Help me UK pricescopers!!

[luckynumber]

Where in the UK would you go to get a really lovely cushion diamond??

So many of you guys are US based, but could really use your advice as well. But I''m a bit scared to buy a cushion online coz you really have to see the stone to like it.

The cushion quest has begun!!!!!

 

[FB.]

I''m UK-based and I agree that we''re very poorly served, compared to the USA.
Therefore, you''re probably best to look to the USA for the better diamonds.
We''re expected to like a stone only based only on the table and depth percentages. While there are certain tables and depths that have a higher probability of success, you can never be completely sure - although you can ask the seller to eyeball the stone and you often get a one-week to one-month "cooling off" period after purchase.

 

[D2B]

I was living in the Uk for a few years and I dont really think you get value for money or quality over there, compared to what you can find online here. I bought my first diamond from a US vendor on-line when I was living in the UK, after a lot of research. It all worked out well, I had a return period (where they would cover the diamond for insurance - I paid the cost), I got the diamond appraised in the UK. In the end I loved the diamond and didnt need to use the return policy (but it is a nice security blanket)

If you go with one of the Pricescope vendors like GOG, or "the cushion guy" (forgot the name sorry) you really will be fine, just make sure you can get it insured if it needs to be returned. there are heaps of cushion experts on here who can help you.

Check out the difference in UK prices and here and have a look at some of the stunning cushion rings on here. I am really the most conservative shoppper but after lots of researc I wont buy diamonds again unless it is here via pricescope.

good luck

 

[LD]

I'm going to completely disagree with the above statement! In the UK, if you know where to go, you'll be able to match (and beat) the prices in the US.

Speak to Luke at diamondgeezer.com Ignore the name and the website suggests they only sell diamonds in their settings. They don't. They source diamonds for customers from all over the world and then make bespoke settings. If you search on my name, you'll find a pear shape diamond they sourced and made into a platinum ring for me, a 6.5ct marquise cut Ruby set into a bespoke setting, a coloured diamond heart necklace, a yellow diamond ring, a wonderful setting for my chameleon diamond etc etc etc. I have NEVER been able to match their prices when buying the same thing in the US. One PS'er didn't believe me and actually did a search and agreed I had got a good deal!!!

They will be honest with you and tell you what you can get for what you can afford. They will spend time trying to find the right stone for you and both Luke and Clive have a wonderful eye for diamonds. I've bought diamonds on their recommendation before and have never been disappointed.

Don't forget if you buy from the US you have to factor in customs / import duty etc. This can make the difference.

If you speak with either Luke or Clive (the owners) they'll source you a diamond to your budget.

 

[FB.]

Loving Diamonds



Interesting about diamondgeezer.

I have been aware of their existence, but the website sounds like a gimmick, with such things as "normal price" and "today's price" listed for a diamond.

An example of their pricing policy that makes me very wary:

High Street: £522
Usual Price: £353
CRUNCH PRICE: £307
Saving an extra £46!




IGI and to some extent HRD certificates are generally less detailed and sometimes less trusted than GIA equivalent.

There is no ability to examine the certificate for the stones listed - and, like other UK sellers - no images listed.

From what you say, it sounds like a "trust me, I'll look after you" kind of business. While that may be true and they may be very good to their customers, their website design makes me cautious.


Having never dealt with them - because of the website - I can't comment on how good or bad they are in reality. I would love to hear more positive comments from PS members about this company, since I am also generally fed up with the poor offerings in the UK.

 

[LD]

Date: 10/30/2009 7:31:12 PM
Author: FB.


Loving Diamonds



Interesting about diamondgeezer.

I have been aware of their existence, but the website sounds like a gimmick, with such things as 'normal price' and 'today's price' listed for a diamond.

An example of their pricing policy that makes me very wary:

High Street: £522
Usual Price: £353
CRUNCH PRICE: £307
Saving an extra £46!






IGI and to some extent HRD certificates are generally less detailed and sometimes less trusted than GIA equivalent.

