Discover Your Perfect Diamond with Our Antwerp Diamond Buying Trip
There’s something undeniably romantic about your personal jeweler flying across the world just for you. Imagine this: while you go about your day, your jeweler is walking the historic cobblestone streets of Antwerp, stepping into invitation-only diamond houses, speaking directly with master cutters, all with your love story in mind. This isn’t browsing a case of pre-stocked gems—it’s a journey made just for you. Each diamond is chosen with intention and care, thousands of miles away, so that the gem on you or your loved one isn't just beautiful—it's meaningful.
Your diamond doesn’t just sparkle. It travels, it’s chosen, and it carries with it a story that begins with a passport stamp and ends with a custom piece of jewelry crafted just for you.
The Antwerp Diamond Buying Trip is a unique opportunity for select jewelers to travel directly to Antwerp to source diamonds from the world's leading suppliers. Organizations like the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO) facilitate these trips, allowing us to purchase diamonds directly from Antwerp's top diamond cutters, thereby bypassing traditional middlemen and offering you exceptional value.
📍 Why Antwerp?
Antwerp, Belgium, has been a major diamond hub since the 1500s. It became the go-to spot for diamond trade due to its central location in Europe, access to major ports, and eventually, its skilled diamond cutters and dealers. Over time, it built a reputation for trust, quality, and expertise.
Today, 84% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp at some point. The city has a whole diamond district, known as the "Square Mile," packed with dealers, cutters, polishers, and four world-famous diamond exchanges.
What Makes Antwerp So Special?
Direct Access: Antwerp isn’t full of retail showrooms. It’s where the serious wholesale business happens—buying from the source.
Top-Cutting Talent: The city has some of the most skilled diamond cutters and graders in the world.
Global Trade Center: Major diamond-producing countries send rough goods here to be traded and cut.
Tightly Regulated: Antwerp has some of the strictest controls and highest ethical standards in the diamond industry.
Why is Croft & Stern Granted Access to Diamond Houses?
Access to Antwerp's exclusive diamond houses is not open to the general public. However, through established relationships and memberships with organizations like RJO, we are granted entry into these prestigious establishments. This access allows for the selection of high-quality diamonds directly from the source, ensuring authenticity and value.
How Does the Process Work?
Pre-Booking Appointments: Clients interested in acquiring a diamond through this program begin by scheduling a consultation before October 4th, 2025.
Setting a Budget: During the consultation, clients discuss their preferences, including diamond shape, size, quality, and budget.
Personalized Selection: While in Antwerp, Kelly, a seasoned diamontologist and GIA graduate with over 20 years in the industry, hand-selects diamonds that match the client's specifications.
Client Consultation: Clients are contacted via video chat or phone to review the selected diamonds, ensuring satisfaction before purchase. This happens during the week of October 6-11, 2025.
Secure Purchase and Delivery: Once a diamond is chosen, it is purchased and securely brought back to the U.S. mid October to begin crafting the client's custom jewelry piece.
Why Choose This Experience?
Embarking on this journey ensures that your diamond is not only of superior quality but also carries the story of its selection from the heart of the world's diamond trade.
Earth-Mined Diamond Shapes & Colors: What’s Available in Antwerp
When sourcing diamonds in Antwerp with RJO, we will have access to a comprehensive selection of earth-mined diamonds in both classic and fancy shapes. Traditional cuts like round brilliant, oval, cushion, emerald, pear, marquise, emerald and princess are widely available. For those seeking something distinctive, fancy shapes such as radiant, asscher, and heart shapes are also accessible.
For white diamonds, the color grading scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). D-F grades are considered colorless, while G-J are near-colorless—both popular choices for engagement rings and fine jewelry.
🧾 Do I Need a GIA Diamond Report?
If you're shopping for a diamond in Antwerp (or anywhere, really), you’ll hear a lot about GIA grading — and with good reason. The Gemological Institute of America is the most respected and consistent grading lab in the world. Their reports are thorough, trusted globally, and offer peace of mind that your diamond is exactly what it claims to be.
That said…
GIA Isn't the Only Path to a Beautiful Diamond
At Croft & Stern, we believe that the diamond itself should do the talking — not just the paperwork.
We personally hand-select every stone we bring back from Antwerp. That means we’re not choosing based on a report — we’re choosing based on proportions, light return, and beauty. Many exceptional diamonds are graded from other labs or do not have certificates. These diamonds are priced accordingly, offering value without compromising on sparkle.
If your budget allows, a GIA report is absolutely encouraged. But if you're working with a trusted jeweler who knows how to evaluate diamonds by eye and by scope? Then non-GIA diamonds should be worth consideration.
GIA = consistency and confidence, great for resale and easy comparisons.
Non-GIA = more flexibility, less premium, and often better value per carat — as long as you're buying from someone who knows what to look for.
Either way, you don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re here to walk you through every option, report or no report.
💎 What Do White Diamonds Really Cost in Antwerp?
Antwerp is one of the world’s oldest and most trusted diamond centers — Here's what you can expect for 2025 natural, earth-mined diamonds:
Colorless Diamonds (D–F)
Top of the color scale — rare, bright, and gorgeous.
