Can I pay at Designer Diamonds with US dollars, Deutsche Marks, or euros?

 

This question comes up in our ateliers in Munich and Augsburg more often than you would think. One customer still has dollars in a drawer from his last trip to the USA. A family clears out the parental home and finds an envelope full of D Mark notes. Someone is planning the proposal in California and has withdrawn cash there. The question is always the same: can I pay for my engagement ring with this?

The answer is yes. But it comes with conditions, and those conditions have reasons. We explain them here in full, so that there are no surprises on the day of your appointment.

Euro is the normal case

The vast majority of our customers pay in euro. You will find a clear overview of the individual options on our payment options page. In euro, the non cash routes are open to you as well, which is not the case for foreign currency. The legal requirements for cash, however, apply regardless of the currency: the identification duty from 2,000 euro and the 10,000 euro upper limit coming in mid 2027 affect euro notes just as much as dollar notes. More on that below. What applies to foreign currency alone is the series requirement for dollars and the restriction to cash payment in person.

US Dollar: yes, but only the new series

We accept US dollars. In cash, in notes and only in the current series. This is not arbitrary. It follows from the way cash is processed in Germany. We deposit the foreign currency we accept with our bank. Banks and exchange offices in Germany check dollar notes by machine and against the security features of the modern series. Old notes in the design used before the major redesign cannot be verified reliably with these procedures and are therefore regularly refused in German banking. In the United States they do remain legal tender, but in Germany that is of little practical use to you.

How to recognise a new series

• The portrait is large and sits slightly off centre. On the old notes the head is small and exactly centred inside an oval frame.
• The notes carry colour in the background, no longer just green and black.
• The 100 dollar note of the most recent issue has a blue security ribbon that shows a moving pattern when tilted.
• The security thread and the watermark are clearly visible against the light.

If you are unsure, simply bring the notes with you and show them to us. We will look at them together before anything becomes binding. If we cannot accept something, we will tell you straight away and without beating around the bush.

D Mark: yes, the old currency still counts

The D Mark has not been legal tender since 2002, but it has not become worthless either. The Deutsche Bundesbank still exchanges D Mark banknotes and coins for euro to this day, free of charge and with no time limit or maximum amount. The official conversion rate remains fixed: 1 euro equals 1.95583 D Mark.

That is exactly why we can accept D Mark. An envelope of old notes from an inheritance is real money, it simply has to take the route via the Bundesbank. For larger amounts or for D Mark coins, please talk to us before your appointment so that we can clarify the process in advance.

Why the notes have to be intact

A damaged note does not automatically lose its value. It does, however, lose its everyday usability. For damaged cash the Deutsche Bundesbank operates a separate reimbursement procedure involving an application, an examination and a waiting period. Reimbursement is only granted if enough of the note remains. This procedure takes time and lies well beyond what a jeweller can handle at the counter.

Hence our clear policy. We accept notes that are complete, have no missing corners, have not been taped or glued, are not split into two halves and show no severe discolouration or burn marks. Normal signs of use, meaning creases and folds, are not a problem. If a note is damaged, that is not lost money but a case for the Bundesbank reimbursement application. We will tell you which route you can take.

Limits that are not set by us

Cash payments are subject to legal requirements that apply to every retailer in Germany in the same way. For trade in precious metals the threshold is lower than in other sectors. Under the German Money Laundering Act we are required to establish the identity of our contracting party for cash payments from 2,000 euro upwards. In practice this means bringing your identity card or passport. For goods traders outside the precious metals trade the threshold is 10,000 euro.

In addition, a Europe wide upper limit of 10,000 euro for cash payments in a commercial context will apply from mid 2027. Amounts above this limit can then no longer be settled in cash, only through the remaining payment methods. For foreign currency, the equivalent value in euro is used.

None of this is anything to worry about. It is simply the reason why we ask for identification when cash is involved, and one more reason why a short note in advance of your appointment saves everyone time.

How a purchase in foreign currency works with us

1. Book an appointment and let us know. One sentence is enough: I would like to pay in dollars, or I have D Mark. Everything else is then prepared.
2. Show us the notes. We look at the series and the condition together before the payment is settled.
3. Clarify the conversion. We discuss the equivalent value in euro and the process openly before you decide.
4. Have your ID ready. From 2,000 euro in cash, identification is required by law.
5. Receive your receipt. You get a regular invoice with the euro amount stated on it.

