Diamondland Antwerp - CLOSED!

Basq

Just a heads-up - the ADJA approved Diamondland in Antwerp is now closed - and has been for the past 6 weeks (sign on window saying 'Closed for Inventory').

As it stands - the only current members of ADJA over there as are follows:

- Phillippe Harold
- Joe Katz
- Joullerie Du Centre

There's been a issue with Gerreti over there also - who although still have an ADJA plaque in their window are not currently members - note their absence in the Members area of ADJA website.

ilovespudss

Just looking for opinions of people that have experience with antwerp and the ADJA members.

Gerreti has got pretty much universal praise on this and other forums.

Can anyone shed any light on why he is not a member anymore, do people think it would be safe to buy from Gerreti even though he isn't technically an ADJA memeber.

My gut would tell me he is still a reputable Jeweller but just looking for another opinion?

Jofspring

The fact that there is only three members left it seems like there is possibly a dispute there as much as people being kicked out.

Gerreti always seem to get great reviews and there is a few more places over there with similar reviews that aren't members.

Surprised to see Diamonland has been closed and still seems to be.

The three on the list all seem to get good reviews also.

ilovespudss

I'm sure there are other trustworthy jewellers in Antwerp, that are not ADJA approved, but I had it in my head to just stick with the ADJA for peace of mind.

That said, I think I would be foolish to overlook Gerreti, given the reviews is received. As you say, hopefully a falling out rather than a quality issue

Thanks

Basq

I went to Gerreti when I was over in August and wasn't impressed in the slightest tbh!

Thought they were quite rude and tried to push a sale on rings and settings which we weren't impressed with.

Joaillerie Du Centre on the other hand were just fantastic.. no pressure to buy and welcomed us to shop around before deciding on them.

ilovespudss

Basq wrote: »

I went to Gerreti when I was over in August and wasn't impressed in the slightest tbh!

Thought they were quite rude and tried to push a sale on rings and settings which we weren't impressed with.

Joaillerie Du Centre on the other hand were just fantastic.. no pressure to buy and welcomed us to shop around before deciding on them.

Thanks for that.

I will probably try them anyway, but thanks for the heads up .

harjac

It's always wise to be careful when a situation arises with decisive actions undertaken by an association. A large association with many members can easily miss a few. Not so when there are few members. It's not in the interest of any small group to reduce its membership. When it does happen, one can safely assume that the decision resulted from one or more very disturbing incident(s).

There is an independent Irish jewellery and diamond expert who has some solid, objective proof resulting from a number of serious complaints. I'll communicate the details in the coming days.

ilovespudss

harjac wrote: »

It's always wise to be careful when a situation arises with decisive actions undertaken by an association. A large association with many members can easily miss a few. Not so when there are few members. It's not in the interest of any small group to reduce its membership. When it does happen, one can safely assume that the decision resulted from one or more very disturbing incident(s).

There is an independent Irish jewellery and diamond expert who has some solid, objective proof resulting from a number of serious complaints. I'll communicate the details in the coming days.

Harjac,

I would certainly be interested in any information you'd have.

Noisin

Hi
I've flights booked to go to Antwerp the end January, a lot of people on this site gave me invaluable advice. I am so gratefull.
I have contacted, Geretti, Joe Katz, Phillippe Harold and Joullier du Centre.
Phillippe and Geretti's discussed prices for what I want the others didn't. I tried a few places in Dublin Rocks, Breretons, Loyes, Fields just to see what I want. I know excactly what I want now. I'm almost at the conclusion comparing like with like you can get good value in Dublin, not 100% whether its worth the hazzle of going over. My partner would prefer not to go over. I got return flights for the 2 of us for under €60 euro so I don't mind foregoing the trip over, I have done a lot of homework on this topic, Ive spent alot of time researching this topic, and for the ring I want and the buget I have to be honest Phillippe Harold and Geretti are coming in at a higher and a fairly close price to Breretons. I didn't buy in Breretons because the stone was not certified and I'm a bit hung up on a certified stone, saying that Phillippe Harold doesn't over believe in certified stones or so I have read.
One thing I will say is both Jo Katz and Phillippe Harold are very prompt and excellent to deal with via email, that's my experience of them anyways. But Jo Katz didn't discuss prices via email so I have to wait till I go over if we go over.
I queried Geretti why they are no longer with ADJA they gave me a reason, but I emailed ADJA directly and basically reading between the lines and doing a lot of research there are issues with Geretti's pm me if you want more information as I don't want to be thrown off this thread.
But I personally wont be going to Geretti's and that's after doing a lot of research they seem to be the most reasonable but maybe too good to be true.
But seemingly ADJA is just a group of jewellers that set it up and there the members, pm me if you want more information. I'm starting to form my own opinion on that......
I'm going to Dublin again to look at rings but seriously the specification of ring I'm looking at in Dublin I seem to be offered the same price in Antwerp, probably have more haggling power when you actually face to face but I was surprised when I went to Dublin. About 3 months ago I was determined to go to Antwerp but after being shopping in Dublin I'm not sure its worth the hassle.
Fir e.g in Antwerp The band for the E-ring, they were quoting me €900-€950 for a white gold and a yellow gold band, but when I was in Dublin in the jewellers that have their own goldsmiths on site the band for the E-ring comes in a lot cheaper, maybe its because Gold is cheaper here I don't know or perhaps it seems there made by the jewellers here, not sure.
A guy on this site directed me to Abana in Dublin and I spoke to them and reviews on Weddings Online are excellent, reasonable so I plan on visiting him and also Patrick Glynn on Middle Street they are wholesalers, reviews are quite good.
Anyways I'll let yee know whether I go to Antwerp or whether I buy in Dublin as I'm running out of time......lol and my head is completely wrecked.....
Decisions decisions.......

