Buying from India
Buying Diamonds Online from India: Is It Safe, and What Does It Cost?
Updated: · Vibama Jewels
Most diamonds you see in US, European and Australian jewellery stores passed through India before they reached the shop. Buying directly from a maker there can save a large part of the price, if you know what to check.
Why India, and why Surat?
Surat, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, is the world's largest diamond cutting and polishing centre. Hundreds of thousands of people work in its diamond industry, and the large majority of the world's diamonds by number of stones are polished there. Surat is also a major centre for growing lab-grown diamonds with CVD and HPHT equipment.
A stone bought from a high-street jeweller abroad has usually passed through a cutter, an exporter, an importer, a wholesaler and the retailer. Each adds a margin. Buying from a maker in Surat removes most of those steps.
Is it safe?
It is, if the seller does five things:
- Independent grading. Every centre stone comes with a report from an independent lab (GIA or IGI) that you can verify online.
- Approval before payment. You see the exact stone, its report and a video before you are charged.
- Clear origin. Lab-grown stones are always labelled as lab-grown, on the website, the report and the invoice.
- Insured, tracked shipping. The parcel is insured for its full value and handed over only against a signature.
- Real returns. A written return window with a full refund and a named contact.
Vibama Jewels does all five. You can read the details on our shipping page and returns page.
The 9-point checklist before you pay
Use this list with any online seller, in India or anywhere else.
| # | Check | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The seller is a real, established business | Look for a street address, phone or WhatsApp number, company details and independent reviews |
| 2 | Every centre stone has an independent report | GIA for natural, IGI or GIA for lab-grown |
| 3 | The report is genuine | Type the report number into GIA Report Check or IGI Verify yourself, not via a link from the seller |
| 4 | The stone matches the report | The report number is laser-inscribed on the girdle; any local jeweller can read it with a loupe |
| 5 | Everything is in writing | Invoice states natural or lab-grown, carat, grades, report number, metal and total price, as the FTC recommends |
| 6 | There is a written return window | At least 14 to 30 days, with refund timing and return shipping explained |
| 7 | You pay with buyer protection | Credit card or a protected payment service |
| 8 | Shipping is insured for the full value | Tracked courier, signature on delivery, full value declared |
| 9 | You know who pays import charges | The checkout states whether duties and taxes are included; US buyers can read CBP's guidance on internet purchases |
Once the parcel arrives, take the stone to an independent jeweller or appraiser while you are still inside the return window.
Natural diamonds and the Kimberley Process
Natural rough diamonds traded between member countries must travel with a Kimberley Process certificate, the international scheme set up to keep conflict diamonds out of the market. Polished diamonds then carry the industry's System of Warranties statement on each invoice. Ask any seller of natural diamonds to show this statement on your invoice.
Shipping and delivery times
Jewellery is made to order, which typically takes one to two weeks. Insured express couriers then deliver to the USA, UK, EU and Australia in about three to five business days. Loose diamonds ship faster, a few days after you approve the report.
Import duty and taxes by region
Duties are set by your country, not by the seller, and they can change. In brief:
- USA: US tariffs on goods from India changed several times in 2025 and 2026, with different treatment for loose diamonds and finished jewellery. The checkout tells you how duties are handled for your order.
- United Kingdom: imports are subject to UK import VAT and, depending on the product, customs duty.
- European Union: imports are subject to the VAT rate of your country and, for jewellery, customs duty.
- Australia: imports above the low-value threshold attract GST and may attract duty.
Unless your checkout says duties are included, the courier collects them on delivery. A trustworthy seller always declares the full value. Be wary of anyone who offers to mark a diamond parcel as a "gift" or declare a lower value: it is illegal and voids the insurance.
How to pay safely
Pay by credit card or a payment service with buyer protection rather than an untraceable transfer, especially for your first order. For large orders, a bank transfer to a company account is normal, after you have approved the stone and report.
What you can save
Compare like with like: same carat, colour, clarity, cut grade and lab. On our current list a 1 carat round F-G VS lab-grown diamond with an IGI report is $420, and a comparable natural diamond with a GIA report is $5,200. See all live prices in our diamond builder.
Frequently asked questions
Will customs open my parcel?
They can. Insured couriers handle customs clearance, and your parcel carries a full invoice and the diamond report, which keeps inspections short.
What if my parcel is lost?
Shipments are insured for their full value until you sign for them. If a parcel is lost or damaged in transit, we replace or refund the order.
Can I see the diamond before it ships?
Yes. For every loose diamond and centre stone we send the grading report and a video of the exact stone for your approval before payment is taken.
Do Indian jewellers use real gold?
Reputable makers use hallmarked or assayed alloys: 14k is 58.5% gold and 18k is 75% gold. Ask for the karat and alloy on the invoice, as we provide.