Diamonds in Antwerp; Anyone buy there?

[dmharris]

We're wondering if it's worth a few hours stop in Antwerp to shop for a diamond? Any experiences you care to share? Thanks!

 

[4TimeAway]

We haven’t…. When I hear diamonds, I hide the cash, checkbook, and most importantly the credit card….

We are always afraid of buying larger items from people we can’t reengage with. When travelling we purchase small items from local Jewelers in non-tourist zones as we travel with a focus on heirloom pieces. If we lose a small sum, the story woudl be worth it.

We find contemporary items, items in tourist zones, etc. to be overpriced. It is interesting to compare to Costco prices as the diamond market seems so arbitrary these days with lab grown becoming so cheap and plentiful.

Let us know if you find it worthwhile... Don't forget to declare at Customs..

 

[Blues]

We last went in 1986, so this information is ancient. But this was not too many years after I had bought the stone for my (now) DW's engagement ring.

My impression was this: buying diamonds from the places available to tourist in Antwerp may have been (slightly) cheaper than going full retail at the jeweler at your local mall. But both that retail jeweler and the public places in Antwerp were significantly higher than finding a discount diamond broker in a big city near where you live. That's what I did for DW's engagement ring. Back then, the difference was nearly 3 to 1. YMMV.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I always thought Costco was the best to buy diamonds.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

FWIW...I don't buy expensive jewelry. Too easy to lose and nowhere to wear it. Hard to sell. I wear costume jewelry to work and parties and no one knows the difference.

My diamond wedding ring and expensive jewelry inherited from my mother is kept in our home safe because I fear the jewels will fall out so I just wear the band.

 

[zentraveler]

My diamond wedding ring and expensive jewelry inherited from my mother is kept in our home safe because I fear the jewels will fall out so I just wear the band.

I reputable jeweler will clean and service rings and jewelry attending to the prongs so the stones won't fall out. I learned this the hard way (thank goodness the ring was on out insurance polidy) and now take mine into to be serviced every year or two. (Seems a shame to let the ring sit in a safe.)

 

[pierrepierre]

If you do not wear or have someone to give it to.....as one ages.....sell it! Keeping it hidden in safe or jewelry box....why own it?

 

[StaceyM]

We're wondering if it's worth a few hours stop in Antwerp to shop for a diamond? Any experiences you care to share? Thanks!

The Diamond Museum was interesting for me.*

Hopefully it goes without saying, definitely don't shop at one of the tourist-directed stores near the Diamond Museum or anything handed to you as a tourist advertisement.

Offhand, I would guess the most cost-effective way to buy a Diamond is a used stone.

*Edited to add, I just saw this: "Diamond, jewellery and silver wear museum DIVA in Antwerp opened in 2018, merging the collections of the Antwerp Diamond Museum and the Sterckshof Silver Museum of the Province of Antwerp." I visited the old museum pre-2018.

 

[JudyH]

Every 15 years I traded in my very small diamond earrings for a bit larger. I use the same small town local jeweler and he goes to Antwerp to buy for his shop and customers. I would think he buys at a wholesale cost and yet his price and merchandise quality is way more reasonable that of a chain mall store.