There is no ability to examine the certificate for the stones listed - and, like other UK sellers - no images listed.

From what you say, it sounds like a 'trust me, I'll look after you' kind of business.While that may be true and they may be very good to their customers, their website design makes me cautious.


Having never dealt with them - because of the website - I can't comment on how good or bad they are in reality. I would love to hear more positive comments from PS members about this company, since I am also generally fed up with the poor offerings in the UK.

Absolutely not and I need to add that I am in no way connected to them. I am simply a (very) happy customer.

All of the diamonds I've bought from them have been GIA cert'ed. They've emailed me copies of the Certs where possible and also actual pictures of the diamonds where it's been possible. Other diamonds have been bought on a sale or return basis and their door is also open for inspection. So it's not a case of "trust me, I'll look after you". Interestingly their name suggests that and they did a poll recently to say "love it or hate it?". Most people said they now love it but it turned them off initially. Clive's view when I was talking with him about it was "it's a name you don't forget" and he's totally correct.

Anyway, the only way for you to see is for you to contact them direct. What you don't get from them, and I appreciate some people want/need these are Sarin's etc etc. You get their expert eyes. As numbers on diamonds are less important to me than the performance and "look", this doesn't bother me. I've bought glorious diamonds from them and they've made some wonderful bespoke settings. I'm extremely fussy and have been collecting gemstones/diamonds for over 20 years so I DO NOT accept 2nd best from any company!

However, you need to judge from your own experience. I understand how the website and name puts people off - and I said something along those lines in my first post - but in my experience, not dealing with them because of that means you're missing an opportunity. I never ever recommend companies because I feel like I'm putting my head on the block in doing so. However, for diamondgeezer, I really do make an exception.

Many of my gemstone/diamond collector friends use them also and I know they've been happy too. Anyway, I'm not posting to try and sell them. If you want to try them, do so. If the name, website puts you off then fine. Judging a book by it's cover never really gives the whole picture! You can have a schmancy fancy website and then the CS is diabolical!

 

[Po10472]

FB, I have to agree with LD that we''re not ''poorly served'' here in the UK, we''re generally less informed. There are very few people I know who understand the 4c''s and jewellery companies don''t exactly go out there way to enlighten the discerning customer when they arrive on their doorstep. It''s all about knowledge in this game and from what I''ve read about on PS over the last few years, its likewise in the US too.

If you have the diamond knowledge, know what you want and stick to your budget, you can find vendors in the UK who will offer and match the same prices as those in the US, particularly in this economic climate, you just need to source a vendor. The majority of diamond shoppers out there don''t do research, they walk into a B&M store, who have lovely halogen lights and increased prices to cover their shop rental and sell thousands upon thousands of diamonds, some are winners some aren''t. We also don''t have a culture in the UK for including certificates, so GIA means nothing to a lot of people as it may do in the US.

I''ve been engaged twice, first time, we walked into a shop in the diamond district and picked out a pretty ring, it was sparkly and I loved it, marquise cut, it didn''t come with a certificate and it was an H, SI2.....many moons later and different relationship, my DH and I still had no clue, we just wanted to be engaged and get on with our lives, again, no research done, walked into a B&M store and this time came out with an EC with was appraised as a corker, G, VS2, but again no certificate.

Now I''m knowledgeable, well..... enough to know what a good diamond is and have since bought from the US which at the time was cheaper and came with a certificate. However, I have now sourced a vendor who made my sister an amazing 3-stone ring (pics to follow on another thread one day), I know that he could get me what I wanted at a price that was comparable with the US, with or without a certificate. He gets his diamonds from the same place that vendors in the US get theres. I have no doubt that when the time comes when I hopefully will get my 1.75ct EC upgrade I will go to Anthony first, if he''s unable to get the stock or the price is too high, then I''ll look at GOG, Whiteflash etc. I wouldn''t rule out the UK straight off anymore.

