I know that many diamonds come from the Netherlands, are they a good price there. I have not seen anything about that. I am not a diamond gal but one never knows about a gift.

Many diamonds are cut in the Netherlands - they don't come from there. Whether you can get a good price on a diamond in the Netherlands will depend on the research you do ay home before you go. In general, diamonds are priced internationally. You need to know the weight of the diamond, the color and clarity. There are numbers or letters for all of these. I would also want to be able to look through a jeweler's loupe to examine the diamond for flaws. Do you feel up to that task?

I have purchased many colored stones on my travels, but not diamonds.

Antwerp, Belgium is a diamond center also. Do your research.

Yes, it's Antwerp, Belgium, that is the huge diamond center. Walk out of the train station and you will be surrounded by diamond stores. Can't help you with prices as I know nothing about diamonds.

If you know what you want specifically then you might get a good deal. The pricing of diamonds is skill that a "wander of the street gal" is unlikely to have. But if you can describe exactly what you want you might get a great deal.

Figure in duty you will have to pay to bring it back to U.S. - even if you wear it.

Of course you I guess get VAT Taxes back.

Diamonds are unlikely to be an cheaper in Amsterdam or Antwerpen than anywhere else.

You could visit the Diamantmuseum (the accept the Museumkaart) or one of the diamond merchants that offer tours, but honestly I doubt it is worth trying to buy any rocks. You won't get a bargain in either city.

Are you looking to buy someone a nice diamond for a gift? You do know when my birthday is, right? ;-)

I suggest you do some research on what the diamond quality ranges (there are lots of good sites about this, especially on engagement ring sites/forums) and see what the online prices are from the more popular dealers like whiteflash, james allen etc. That will give you some rough benchmarks. Also look at some diamonds at a jewelry store to get an idea what the stones at various price ranges look like in real life.

I lived in Belgium for years and nobody we knew there thought you could get truly great deals on diamonds in Antwerp or Amsterdam.

Once you really get to know your diamonds, you can sometimes get very nice jewelry at good prices at various auction houses (think second-tier, not the top houses -- that is, Horta.be instead of Sothebys), that you could wear as is or have to re-set. But only if you know what you're doing.

There is no duty if you bring them back as loose stones. If they are set, there is duty to be paid when you bring them into the US.

I think I will mark this off my list of to do's. thanks

Stick to wooden shoes and tulip bulbs and mini windmills!

I'd buy in Antwerp.

As others have said: pricing is to an internationally set level, however, you might come across a good deal.

The best place to buy loose diamonds in Antwerp though is the Diamond Exchange. I would never buy diamonds already set in a ring or some such, because you won't be able to determine anything about the cut. Better buy loose and have it set back home by a jeweller of your choice. Diamondland is quite an ok place, and of course there are individual dealers too. Make sure that where you buy is ADJA approved.

http://www.adja.be/framantwerp.htm

Adelin
Steenhouwervest 6-8; 32-3/234-9552.
Dealer: Salomon Wijnberg

Diamond House
59 Vestingstraat; 32-3/226-9393.
Dealer: Rob van Beurden

Diamondland
33A Appelmansstraat; 32-3/229-2990.
(the Van Moppes family)

Katz Jewellers
19 Appelmansstraat; 32-3/231-9780.
Dealer: Joel Katz

Personally, I'd go to Katz.

What kind of money can you allocate?