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Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
Diamonds being
easily transportable and being of high value allows them to
be moved to the most efficient and economic locations for
further processing. The several factors that are considered
in determining the location of a diamond cutting facility
are access to rough, taxation, financing, trained workers
and marketing of polished diamonds.
Traditional and
famous diamond cutting centers are Antwerp, Amsterdam,
Johannesburg, New York, and Tel Aviv. Recently, diamond
cutting centers have been established in China, India, and
Thailand. Cutting centers with lower costs of labor, notably
Surat in Gujarat, India, handle a larger number of smaller
carat diamonds, while smaller quantities of larger or more
valuable diamonds are more likely to be handled in Europe or
North America.
India:
Most of the rough
diamonds of small carat weight are cut and polished in India
due to low cost of labor. About 90 percent of Argyle Mine’s
(Australia) rough diamond production is sent to be cut and
polished in India, the major Diamond cutting centre being
Surat in state of Gujarat.
The Indian gem
cutting industry started in the 1960s. The major attraction
for the rough diamond sellers was low labor costs. However,
the Indian government also encouraged the development of the
industry with a favorable tax structure. The supply of rough
diamond was difficult to this region until the opening of
the Argyle mine in the early 1980's.
Israel:
Israel is another
major diamond cutting and exporting country and has
established itself as a leader in this field. Most
sophisticated technology is used such as lasers and robotic
arms that cut and polish a diamond. Israel offers a wide
range in diamond cut shapes and is renowned for fancy cuts.
The Israeli diamond industry was founded after the Second
World War. Financing and a favorable tax system were
provided and a trained work force quickly arrived after the
establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. In recent
years, however, Israeli cutters have had more and more
difficulty obtaining a steady supply of rough diamonds.
U.S.A.
The largest gem
quality diamonds are cut in New York. In 1996, polished
trade in the United States was US$2.2 billion exports and
US$5.8 billion imports.
New York
developed as a diamond cutting centre around 1800 and
flourished in the 1920s and 30s. Immediately preceding the
Second World War, Jewish polishers from Amsterdam migrated
to New York. With the assistance of an import tax on
polished diamonds, the number of cutters continued to grow.
New York has developed as a trade and import centre for the
large American diamond market. It still is an important
cutting centre for large stones, where knowledge and skill
are given importance, rather than labor costs.
Russia:
Diamonds cut in
Russia are mainly from Yakutia, and other major diamond
mines in Russia due to need of increase in employment. Most
of the production in exported, as domestic sales are not
significant.
Belgium:
In Belgium,
Antwerp had been a centre for diamond trade for centuries.
After the Second World War, it flourished as a cutting
centre due to low taxation rates, a flexible Belgium banking
system (supported and funded by government and De Beers) and
the availability of rough through the trading centre. It is
now renowned as the major diamond cutting centers of the
world.
World's Famous Diamonds
Passion. Murder.
Insanity. Intrigue. Envy. A mere hint of the fascinating
stories behind the world's most remarkable diamonds.
Many have been associated with famous names - the likes
of Napoleon … Sultan Babur … Lady Astor … Shah Jehan …
Queen Victoria … Catherine the Great … Elizabeth Taylor.
Others have inspired awe and legend on account of their
size, origins or unique qualities. Since nearly the dawn
of time, diamonds have encrusted the armor of great
warriors,...
World's Largest Diamonds
The largest faceted diamond in the world is the Golden
Jubilee, weighing 545.67 carats. It is a Fancy Brownish-Yellow color and
"fire rose cushion cut." It is unusual also because it has a certain
type of rare color banding. The second largest faceted diamond in the
world is the Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan I. It weighs
530.20 carats and is a pear shape with 74 facets
Read more...
World's Famous Diamond Mines
The
oldest and most famous diamond mine in North America is
the Crater of Diamonds which is just south of
Murfreesboro, Arkansas. In 1906, diamonds were found
after John Wesley Huddleston bought the land to farm.
He noticed two small stones in the bottom of the bucket
of cattle feed. The stones were sent to Little
Rock jeweler who sent them to Tiffany's in New York and,...
World's Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
Diamonds being easily transportable and being of high
value allows them to be moved to the most efficient and
economic locations for further processing. The several
factors that are considered in determining the location
of a diamond cutting facility...
Diamonds and De Beers -
The Story of the Diamond Cartel
For more than 100 years, the name
De Beers has evoked all glamour and mystery radiated by a diamond. Through
shrewd marketing and careful manipulation of the market, the South African
company has parlayed these pieces of crystallized carbon into
multi-billion-dollar-a-year business empire. De Beers has truly a family
affair. Built around the twin pillars of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.
and Angelo American Corporation of South Africa, the Oppenheimer dynasty
controls most of the world's diamond mining and trade and is one of the
biggest multi-nationals. They are the world's leading diamond producers...
Read more...
Read about Diamond History,
Diamond Trade, Buying Tips and more...
The Romans believed that diamonds brought
courage and bravery during battle. Jewish high priests used diamonds to
decide the innocence or guilt of the accused: A stone held before a
guilty person dulled and darkened; a stone held before an innocent
person glowed with increased brilliance. The Hindus believed that this
brilliant gem was created when....
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World's Renowned Diamond Cutting Centers
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