 

[LisaLondon]

Have you gone snooping around in Hatton Garden? I''ve got a few friends who have BEAUTIFUL stones from the dealers there (all non-round). You can negotiate with them, just as you can with the dealers in NY. Or you could nip across to Antwerp and make a day of looking at stones (have done that too!). I saw a spectacular cushion at Graff a few weeks ago, so you might start there as a sort of benchmark (Martin is particularly helpful). I have a few names I could give you in Hatton Garden as well, if that helps?

 

[Lorelei]

www.bestdiamonds.co.uk Contact Dr Indira Marchant and let her know you are looking for a cushion. Indira knows diamonds and has countless contacts she can use to help you find what you want.

 

[luckynumber]

thanks so much you wonderful wonderful people!

interesting about diamondgeezer, i too am very skeptical about their website which looks rather dodgey!!

would love the hatton garden recommendations londongirl (edit: that's to lisalondon)!

keep them coming if you can....

 

[LD]

Do you think I would send a chamelon diamond and a 6.5ct Ruby to them if they were dodgy????? No way jose! This is a tiny sample of what the dodgy geezers have made for me (all to my specification).

6.5ct Ruby (this is their old style CADs - they now have a much more interactive system):

The finished ring:

Earrings they made for me in Palladium with diamonds they sourced for me:

A bespoke setting in Platinum for my Chameleon Diamond from this:

To this:

A pear diamond (GIA cert) that they sourced for me and then put into a bespoke platinum setting - showing strong blue fluor (something I had asked for):

Then set:

There are many more examples but I hope I''ve helped to show you they may be geezers by name but they''re definitely not dodgy!

 

[nellen]

LovingDiamonds, your jewellery pieces look incredibly beautiful and of very good quality. Thank you for the diamondgeezer.com advice, I will definitely ask them if they can source me a diamond when the time comes (when I have saved up the required sum) to upgrade my e-ring.

I would really prefer to require the upgrade diamond from the EU since I wouldn''t have to pay VAT and custom tax that I would have to pay if I purchased the diamond from the US. That would save me plenty of euros that I could spend on the diamond instead.

 

[LisaLondon]

luckynumber, here is the place in Hatton Garden where two of my friends have bought stones; one was an absolutely exquisite emerald cut, and the other was a cushion cut (which I have not yet seen, but I''m told is gorgeous). I''ve never bought from them myself, but they come highly recommended.

http://www.raphaellondon.com/

I''ve got another lady in Hatton Garden who is also worth a visit if you go there. She doesn''t keep a lot of stock, but she can get anything if you give her the specs of what you are looking for. She sourced a great round stone for another friend. I''ll send you her work number when I get it; all I have is her mobile, which she may not want on the internet!

 

[Londongirl1]

My diamond came from the US but I had the setting custom made by Purely Diamonds in Farringdon. I cannot praise them enough - they were amazing to work and the setting came out even better than I expected. I take all my white gold there to be re-plated (which they do for free as I'm a returning customer).

You can look them up at: www.purelydiamonds.co.uk

 

[luckynumber]

thanks so much for all the recommendations!

i will keep bumping this thread up for other UK PSers as well!!!

 

[Pandora II]

Another vote here for Diamond Geezer.

Hideous, terrible name - and I told them so - that probably puts off a lot of people, but the product is great. They also do ring boxes without the horrible name on them.

They did an e-ring for my BIL and studs for my brother to give his wife as a wedding present. GIA certed for the e-ring and I opted not to get the certs on the earrings (keep price down), but they were offered.

I rarely buy in the UK - mainly because my interest is coloured stones and I don''t find the quality for the right price in loose stones - and have bought diamonds in the USA before, but have been impressed with DG.

 

[luckynumber]

hi guys,

just bumping this thread up to see if there are any more suggestions!

 

[FB.]

I searched around the Diamondgeezer website but was slightly disappointed with some of their interpretations, which still puts me off dealing with them.

Maybe the comments are ideal for novice diamond hunters, but surely would concern more experienced buyers.

