What the Diamond District is
New York's Diamond District is the block of West 47th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown Manhattan. It is one short block, but it holds a very large number of jewelers, diamond dealers, setters, polishers and repair shops. Some sell from street level windows. Many more work upstairs in office buildings, in small suites you would never notice from the sidewalk.
For a buyer, that density is useful. You can see a lot of stones in a small area and compare them in person. It can also feel busy and a little overwhelming the first time. A simple plan helps.
Getting there
By subway
The closest station is 47-50 Sts Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F and M lines. The station runs under Sixth Avenue. Take an exit toward 47th Street, walk to the corner of 47th and Sixth, and turn east toward Fifth Avenue. The district is right there.
Other lines are a short walk away. Times Square and Grand Central are both within walking distance, and the 7 train stops at Fifth Avenue near Bryant Park, a few blocks south.
By car or taxi
Midtown traffic is slow and street parking is very limited. If you take a taxi or a ride share, ask to be dropped on Sixth Avenue at 47th Street or on Fifth Avenue at 47th, then walk in. There are paid garages in the surrounding blocks.
Finding a building
Addresses on West 47th Street count up from Fifth Avenue toward Sixth. Low numbers are near Fifth. Our showroom is at 30 West 47th St, Suite 805, on the block between the two avenues.
How the buildings and showrooms work
This is the part that surprises first time visitors. Many jewelers on the block are not stores in the usual sense. They are private offices on upper floors, and you visit by appointment.
- Lobbies have security. In many buildings a lobby desk asks where you are going. Have the suite number ready. Some buildings may ask for photo ID, so carry one.
- Suites often have a buzzer. Doors are usually locked for security. Ring, and someone will let you in.
- Appointments matter. A private showroom can prepare for you: pull the stones you asked about, set aside the pieces you saved and give you the room without rushing.
- Street level shops work differently. You can walk in. That is fine for browsing, but it is harder to sit down and compare stones calmly at a busy counter.
Before you go: a short checklist
- Know your rough budget. Decide a range you are comfortable with, including the setting. It keeps the visit focused.
- Know a shape or two. You do not need to be certain. Our guide to diamond shapes helps narrow it down.
- Have a size idea. If it is a surprise, bring a borrowed ring or read our ring size guide.
- Bring photos of rings you like, from anywhere. They say more than descriptions.
- Book ahead. It saves waiting, and the stones are ready on the tray when you arrive.
How to shop calmly
The district has a reputation for fast talk. You do not have to match the pace. A few habits keep you in control:
Ask for the grading report
Every loose center stone should have a report from an independent lab such as IGI or GIA. Ask to see it, and check that the report number matches the inscription on the girdle of the stone under a loupe. Our guide to IGI and GIA reports shows you how.
Ask whether it is lab grown or mined
Both are sold on the block. Lab grown diamonds should be described clearly as lab grown, laboratory grown or laboratory created, and the report says so. If a description is vague, ask directly.
Compare side by side
Ask to see three or four stones next to each other on a white surface, under normal light as well as the bright showroom lights. Differences in color and sparkle show up far more clearly in a group than one at a time. Our guide to choosing in person goes into this step.
Get prices in writing
Ask for the price of the exact stone and setting together, written down with the report number. Keep the paperwork. It is your record of what you bought.
Take your time
It is fine to leave and think. A good jeweler will hold a stone for a short while if you ask. Feeling pushed is a reason to slow down, not speed up.
What a viewing at Suite 805 looks like
We keep things simple. When you book, tell us what you would like to see: settings, loose stones or jewelry. If you saved pieces on our site with the heart, those come to the tray too. For stones, use the loose diamond request to give us a shape, carat range and budget, and we pull a few matching lab grown diamonds with their reports.
At the visit you sit down, look at everything at your own pace and try rings on. We show you the stones under a loupe and walk you through each report. Prices are shown for each piece. You decide in your own time, and nothing is bought online.
Combining the visit with a day in Midtown
The district sits between Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, so it is easy to fit into a day in the city. Many couples plan the viewing, then walk to a nearby restaurant or one of the plazas to talk it over. If you are visiting from out of town, book a time early in your trip. That leaves room for a second look before you leave.
Plan your visit
Viewings at 30 West 47th St, Suite 805, are private and by appointment. Book a viewing online or call us on (732) 581-7932, and browse lab grown engagement rings before you come.
