Are you planning to get your diamond engagement ring from overseas? We are sure you must have thought of the 3 largest hubs of diamond purchase in the world, Belgium, India and UAE. But how do you narrow down the plethora of options that each has to offer you? How would you navigate your way in the ocean of diamond options that these three shopping destinations have to offer you? Keep reading further in this article, as we curate the mindfulness you need to have while buying your diamond engagement ring from a foreign destination.

Table of Content
Dubai, UAE
Mumbai & Surat, India
Antwerp, Belgium

Dubai, UAE

Dubai isn’t a mining destination, nor is it a diamond processing hub. But then how is it possible to buy diamonds and gold jewellery in Dubai for prices that are 30-40% and at times even 50% less than what is available in other world jewellery and diamond markets? Have you ever wondered the same? Well, the answers lie in the lower taxes and import duties that are imposed on diamonds and jewellery in the UAE. If travelling to Dubai is not something you wish to do, don’t hesitate to check the online stores of diamond sellers and jewellers in Dubai. You can still avail the advantage of lower-priced quality diamond jewellery, with as many options as you need, from the comfort of your home. If you prefer to have a gold and diamond engagement ring, then Dubai is the perfect location to purchase your engagement ring, since the UAE has strict quality check criteria and certification processes put in place for gold and gold jewellery. Moreover, keeping gold as an option also puts you in a privileged position to explore various tones in gold like yellow, rose and white gold. When it comes to exploring modern designs in engagement rings in terms of diamond cuts, shapes, designs and settings, Dubai is the perfect shopping fit. Dubai is a choice fiesta when it comes to a variety of diamond cuts and shapes like the princess cut, asscher cut and marquise cut. Above all, all of these unique and modern cuts and shapes are available at reasonable and affordable prices in comparison to Dubai’s global counterparts. A secret tip to remember while buying your diamonds in Dubai is that you can always negotiate the prices of your jewels with Dubai sellers!

Mumbai & Surat, India

In India, Mumbai and Surat are two major hubs for diamond trading. Unlike Dubai, India is a miner and processor of diamonds and gold. The logic for lower-priced diamond engagement rings in India is quite simple. The closer you get to the source, the lesser the number of middle hands included for the product to reach you, hence the lower prices. In India, you would find fine-quality of diamonds at lower prices compared to other global destinations. With the advent of technology, even Indian major diamond sellers and jewellers are available online, and you can always avail the option to buy them online. A major fact to keep in mind while sourcing your diamond-gold engagement ring from India is that the margins of price are lower as long as you are sticking to the traditional cuts and shapes (like round-cut, pear-cut, oval-cut etc.). If you are a couple seeking a traditional diamond engagement ring, then go ahead and this is the right fit for you! But if you are a couple seeking more options in terms of diamond cuts, shapes and settings, then the price range available for you in India might not vary significantly in comparison to the retail stores near you. So, be mindful of the nature of the diamond cut-shape and stone setting that you are aspiring for your diamond engagement ring before you set on to your destination purchase for your diamond engagement ring.

Antwerp, Belgium

If Dubai is the best diamond hub in the Middle East and India is the best diamond hub in South Asia, then Antwerp in Belgium is the most reputed diamond hub in entire Europe. Antwerp is famous for the brilliant diamonds it produces, and each year thousands of couples swarm the jewellery outlets of Antwerp to buy their perfect diamond engagement rings. Antwerp’s diamond trading and exchange are indeed fast and moving, so, if you have a design in mind, it is always better to reach out to your jeweller before your shopping visit to prevent your favourite options from going out of stock. Even if they go out of stock, letting your jeweller know about your needs and desires for your engagement ring would help them arrange for the same in a week or less. Antwerp's jewellers are known for their customized diamond engagement rings, so, if customization in terms of the diamond cut-shape and setting is what you are seeking, then Antwerp would be a perfect shopping destination to buy your diamond engagement ring. A fact to be mindful of when it comes to shopping for your diamond engagement ring from Antwerp is that almost all the jewellers in Antwerp set diamond engagement rings in white gold, if your preferred metal for your diamond engagement ring is platinum, you need to confirm with your diamond jeweller about the availability for the same. If they don’t have platinum diamond engagement rings available with them, then they would arrange it for you in a week or two’s time. Thanks to their customise-friendly dealership!

Time for some common mindful diamond shopping tips, regardless of which destination you buy your diamond engagement ring from. Make sure to ask for the quality check and proof certification from the diamond in your diamond engagement ring from your jeweller. This is the best way to avoid being scammed at any point in your engagement ring purchase. Also, ask for proof of quality for your gold and platinum as well. These quality check certifications would matter from a resale point of view for when or if you wish to upgrade your engagement ring after some time.

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