Comments such as:


1
"......clarity from IF to VS2 will sparkle with intensity whereas diamonds from SI1 to SI2 will sparkle and I1 to I3 will lack sparkle......"

2
"......71% OF OUR SALES THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN INTERNALLY FLAWLESS DIAMONDS....."

3
"......VVS1, has an amount of non crystallized carbon often situated around the girdle or edge of the diamond. A very very slight inclusion, VVS2, will have inclusions of the same size but closer to the table or center of the diamond....."



4
".....A VS1 diamond will contain inclusions around the girdle or edge and the VS2 will have a similar amount of inclusions around the table and more central areas of the diamond...."



Regarding #1; many SI stones are indistinguishable in "sparkle" to the IF/VVS/VS stones. the way that DG appear to penalise their "sparkle factor scores" seems to weigh disporoprtionately heavily against the SI stones. I'm not a great fan of most SI's (especailly SI2), but I think that SI is being unfairly "put down".

Regarding #2; that's an enormous percentage of flawless stones and I'd suspect that most of those flawless stones look no better than VS2 to most people's eyes - and with VS being a much lower cost. If they are so "customer-friendly", why do they not recommend VS clarity to allow customers to buy bigger stones?

Regarding # 3&4; the VVS1 or VS1 grade does not have inclusions restricted to the edges and neither does VVS2 or VS2 have inclusions restricted to the centre. Many factors affect the clarity grade - inclusion type, size and placement, although centrallly-placed inclusions tend to be more penalised because of their greater ease of visibility.
Perhaps they are generalising and simplifying, for the benefit of less-educated consumers.


I attach a GIA-cert, VS1 plot to show that VS1 can have inclusions under the table.

 

[FB.]

.....and here I attach a couple of my own diamond's inclusion plots; VS1 side-by-side with a SI1 (according to DG, neither VS1 nor SI1 should have inclusions under the table; maybe they should tell that to GIA).
I'd hardly say that the SI1's inclusions are sufficiently large or numerours to make a noticeable effect on the sparkle. Maybe a couple of % loss of light at most.

 

[FB.]

....and while on the subject of clarity (and in support of the claim that perhaps SI2 can be duller);

From left-to-right:

A VS1, with some inclusions under the table (100% eye clean!)
A good SI1, with some inclusions under the table (100% eye clean)
A good SI2, with numerous scattered inclusions (borderline eye clean, maybe a marginal loss of brightness)
A poor SI2, with very numerous and large inclusions (not eye clean, some loss of brightness).

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 11/1/2009 7:26:47 AM
Author: nellen
LovingDiamonds,
I would really prefer to require the upgrade diamond from the EU since I wouldn''t have to pay VAT and custom tax that I would have to pay if I purchased the diamond from the US. That would save me plenty of euros that I could spend on the diamond instead.

You always have to pay VAT/Duty on importing items into the UK, it doesnt matter if it comes from the EU, USA, or worldwide.

the UK duty rates are set by the EU TARIC codes the 2 relevant codes are: 7102390000 - diamonds and 7113190000 for precious metals

If you buy in the UK, the VAT is payable at the time of purchase (sites like Blue Nile.co.uk so prices ex VAT then add it on at check out)

If you buy in the EU, then VAT will be added by customs on its entry to the UK via the shipping company. If you traveled to, say, antwerp and bought the stone there, you should, on your return to the UK, go through the RED channel at customs and pay the VAT on the stone/ring (tho you should be able to claim back the local VAT you paid in the country of purchase)

If you buy in the US - then since your out of state you dont pay local sales tax, and the ring is subject to Custom''s duty on its entry to the UK. from the above codes - importing from the US, diamonds on their own have no import duty (just VAT) but a complete ring has 2.5% import duty added before VAT.


to take a slightly different example - if you buy a DVD from a certain company that is a button on your DVDPLAYer - they are based in Jersey, on most purchases of a DVD you are not paying VAT on the item, and when it enters the UK, customs dont bother because it is under their VAT baseline (which is something like £20 - or it used to be) any order value over this would have VAT added.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/12/2009 8:29:33 AM
Author: Lord Summerisle

Date: 11/1/2009 7:26:47 AM
Author: nellen
LovingDiamonds,
I would really prefer to require the upgrade diamond from the EU since I wouldn''t have to pay VAT and custom tax that I would have to pay if I purchased the diamond from the US. That would save me plenty of euros that I could spend on the diamond instead.

