by viewing diamonds anywhere). The setting is also relatively simple as you just need to choose the metal and the type of holding for the ring. Then you can get on to the pricing excercise. I looked at New York, Istanbul, Antwerp and Hong Kong.
Istanbul, after a bit of research, is NOT a good idea. There are a lot of fracture filled diamonds there (depending on certification provided).
Antwerp wasn't as pricey as Hatton gardens, but wasn't anywhere near as good no pricing as New York and Hong Kong.
New York - the exchange rate has now moved somewhat against this (and HK to an extent) but Costco, as already pointed out, does provide very good value on diamonds. Another place to look, although internet only, is blue nile.
I settled on Hong Kong. It's the diamond centre of asia (although Singapore competes). I sent my spec to a number of places and got basic quotes back. A couple of places were particularly helpful. I then visited and had the ring made up while I was there in the setting and with the stone I wanted. The main differentials on diamonds (as they are very much a commodity) are the marketing and the labour. The place we settled on was a very discrete retailer on the 20th floor of a tower in central district. They were primarily a wholesaler, but had a small (not by UK standards) retail section where jewellery was made to order. We settled on a "Cartier" setting in platinum. First time they made the ring up they made some mistakes so redid the whole thing at their cost. Final product was perfect, we got the matching wedding band at the same time.
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I bought my wifes engagement ring from Hatton Gardens. We couldn't find a better quality & colour diamond with that sized carat in a platinum setting from anywhere else at all. Also got an official certificate and insurance valuation.
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I have posted a similar comment on another thread but I am looking for as much advice as possible. So apologies for the double-post.
Can anyone recommend any specific jewellers in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter? I want to buy an engagement ring (in the UK) but the choice in the Quarter is huge!
I have read most of the MSE threads on buying diamonds/rings and I am considering having it made from scratch. I want the stones to be certified (IGI/HRD/GIA) or equivalent.
Who thought getting engaged would be so complicated?!
Many thanks!
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Can anyone recommend any specific jewellers in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter? I want to buy an engagement ring (in the UK) but the choice in the Quarter is huge!
Who thought getting engaged would be so complicated?!
Many thanks!
Hi,
Not the jewellery quarter, but are really good for Diamonds.
When my wife wanted a diamond ring for Christmas, we looked at every shop in the jewellery quarter (well, it felt like it), and we ended back at Roberts where we started. Then blow me but a few months later we did exactly the same thing with my son and his fiancee (now wife).
Well worth a look in my opinion - and very well priced too, for properly certificated diamonds.
Hope that helps,
Regards,
White.
PS as others have said - second hand can also be *really* good value, if you know what you are doing.
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There is no need to go abroad to buy a diamond.
Have a look in H.Samuel or Argos (Elizabeth Duke), most towns have a branch.
Your 'lovely new fiance' is clearly a very luck man