The real point is a different one. The currency is the smallest part of this decision. What matters far more is what you get for your money, and whether the ring will still look the way it did on day one twenty years from now. If you have not yet looked into that question, read our article on which engagement rings are genuinely durable and high quality. It explains why two visually identical rings can age completely differently in daily wear.

Foreign currency and bespoke pieces

Even if you design your ring with us yourself, nothing changes about the payment rules. You can create your own design in the configurator and then settle the amount in cash in euro, dollars or D Mark. The same applies to wedding rings and wedding bands, where almost every couple asks for adjustments anyway.

With a bespoke commission a deposit is usually paid and the balance settled on collection. This is also possible in foreign currency, provided the notes meet the requirements described above. Since weeks can pass between the deposit and the collection, it is best to clarify the process for both payments at the first appointment.

One point that matters more than the currency

Cash creates a dynamic of its own. Anyone walking into a shop with an envelope full of notes tends to decide faster than they otherwise would. That is exactly what we advise against. An engagement ring is not a spontaneous purchase, it is a decision with a certificate, a setting, an alloy and manufacturing quality behind it. If you want to know what to look for in the diamond itself, our article on how to choose a diamond correctly will help you. And if you are curious about which providers exist on the German market in the first place, you will find an overview of the popular engagement ring brands in Germany.

Whether a certificate really is the deciding factor is a discussion of its own. We have covered it in detail in our article The diamond certificate, do I really need it.

Where to find us

We accept foreign currency at both locations, in our atelier on Hanauer Strasse in Munich as well as on Jakoberstrasse in Augsburg. Both ateliers work by appointment, so that you are advised in peace and not left standing among walk in customers.

Frequently asked questions about paying in foreign currency

Can I pay at Designer Diamonds with US dollars?

Yes. We accept US dollars in cash only and only in the new series with the large portrait and modern security features. The notes must be complete and undamaged. Let us know briefly when you book your appointment.

Why do you not accept old dollar notes?

Old notes in the design used before the major redesign cannot be checked reliably with the verification procedures common in Germany and are regularly refused in German banking. In the United States they remain valid, but here they are effectively unusable in payment transactions.

Can I pay with D Mark?

Yes, in cash. The Deutsche Bundesbank exchanges D Mark for euro indefinitely and free of charge. The official rate is 1.95583 D Mark per euro. We cannot accept damaged notes.

Do you also take D Mark coins?

Coins can in principle also be exchanged at the Bundesbank, but in practice they are considerably more cumbersome to handle. Please talk to us before your appointment and we will clarify it case by case.

What counts as a damaged note?

Taped, split or torn notes, as well as notes with missing corners, severe discolouration or burn marks. Creases and normal signs of use are not an issue. For more heavily damaged cash there is the reimbursement procedure of the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Can I also send foreign currency by bank transfer?

We accept foreign currency in cash only and in person only. Non cash payments are handled in euro. You will find the available options on our payment options page.

How is the exchange rate determined?

We discuss the equivalent value in euro openly with you before the payment. You decide afterwards. The invoice always states the euro amount.

Do I need identification when paying in cash?

From 2,000 euro in cash, yes. For trade in precious metals the German Money Laundering Act requires identification from this threshold upwards. An identity card or passport is sufficient.

Is there an upper limit for cash payments?

From mid 2027 an upper limit of 10,000 euro for cash payments in a commercial context applies across the European Union. Amounts above that must then be settled without cash. For foreign currency, the equivalent value in euro counts.

Can I pay part in dollars and part in euro?

Yes, splitting the payment is possible. Let us know in advance so that we can document the split properly.

Do you also accept other currencies such as Swiss francs or British pounds?

Please ask us before your appointment. We check this case by case and give you a binding answer in advance, rather than having to put you off on the day.

Does this also apply to a bespoke commission with a deposit?

Yes. Both the deposit and the balance can be paid in foreign currency, provided the notes are undamaged and, in the case of dollars, from the new series. Since weeks can pass between the two appointments, it is best to clarify the process during the first conversation.

Do I have to announce a payment in foreign currency in advance?

Announced, it is faster and more relaxed. We can prepare the process, clarify the equivalent value in advance and tell you what to bring. Unannounced, most things can still be resolved, it simply takes longer.

Do I get change back in euro?

Please raise this beforehand. We clarify larger differences in advance so that everything is ready on the day of your appointment.

Sources and further information: Deutsche Bundesbank on the exchange of DM into euro and on damaged money. The thresholds mentioned follow from the German Money Laundering Act and the EU Anti Money Laundering Regulation. This article does not constitute legal advice.