shape
carat
color
clarity

Some diamond industry terms

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.

kenny

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
33,227
Source: Leibish & Co. newsletter

A century ago, the major players in the diamond trade were Jews.
As a result, many of today's expressions specific to the diamond business are borrowed from the Yiddish.
Here are a few important trade expressions to get you started:

Mazal und Bracha Translated this means, 'good luck and blessing.'
Diamond sales are concluded with the statement, 'Mazal und Bracha,' said together with a hand shake.
No contract has been signed, and no payment has been made, but once the word 'Mazal' is said, the deal is concluded and the two parties are obligated.

Meziah A 'meziah' is a great bargain a diamond which you get at a price substantially less than its real value.

Stropp A 'stropp' is the opposite of a bargain.
It is a diamond not worth the money you paid, and which can't even be sold at this low price.

Broch Even worse than a 'stropp,' a 'broch' is an extremely bad deal.

Al hacol This expression actually originates in the Hebrew.
I first heard it not in Israel, but in India, said by Indian dealers.
It is said when making an offer on a complete parcel, containing many different stones without the rejection of any stone from the parcel.

Zicht When a stone is reserved for a specific person, it is closed in an envelope, with the word 'zicht' written on it.
In such a situation, the owner of the stone can't offer it to anyone else.
It is reserved for the person who entered it to the 'zicht,' until he opens the envelope and releases the stone.

Cashett This is a binding offer made when a stone and/or a parcel is closed within an envelope, with the price and payment terms written on it.
When the seller accepts the cashett, he says, 'Mazal Und Bracha,' making the sale official.
Now the stone belongs to the party who offered the cashett.

Brenn A special expression used (as are many of the Yiddish-originating terms in the business) exclusively in the diamond trade.
A 'Brenn' refers to extremely hot markets when prices go up to the point of nearly losing control.
There is no real economic explanation for a 'brenn' it is like a bush fire feeding on itself.
 

Todd Gray

Brilliant_Rock
Trade
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
1,299
They forgot "Drek" which is trash or rubbish
2.gif
 

kenny

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
33,227
Aka, lopsie fugs.
 

Paul-Antwerp

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Messages
2,859
''Zicht'' actually is Dutch, and ''Cachet'' is French. All these words originally used in Antwerp, where the jewish traders regularly mix speaking Hebrew, Yiddish, Dutch and French.
 

Rockdiamond

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
9,711
A "Shlemeil" is someone who passes on the "Mitzia" and buys the Stroop.

Cool info Paul- how many languages do you speak?
 

Paul-Antwerp

Ideal_Rock
Trade
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Messages
2,859
Only four, David, but do not tell the locals here that I also understand them when they are talking Hebrew or Gujarati amongst themselves.

Live long,
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
Be a part of the community Get 3 HCA Results
Top