You always have to pay VAT/Duty on importing items into the UK, it doesnt matter if it comes from the EU, USA, or worldwide.

the UK duty rates are set by the EU TARIC codes the 2 relevant codes are: 7102390000 - diamonds and 7113190000 for precious metals

If you buy in the UK, the VAT is payable at the time of purchase (sites like Blue Nile.co.uk so prices ex VAT then add it on at check out)

If you buy in the EU, then VAT will be added by customs on its entry to the UK via the shipping company. If you traveled to, say, antwerp and bought the stone there, you should, on your return to the UK, go through the RED channel at customs and pay the VAT on the stone/ring (tho you should be able to claim back the local VAT you paid in the country of purchase)

If you buy in the US - then since your out of state you dont pay local sales tax, and the ring is subject to Custom''s duty on its entry to the UK. from the above codes - importing from the US, diamonds on their own have no import duty (just VAT) but a complete ring has 2.5% import duty added before VAT.


to take a slightly different example - if you buy a DVD from a certain company that is a button on your DVDPLAYer - they are based in Jersey, on most purchases of a DVD you are not paying VAT on the item, and when it enters the UK, customs dont bother because it is under their VAT baseline (which is something like £20 - or it used to be) any order value over this would have VAT added.

Great post M'' Lud!!

 

[BobR]

Hi
I agree we''re poorly served in the UK
I,ve seen diamond geezers website and it seems geared up for the uneducated buyer. Comments as previously mentioned plus assigning a sparkle factor without any explanation of its basis don''t help. My other issue is because they dont give any (meaningful) stats on the stones, you have to be ''sucked into'' them to get info - you can''t window shop like with the US sites.
Indira at Best Diamonds seems to be very knowledgeable but they are a B&M vendor (or at least seem to charge top range B&M prices)
I bought my first piece of Jewellry (whilst illiterate!!) from a typical UK onlne vendor - it was a 1ct 5 stone eternity ring, for my wife, which they said was G/H SI with very good cut (no certs!!). Independent appraisal said it was F/G SI2 (but eyeclean) and the centre stone, which I was told was 0.4ct, has a spread which suggests 0.35ct. Cut estimated as good/very good. It was valued at 60% more than I paid though so can''t complain too much.
As for Hatton Garden, my next foray into diamonds bought my wife some earrings from an online vendor with a base in Hatton Gardens and Bristol. He quoted a price based on Carat/Colour/Clarity for GIA cert with minimum VG cut.
We''re happy with most of the stones (5 out of 6) and they are all GIA cert. The service was not the best though and it took about 7/8 weeks to get them.
My third attempt with the same vendor has been a horror story. We agreed a price for a 3 stone pendant (FSI1) GIA EX at end September, but thiis time I spec''d table/depth/ca/pa ranges and asked him to let me have some specs before we went ahead. I confirmed with him that he was happy to work on this basis. Anyway he sent me some specs which we agreed were ok. He then kept promising a data and making excuses for not delivering. Finally he said that the big stone had been lost in transit by Fedex.
Unfortunately for him I had the GIA report no. and found the same stone on a US site and the vendor confirmed it''s available, so he was caught ''red handed'' suffice it to say I''ve cancelled the order and waiting for my (50%) deposit to be returned.
It should be once bitten twice shy, so now Im looking to the US!! but my concern with buying loose stones is finding a truswothy jeweller to make the piece and set the stones ( I''ve sen on other threads that tis could be a problem)
Im also looking at another UK online vendor who seems happy to work on the basis of taking my specs and finding GIA reports for my review and giving me an end to end price. ( He says 10 15 working days from placing order).
I had wanted these for our Florida holiday, but as thats in 2 days, it won''t happen. Hopefully for Christmas though!!

