duty free diamonds at amsterdam airport?

[javier_rodo]

hi! someone told me that amsterdam's schiphol airport has a lot of duty free diamond stores, has anybody shopped there?
thanks!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi Javier,

No, I haven't shopped there, but a loose diamond can come into the country duty free, so you can buy a diamond anywhere.
If this is wrong, someone please correct me.



Annette

 

[javier_rodo]

thanks for your answer annette!

javier

 

[CaratLover2]

I'm not sure about "a lot" of stores, but yes, Gassan diamonds does have a store there. As far as I'm aware any store in the EU can sell their goods tax fee, provided that the goods are over a certain value, that you're not an EU resident and that you're taking the goods out of the EU. If the goods are not sold tax free at the point of sale, I think you can keep the receipts and try to claim it back either at the airport before you leave or upon arrival at your destination - but you'd need to google this.

From memory I thought they were expensive - but I'm not sure if I was looking at the tax free figures. I think tax is around 21%, so being able to purchase tax free is quite a saving!

EDIT: And no, unfortunately I didn't buy anything so I"m not sure how helpful I am!!

 

[Acinom]

Like Caratlover I am also not sure whether there are 'plenty of stores', but there is at least 1 loose diamond shop, 1 watch shop and one general jewelry store. You may wish to contact Gassan diamonds upfront to check availability etc. You may also want to check in which area they are located as Schiphol is large and there are several 'wings' (like Schengen area etc). You are allowed to visit all the wings I think, but sometimes you need to pass customs in order to enter a different area and this may take some time.
Good luck! The Gassan people are really friendly.

If the goods are in a certain area they can bring a certain product to a Gassan store in the area where you are arriving, but you need to arrange this upfront. Gassan also has a shop in Ansterdam city center (the name is Amsterdam Diamond Center I think) and in the area that is open for the general public under the Gassan brand name.

Edit:
I have not bought loose diamonds from them before.