ilovespudss

Noisin wrote: »

Hi
I've flights booked to go to Antwerp the end January, a lot of people on this site gave me invaluable advice. I am so gratefull.
I have contacted, Geretti, Joe Katz, Phillippe Harold and Joullier du Centre.
Phillippe and Geretti's discussed prices for what I want the others didn't. I tried a few places in Dublin Rocks, Breretons, Loyes, Fields just to see what I want. I know excactly what I want now. I'm almost at the conclusion comparing like with like you can get good value in Dublin, not 100% whether its worth the hazzle of going over. My partner would prefer not to go over. I got return flights for the 2 of us for under €60 euro so I don't mind foregoing the trip over, I have done a lot of homework on this topic, Ive spent alot of time researching this topic, and for the ring I want and the buget I have to be honest Phillippe Harold and Geretti are coming in at a higher and a fairly close price to Breretons. I didn't buy in Breretons because the stone was not certified and I'm a bit hung up on a certified stone, saying that Phillippe Harold doesn't over believe in certified stones or so I have read.
One thing I will say is both Jo Katz and Phillippe Harold are very prompt and excellent to deal with via email, that's my experience of them anyways. But Jo Katz didn't discuss prices via email so I have to wait till I go over if we go over.
I queried Geretti why they are no longer with ADJA they gave me a reason, but I emailed ADJA directly and basically reading between the lines and doing a lot of research there are issues with Geretti's pm me if you want more information as I don't want to be thrown off this thread.
But I personally wont be going to Geretti's and that's after doing a lot of research they seem to be the most reasonable but maybe too good to be true.
But seemingly ADJA is just a group of jewellers that set it up and there the members, pm me if you want more information. I'm starting to form my own opinion on that......
I'm going to Dublin again to look at rings but seriously the specification of ring I'm looking at in Dublin I seem to be offered the same price in Antwerp, probably have more haggling power when you actually face to face but I was surprised when I went to Dublin. About 3 months ago I was determined to go to Antwerp but after being shopping in Dublin I'm not sure its worth the hassle.
Fir e.g in Antwerp The band for the E-ring, they were quoting me €900-€950 for a white gold and a yellow gold band, but when I was in Dublin in the jewellers that have their own goldsmiths on site the band for the E-ring comes in a lot cheaper, maybe its because Gold is cheaper here I don't know or perhaps it seems there made by the jewellers here, not sure.
A guy on this site directed me to Abana in Dublin and I spoke to them and reviews on Weddings Online are excellent, reasonable so I plan on visiting him and also Patrick Glynn on Middle Street they are wholesalers, reviews are quite good.
Anyways I'll let yee know whether I go to Antwerp or whether I buy in Dublin as I'm running out of time......lol and my head is completely wrecked.....
Decisions decisions.......

Hi Noisin,

Just wondering did you end up going over Antwerp in the end?

Seanie_H

ilovespudss wrote: »

Hi Noisin,

Just wondering did you end up going over Antwerp in the end?

What a cliff hanger....

Seriously though, very interested to know what Noisin did! We're due to fly out to Antwerp next week.

12 element

Seanie_H wrote: »

What a cliff hanger....

Seriously though, very interested to know what Noisin did! We're due to fly out to Antwerp next week.

Hi Seanie,

I was over last year and I'd make sure you go to Joullier du Centre. We had appointments with lots of the usual names you see mentioned but were so impressed with Joullier du Centre that we cancelled the rest of the appointments!

Best of luck

NewCorkLad

Just back from Antwerp. We could only go over on a Saturday so we went to Diamondland which is the only ADJA approved shop open on a Saturday and our friends had been and recommended it. We dealt with Alex, we found him great to deal with and the misses came home with her perfect ring.

Good Luck Seanie

Seanie_H

So, we went yesterday and came back the same day.

Just in case anybody digs up the thread again -
We left on Ryanair at 6.30am. Trains to Antwerp are every 30mins and take approx. 25 mins. EUR 46 return for 2nd class which is as good as Irish Rail commuter. So we arrived in Antwerp at 10am.

I won't go shop for shop because there would be too much to cover but we ended up picking an antique ring from a shop called Adin. They have an extensive website and Etsy shop. We had spotted the ring and once she saw it, that was it. I got a very good feeling from the shop. I was at ease and managed to get a good discount by being cheeky and was carrying cash. They had the ring resized that day so it was ready to pick up later that evening. Then off on the train, back to the airport - too easy.

Extra tip.... check out T'zilte restaurant if you are a foody and would like to make an occasion of it. Pricey spot for lunch all the same.

Diamondland is open again by the way!

stickybookmark

NewCorkLad wrote: »

Just back from Antwerp. We could only go over on a Saturday so we went to Diamondland which is the only ADJA approved shop open on a Saturday and our friends had been and recommended it. We dealt with Alex, we found him great to deal with and the misses came home with her perfect ring.

Good Luck Seanie

Not true! JOAILLERIE DU CENTRE are also open on Saturdays and they're ADJA approved as well

NewCorkLad

stickybookmark wrote: »

Not true! JOAILLERIE DU CENTRE are also open on Saturdays and they're ADJA approved as well

Apologies we were told they were only open Monday to Friday so didnt check them.