Bottom Line is I haven''t yet found a UK option that can match US on price/quality and service!!

 

[FB.]

BobR

I spent some time looking at their stones to try to find patterns in their "sparkle factor".
It seems to be determined by the cut, colour and clarity.
But all stones with SI2 clarity get the same penalty, regardless of whether they're "almost" SI1, or "almost" I1 - which is a big difference in the real world.
My picture above shows stones at the extreme ends of SI2 clarity, with #3 being almost SI1 and #4 being almost I1.

Therefore, a super-ideal-cut, D, flawless seems to be the only stone capable of getting close to 100% sparkle factor score.

As an educated guess, cut seems to influence about half of the "sparkle factor", with colour and clarity each accounting for about a quarter of the sparkle factor.
While that's not a bad generalisation, it is too generalised for the SI2 stones, which are very variable.
But I think that the deduction in sparkle factor between flawless and VS2 is too much and over-states the sparkle of flawless stones, while under-stating the sparkle of the non-flawless-eye-clean stones.

edit: just searched their inventory and looKed at the best-cut (and most expensive) stones and found typical "sparkle factors" of:

D/IF: 91%
D/SI2: 83%
J/IF: 77%
J/SI2: 67%

 

[BobR]

Fb

Would expect polish/symmetry to have significant influence in their algorithm, as they push them as very impotant factors in getting a good stone!
Bob

 

[BobR]

Date: 10/31/2009 2:37:37 AM
Author: Po10472
FB, I have to agree with LD that we're not 'poorly served' here in the UK, we're generally less informed. There are very few people I know who understand the 4c's and jewellery companies don't exactly go out there way to enlighten the discerning customer when they arrive on their doorstep. It's all about knowledge in this game and from what I've read about on PS over the last few years, its likewise in the US too.

If you have the diamond knowledge, know what you want and stick to your budget, you can find vendors in the UK who will offer and match the same prices as those in the US, particularly in this economic climate, you just need to source a vendor. The majority of diamond shoppers out there don't do research, they walk into a B&M store, who have lovely halogen lights and increased prices to cover their shop rental and sell thousands upon thousands of diamonds, some are winners some aren't. We also don't have a culture in the UK for including certificates, so GIA means nothing to a lot of people as it may do in the US.

I've been engaged twice, first time, we walked into a shop in the diamond district and picked out a pretty ring, it was sparkly and I loved it, marquise cut, it didn't come with a certificate and it was an H, SI2.....many moons later and different relationship, my DH and I still had no clue, we just wanted to be engaged and get on with our lives, again, no research done, walked into a B&M store and this time came out with an EC with was appraised as a corker, G, VS2, but again no certificate.

Now I'm knowledgeable, well..... enough to know what a good diamond is and have since bought from the US which at the time was cheaper and came with a certificate. However, I have now sourced a vendor who made my sister an amazing 3-stone ring (pics to follow on another thread one day), I know that he could get me what I wanted at a price that was comparable with the US, with or without a certificate. He gets his diamonds from the same place that vendors in the US get theres. I have no doubt that when the time comes when I hopefully will get my 1.75ct EC upgrade I will go to Anthony first, if he's unable to get the stock or the price is too high, then I'll look at GOG, Whiteflash etc. I wouldn't rule out the UK straight off anymore.

Po10472
Would you share the vendor details (website) please
thx
Bob

 

[BobR]

Just to enlarge on Lord Summerisle''s point, although you will have to pay VAT on diamonds/diamond jewellry brought into the UK there is currently No additional import duty to pay. (VAT is currently 15% and will return to 17.5%(at least) in January

 

[nellen]

Date: 11/12/2009 8:29:33 AM
Author: Lord Summerisle

Date: 11/1/2009 7:26:47 AM

Author: nellen

LovingDiamonds,

I would really prefer to require the upgrade diamond from the EU since I wouldn''t have to pay VAT and custom tax that I would have to pay if I purchased the diamond from the US. That would save me plenty of euros that I could spend on the diamond instead.

