Manhattan’s Diamond District Jewelry Stores
There probably are a lot of reasons why Manhattan is considered one of the premier jewelry destinations in the world. Certainly, one of them is the Diamond District. Located on 47th Street between Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue), it happens to be the world’s largest shopping district for all sizes and shapes of diamonds. And although it’s primarily known for its diamond selection, you can also find other types of fine jewelry there, and find tremendous deals in the process. In other words, this should be your first stop (some say it should be your only stop) if you’re shopping for diamonds and fine jewelry in New York City.
The United States is the world’s largest consumer market for diamonds. It’s estimated that over 90 percent of the diamonds that enter the country go through New York City, most of them through the Diamond District. If you take a stroll in the area, you’ll notice that pretty much everything there is related to diamonds or fine jewelry. In that are alone, about 2,600 independent businesses operate, nearly all of them involved in jewelry. Jewelry stores in the Manhattan area are well known for their wide selection or gems.
Such a concentration has its advantages. Proximity to where the diamonds are cut and traded gives many of the jewelers access to a very wide variety of precious artifacts, great values and industry expertise. Bargains are aplenty, if you know where to look. Getting a good deal might mean paying as little as half what you’d pay at a major retail chain.
You’ll find that jewelry stores don’t necessarily have fancy displays and spacious areas: in the diamond district, you’ll literally walk from a ritzy storefront into a dingy booth, but that’s the way it is. As a rule, though, the high-end stores tend to be closer to Fifth avenue, and the less flashy ones near Sixth Avenue. In many cases salespeople will be outside, inviting you to step in and take a look. There are 25 jewelry exchanges in the district, and you should definitely visit them to get the best deals. Each exchange has up to 100 separate booths selling their gems.
Being able to haggle over prices is a necessity if you want to save some money. In case you don’t feel like you can pull it off, bring along a friend that’s good at it. Uncertified diamonds in jewelry wholesale exchanges may represent unique opportunities for bargains; just make sure that you make your deal contingent upon the diamond being certified. Getting a diamond certified is actually pretty easy: there should be an expert on hand at every exchange, who can certify a diamond for a small fee. This small step can help you save hundreds of dollars.
Go into as many stores as you can and do as much comparison shopping as possible. You will start to get a feel over time for what you can get for your money. In other words, don’t settle on the first attractive, affordable diamond you see. You might find the exact same gem, or one very close to it, at a substantially lower price. Be prepared to walk away – Many of the jewelers here will try to push you to buy. Don’t ever buy the first thing you see. It will still be there in an hour. Look around, find out price on comparable products and find someone you can talk to try to buy from.
