Buying diamonds in the caribbean?

Question

My boyfriend and I are going on a cruise to Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. We were wondering if it is a good idea to buy an engagement ring at one of these places. Can you get jewelry at a cheap price? Or do you get scammed? Thanks! :o)

Answer 1

Cozumel is known for silver not diamonds. I would not buy diamonds in Haiti or Jamaica.

The only place I would consider buying a diamond ring is in Grand Cayman. However, everything you buy in the Caymans are 20% higher.

$1.20 US currency equal to $1 Cayman dollar.

I would shop around in the states for rings so you have something to compare prices, stones etc to when you get to GC. I bought a pair of black coral earrings and pendent in GC and love the pieces. They have lasted and they are worth more than what I paid for them.

The only islands I bought diamonds in was St Maarten. In St Thomas I have bought watches and earnings. Aside from these islands being duty free, I have found the prices are not so cheap any more. Years ago, you really got bargains. What I look for now is unusal pieces I can't buy in the USA.

I would be very careful buying jewelry unless you know exactly what you want and have done some price comparsion shopping and deal with only certified diamond dealers. You need to look for the 4 C's in buying diamonds.

Cut, carat,color and clarity

Good Luck and I don't mean to sound negative but yes you can get scammed if you don't know what you should look out for.)

Answer 2

There are a number of reputable jewellery stores on Grand Cayman. I used to live in Grand Cayman and the shopkeepers there were honest. Sometimes you can get some particularly good buys when the stores have special offers. Perhaps the wise thing to do is to indulge in some window shopping at home before you go and then decide for yourself whether you want to splash out on a ring while on your cruise.

Answer 3

There are many reputable jewelers in the Caribbean, look for one that is ISO certified. However, the prices will be similar to home.

Cheap diamonds will either be bad quality or come from somewhere sketchy.

As with home, be sure that you aren't buying conflict diamonds.

Answer 4

I wouldn't buy anything valuable in Haiti, EXTREMELY cautious in Jamaica and Cozumel, and only from reputable jewelrs in Cayman.  

Overall, unless you are EXTREMELY confident in your knowledge of stones I wouldn't purchase in any of these locales.  I'm sure you will get some posters saying what a great deal they got on their VS2, L-color stone, but if you want a quality gem these islands are not known for diamond shopping.  (If you don't know what I was referring to in the previous sentence, you REALLY better not purchase on your trip)

Have fun on the cruise and wait till you get home...buy from a reputable jeweler when you get home.

Answer 5

I lived in Port-au-Print for 2 years and for the LIFE OF ME... I can't remember even SEEING diamonds in Haiti.. I don't know where you would even BUY them in Port-au-Prince.. and I sure as h**l wouldn't buy diamonds in Jamaica.

Why do you want to buy diamonds in the Caribbean when they will cost about the same there as in the U.S. and it's a c**p shoot about what kind of quality you are going to get on a Caribbean island where you can't take it back AFTER YOU PAY FOR IT.  In case you don't realize it.. the standard warranty anywhere in the Caribbean is THIRTY SECONDS OR THIRTY FEET... you buy it.. you bought it... it's Cavet Emptor at it's purest.