You always have to pay VAT/Duty on importing items into the UK, it doesnt matter if it comes from the EU, USA, or worldwide.


the UK duty rates are set by the EU TARIC codes the 2 relevant codes are: 7102390000 - diamonds and 7113190000 for precious metals


If you buy in the UK, the VAT is payable at the time of purchase (sites like Blue Nile.co.uk so prices ex VAT then add it on at check out)


If you buy in the EU, then VAT will be added by customs on its entry to the UK via the shipping company. If you traveled to, say, antwerp and bought the stone there, you should, on your return to the UK, go through the RED channel at customs and pay the VAT on the stone/ring (tho you should be able to claim back the local VAT you paid in the country of purchase)


If you buy in the US - then since your out of state you dont pay local sales tax, and the ring is subject to Custom''s duty on its entry to the UK. from the above codes - importing from the US, diamonds on their own have no import duty (just VAT) but a complete ring has 2.5% import duty added before VAT.



to take a slightly different example - if you buy a DVD from a certain company that is a button on your DVDPLAYer - they are based in Jersey, on most purchases of a DVD you are not paying VAT on the item, and when it enters the UK, customs dont bother because it is under their VAT baseline (which is something like £20 - or it used to be) any order value over this would have VAT added.

Please note that I am not importing into UK but exporting from the UK. With a quick look to the custom legislation in Finland I did not see any information on paying VAT or custom tax because the VAT is already paid in the UK by the seller. If I were to pay VAT, the product would have been charged the VAT twice although in different countries.

 

[Lord Summerisle]

Date: 11/12/2009 10:45:50 AM
Author: nellen

Date: 11/12/2009 8:29:33 AM


Please note that I am not importing into UK but exporting from the UK. With a quick look to the custom legislation in Finland I did not see any information on paying VAT or custom tax because the VAT is already paid in the UK by the seller. If I were to pay VAT, the product would have been charged the VAT twice although in different countries.

My apologies then, i hadnt picked up on that little Finland detail (how appropriate that i''m currently listening to Nightwish at the mo)

The import duty codes are the same through out the EU, so the codes i gave above can be used on the EU tax code websitehere just put the code in the box for the required item type (or do a text search) and the country of origin of the item and it will tell you what the duty rate is.

So for importing from the US - diamonds have no import duty, but precious metal (silver, gold, platinum etc.) have a import duty of 2.5% - then VAT is added.

Now importing from anywhere in the EU there is no import duty, just VAT. But if finland dont charge VAT on EU imports as its already been charge in the country of origin then that makes life alot simpler - i believe the UK will also charge VAT - but there is a way of claiming back the VAT charged in a foreign country so you are not paying VAT twice.

But since thats the case - then i would also suggest looking at Infinity Diamonds - they have several EU based dealers, as well as our very own Wink and Todd of High Performance Diamonds.
theres Indira @ Best Diamonds in London, DiamondHouse in Beligum, Suokko Kultasepanliike in Tampere - Finland

 

[nellen]

Lord Summerisle, it''s quite alright that you didn''t pick up on the Finland detail. Were you listening to the new Nightwish ensemble or the old one? I prefer the old one, Tarja Turunen has such an amazing voice.

To the subject again: how would sourcing a diamond through Infinity Diamonds work then if they have several EU based dealers? Would I work with the dealer in my country (for example Suokko) or with Infinity Diamonds themselves? Wouldn''t that increase the costs of the diamond because there is one extra party between Infinity Diamonds and I? But does Infinity Diamonds source cushions at all, I just saw RB''s and princess cuts in their search? I''m looking for a bit bigger and certified cushion to replace my uncertified, 0.4 carat cushion.