Why Dubai
Dubai is one of the largest diamond trading centres in the world. The DMCC free zone (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) was founded in 2002 and houses the Dubai Diamond Exchange, laboratories (GIA and IGI among them) and several thousand companies in the gemstone and precious-metals trade. The DMCC is also an authority: it licenses the companies, prescribes compliance, KYC and anti-money-laundering rules and implements the Kimberley Process for the UAE. STIG International Gemstone FZCO DMCC is registered there under number DMCC-1007195.
Step 1: Choose the stone
In our listing every diamond is a specific stone with its own report number. The configurator narrows by cut, carat, colour, clarity, polish, symmetry, fluorescence, laboratory and price. The price is in US dollars and includes insured shipping. On request you can also view stones at our office in the HDS Business Centre in Jumeirah Lakes Towers; appointments by e-mail or phone.
Step 2: Verify the report
Before buying, verify the report number with the laboratory – the link is on the stone's page. Our article on verifying a GIA report describes how; for IGI and HRD Antwerp the procedure is the same.
Step 3: Pay
In the shop you pay via Stripe by credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or SEPA direct debit. Card details are entered at Stripe only and never reach our servers. Bank transfer is available by arrangement. The stone is reserved for you during payment. You receive an order confirmation with the order number and the stone's report number.
Step 4: Shipping and handover
The stone is shipped insured with a specialised courier, usually within 7 to 14 working days of receipt of payment. The courier hands the shipment over only against proof of identity to the person named on the order. The laboratory's original certificate is enclosed. Transport damage or loss is covered by insurance; please check the shipment on handover and report anything unusual immediately.
Import into Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Diamonds imported from the United Arab Emirates into the European Union or Switzerland go through customs clearance in the destination country. Which charges apply depends on the customs tariff and the import VAT of that country and can change. Before the purchase we tell you which charges to expect for your delivery and who pays them, so there is no surprise on delivery. The courier handles the customs declaration; we enclose the required documents (commercial invoice, report). No Kimberley certificate is required for polished diamonds – that applies to rough; the origin warranty under the System of Warranties appears on our invoice.
Step 5: Check after receipt, and withdrawal
After receipt you can have the stone matched against the report by an independent gemmologist or jeweller: weight, measurements, laser inscription, plotting diagram. Consumers in the EU have a statutory right of withdrawal of 14 days from receipt; details are in our cancellation policy. We do not offer voluntary returns beyond that.
Which documents you receive
With the delivery you receive the commercial invoice with report number, weight and price and the origin warranty under the System of Warranties, the laboratory's original report (for eReports the printout and access to the digital version), the courier's shipping and insurance documents and the order confirmation from the shop. Keep invoice and report together: you need both for insuring the stone later, for regrading or for a resale.
Escrow handling
For larger purchases we offer, on request, handling through our escrow partner Kayrouz & Associates, a law firm in Dubai: the purchase price is paid into an escrow account and released only once the stone has been handed over under the agreed conditions. This does not replace your own check of the stone, but it gives both sides a fixed procedure.
Checklist before buying
- Report number looked up with the laboratory and compared with the stone's page?
- Laboratory one of the three recognised ones (GIA, IGI, HRD Antwerp)?
- Price in USD including shipping understood, import charges for your country clarified with us?
- Delivery address and name for handover against ID correct?
- Cancellation policy and terms read?
- Questions open? Then call or write before buying – we advise in German and English.
What you can expect from us
Every stone with a report from an independent laboratory (GIA, IGI, HRD Antwerp), report number verifiable, original certificate with the delivery, origin under the Kimberley Process, escrow handling through our partner Kayrouz & Associates on request, advice in German and English. We are a dealer, not an investment adviser: we sell a physical product and make no statements about price developments.