Diamond rings in Antwerp
Photo: Kristina D.C. Hoeppner, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
So you've read all the stories about Antwerp being the diamond capital of the world and are wondering whether it really is cheaper to buy a diamond ring straight from the source rather than pay for all the intermediaries for it to get to your local jewellers at home. While your reasoning is correct, diamond shops in Antwerp are aware of this, and there are many tourist trap shops where you will probably end up paying more than you would have at home! This doesn't necessarily mean that you'll systematically get ripped off, just that there are a few traps and common practices (in Antwerp and elsewhere around the world for that matter) that you should know about and will help you make a good decision.
Where to goFirst of all, there are essentially two different types of diamond buyers: the fortunate few with deep pockets who are looking for high quality and the not-so-fortunate many that don't have that much money to spend but…
Common trapsThis is tourist trap number one that you must avoid at all costs! After a walk around the shops you will probably be amazed to see big sign saying “60% off” (or even more) in a window.
Before travellingAlways take a look around your local jewelleries before making the trip.
Final thoughtsIn case you don't know this already, the price of gold and diamonds has been skyrocketing lately. This means that whatever you do, the rings you buy today will be more expensive than what they were a few years ago.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Diamond rings in Antwerp" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Kristina D.C. Hoeppner, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons