An insider's guide, from a diamond dealer born in Antwerp.
Paris is one of the best cities in the world to buy a diamond. You will find the great jewellery houses, beautiful department stores, independent jewellers and a few diamond dealers who sell directly to the public. Each option has its own logic. Here is how I see it, after more than 25 years in the trade.
This is where the great jewellery houses are. The setting is magnificent and the design is signed by a famous name. You pay for the brand, the boutique and the experience, and the diamond itself is often only part of the price. If the name on the box matters most to you, this is the place.
Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, on boulevard Haussmann, have large jewellery floors with many brands under one roof. It is convenient and easy to compare designs. The choice of loose diamonds, however, is usually limited, and the staff are sales advisers rather than diamond specialists.
Few visitors know it, but Paris has its own diamond quarter. For more than a century, diamond dealers, cutters and setters have worked around rue La Fayette, rue Cadet and the streets near the Opéra and Drouot. Most of them sell only to the trade. A few, like me, also receive private clients. Here you are closer to the source: you can see loose stones, compare them side by side and choose the diamond before the ring.
This is my work. I receive you in private, in Paris 9th, near the Opéra. I select certified natural diamonds (GIA or HRD) through the Antwerp market, I show you several stones side by side under a loupe, and I explain what you are paying for. The setting is made in Paris or Antwerp, in 18 carat gold or platinum. No pressure, no showroom staff: you speak directly with the person who chooses the stones.
If you choose a stone and a ready-made setting, the ring can sometimes be ready during your stay. A fully bespoke ring takes longer. The best solution is to prepare before your trip: we choose the stone together by WhatsApp or video, I send you videos of each diamond, and the ring is ready when you arrive in Paris.
Is it cheaper to buy a diamond in Paris?
The price of a certified diamond is set by the world market, so a given stone costs about the same everywhere. What changes is the margin of the seller. Buying from a diamond dealer instead of a brand usually means more diamond for the same budget. Non-EU visitors also benefit from the VAT refund.
Can I buy a diamond in Paris and take it home?
Yes. You leave with your jewel and your invoice. If you live outside the EU, the VAT refund form is validated at the airport when you leave.
Do I need an appointment?
With me, yes. It allows me to prepare a selection of stones for your budget and to give you all my time.
Do you speak English?
Yes. I receive clients in English, French, Dutch and Portuguese.
Tell me what you are looking for and when you will be in Paris. I will prepare a selection of stones for your visit.
Leave me a message or ask to be called back, personal reply within 24h.
