Q&A: Buying Emerald Cut Diamond in the UK

Your website has provided me with some valuable advice, I really knew nothing before visiting it. I’m looking to purchase a ring, I’m UK based and have a £1,500 ring budget.

I’ve seen this diamond:

Blue Nile LD01195010

which seems to be a good balance of price/carat/cut/colour/clarity. What do you think?

Many thanks

Thanks for your swift response.

That stone looks lovely, the only issue is that being UK based, buying from the US adds around 20-25% to the price in the form of VAT and Duty, which unfortunately pushes the stone outside of my price range. I don’t believe James Allen have a UK operation, which is why I’ve been using Blue Nile. This is a shame though as the Virtual Loupe is a killer feature on the JA website.

Do you know of any similar organisations with UK-specific websites?

Huge thanks for this, I genuinely hadn’t noticed.

Reading the UK tax website has told me that the only difference between the prices now will be a c5% import & customs duty, on James Allen (although Blue Nile’s price doesn’t include VAT, the fact that it is a UK registered business means a ring purchase from them won’t count as personal import). 5% isn’t a huge amount though, and to me a price worth paying for the benefit of the virtual loupe which takes a good deal of the risk out of the purchase.

Buying a ring from the US will be a nice touch actually, my partner has a huge affinity for the US and has a lot of friends in Chicago.

To further complicate matters, I thought I would get in touch with one of my partner’s friends who is convinced that she would prefer an Emerald Cut to a Princess Cut. Apparently there was a lovely emerald cut ring in Sex And The City a few years ago which she loved.

I’ll go back to James Allen and see what I can find!

Thanks again.

………..

I have found this emerald cut stone:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1315607.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

What do you think?

Regarding my budget I’m going to up it a little bit. I’m aiming for stone and setting for $2,500, this will mean that the fully landed cost (shipping, VAT, Duty, etc.) to me in the UK is £2,000. I’d love to spend more, but my partner isn’t currently working and is expecting our first child. James Allen does operate an upgrade service though, so if funds become available further down the line…

Regards

Many thanks, I will send an e-mail on Sunday.

My sister happens to be travelling back from the States just in time for Christmas. I think this could be a perfect opportunity!

Kind regards

…………

Following on from last week, I have done a little digging, and had one of my partner’s friends do a bit of ‘undercover’ work. It turns out that this was a good idea. I’m basically now looking for an emerald cut diamond. My budget for the diamond is $2,000 dollars or thereabouts, for a total ring value in the region of $2,500. This will land in the UK at a cost to me of about £2,000 (by my calculations.

I would appreciate any guidance you can give me

…………

Did a bit of digging myself on James Allen, what do you think of the following few:

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1328244.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1203590.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

And a couple of wildcards (only graded as “Good” for cut):

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/D-VVS2-Good-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1306167.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

https://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VVS1-Good-Cut-Emerald-Diamond-1228193.asp?a_aid=dmnd1357

Regards

That’s the diamond I’ve gone for! I’ve put it on a simple Platinum comfort fit band (my partner likes simple ring bands, and I think it will accentuate the stone better), total cost (including shipping and including your discount code) was $2,329, so within my budget. I can’t believe my budget has stretched to a platinum ring with a diamond of that size and clarity. Thank you so much for your help, it has been such a learning experience, and I’m sure that without your advice I’d have spent more money for a lesser ring.

Regards

Just thought I would send you a quick update.

The ring arrived very promptly from James Allen, excellent customer service throughout, I can see why you recommend them.

To say I was pleased with the ring would be an understatement, it is absolutely beautiful. The diamond was a superb recommendation, it looks so ‘pure’ and catches the light superbly.

Most importantly, my partner loves it too. She didn’t have a clue I was going to propose, and thankfully she accepted! She was very impressed that I had not only got a ring, but one that she liked so much. I did admit to having had some outside help, so Liz sends her thanks too!

Many thanks once more Ira, your advice was invaluable, and it was reassuring to know that there are some genuinely nice people about in these increasingly cynical times.

Regards