I love sparkly things, so I get where you're coming from. Yes, they are cheaper in the US. I have a girlfriend who purchased her large rock from the US. I have purchased some really beautiful jewellery from a website called Bidz.com. Admittedly, a few years ago they had better deals. I think that they are now well known, their deals are not as good. I got a gorgeous Robert DeMeglio 18 carat gold ring with two large, super clean diamonds and a pearl. Retails price was $2,700 and I got it for $234. I have also bought other jewellery on that site such as a beautiful watch with diamonds--Swiss made, $3,000 retail and I paid $330. They used to have all the big names--Cartier, Dior, Zydo, Giovanni Baraka. If you are going overseas, they have beautiful jewellery in Italy. There is a small shop in Rome where the owner copies all of the big name jewelers--Bulgari etc--but at a fraction of the price.
Also have a girlfriend who has bought gold jewellery and emeralds in Dubai. She said it was a good deal.
I still have my favourite store in Italy, but even the quality there is not what it used to be. Get your husband to take you to Italy to buy some jewellery--and your daughters. I was there this year and I bought earrings and necklaces in 18 ct gold for both my daughters.