Size Retail Range (VS1–SI1 clarity)
0.50ct $2,000 – $3,500
1.00ct $5,500 – $9,500
1.50ct $10,000 – $16,000
2.00ct $18,000 – $28,000
3.00ct $35,000 – $60,000+
4.00ct $70,000 – $90,000+
5.00ct $85,000 – $120,000+
Near Colorless Diamonds (G–J)
These face up white in most settings and offer serious value — especially in yellow or rose gold.
Size Retail Range (VS1–SI1 clarity)
0.50ct $1,500 – $2,800
1.00ct $4,000 – $7,500
1.50ct $8,000 – $13,000
2.00ct $14,000 – $22,000
3.00ct $25,000 – $40,000+
4.00ct $45,000 – $75,000+
5.00ct $75,000 – $95,000+
From the Designer: My Go-To Picks
I always say: cut is king. A well-cut diamond will outshine higher-grade stones that are poorly proportioned — it’ll look brighter, bigger, and more clean.
Here’s where I find the best value:
G or H color, SI1 clarity, faint fluorescence — bright and crisp without the premium price tag. the fluorescence cancels out some warm tones.
Or an D, E, or F color with a clean GIA graded SI2 — if the stone is well-cut and faces up clean, it’s a smart move.
Looking for the mega-watt diamond? A round brilliant, Ideal/Excellent cut D, E or F, SI1+, with or without fluorescence is the best combination.
💎 Is There Such a Thing as an "Investment-Grade" White Diamond?
Yes — but it’s rare, and most diamonds do not qualify.
A true investment-grade white diamond has to hit very specific benchmarks:
Investment-Grade Criteria:
Natural, untreated
D color
Flawless (FL) or Internally Flawless (IF)
Excellent cut, polish, and symmetry (Triple Excellent)
No fluorescence
GIA-certified
Over 2.00ct, ideally 3.00ct and up
Current Retail Price Range for Investment Diamonds:
Starting Retail Ballpark Price (2025)
2.00ct $45,000 – $65,000+
3.00ct $120,000+
4.00ct $200,000+
5.00ct $350,000+
Reality Check:
Most diamonds sold in retail (even well-cut, high-quality ones) are not investment assets. They retain value better than mass-produced or lab-grown options, but resale is limited unless the stone checks all the boxes above.
That said, a beautiful, well-cut G, SI1 diamond you’ll wear and enjoy every day? That’s priceless in a totally different way.
Color Options: From Classic Yellow to Rare Hues
Beyond white diamonds, Antwerp offers a selection of fancy color diamonds, including:
Yellow: Ranging from light to vivid intensities.
Pink: Highly sought after, especially those from the Argyle mine.
Blue: Rare and valuable.
Green: Uncommon and distinctive.
Brown: Marketed under different names, these have gained popularity in recent years.
Red: Extremely rare and among the most expensive per carat.
Refer to the GIA Color Reference Chart for a detailed overview of diamond colors and their classifications.
Investment Considerations for Colored Diamonds
Investing in colored diamonds can be legitimate, particularly when focusing on natural, untreated gems with GIA certification. Over the past decade, prices for colored diamonds have risen significantly, with pink diamonds experiencing a 180% increase.
However, it's crucial to approach such investments with care:
Certification: Always insist on a GIA certificate.
Clarity: Aim for diamonds with clarity grades of VS2 or higher.
Market Demand: The value of colored diamonds is heavily influenced by market demand and rarity. While some colors like pink and blue are highly sought after, others may not hold their value as well.
In summary, while colored diamonds can offer investment potential, it's essential to conduct thorough research, seek expert advice, and only purchase from reputable sources.
Realistic Pricing for Natural Colored Diamonds
Natural colored diamonds range from semi-affordable to stratospherically expensive, depending on color, intensity, size, origin, and market demand.
Here's a breakdown for both collectors and investors in 2025:
Everyday Purchases (Non-Investment Grade)
These are beautiful gems that may have softer saturation, smaller carat weight, or more inclusions — still natural, just not the upper echelon.
Color Typical Price Range (0.50ct–1.00ct )
Fancy Yellow $3,000–$8,000 Most affordable "fancy" color.
Fancy Brown $1,000–$4,000
Fancy Light Pink $10,000–$25,000 Smaller sizes, lighter hues. Still carries a premium.
Fancy Green/Gray $5,000–$15,000 Typically more muted and niche in appeal.
Color intensity (Fancy Light → Fancy → Fancy Intense → Fancy Vivid) has the biggest impact on pricing, often more than size.
Investment-Grade Diamonds
These are rarer stones with stronger color saturation, top clarity, and GIA certification.
Color Typical Price Range (1.00ct–3.00ct)
Vivid Yellow $20,000–$60,000 Can be undervalued compared to pinks.
Intense Pink $80,000–$250,000+ Prices skyrocketed after the Argyle mine closed in 2020.
Vivid Blue $200,000–$1M+ Among the rarest.
Pure Red $1M+ per carat. Rarest of the rare. Museum-level pieces.
Color intensity (Fancy Light → Fancy → Fancy Intense → Fancy Vivid) has the biggest impact on pricing, often more than size.
