Which is the world''s largest diamond trading city?

[Rockdiamond]

Or, better put, which city has the largest diamond trading center?
Mumbai
New York City
Bangkok Thailand
Moscow
Johannesburg South Africa
Los Angeles
London
Ramat Gan Israel
Antwerp Belgium

What do you guys think, both in terms of rough and polished?
I''ve only traded in NY, Ramat Gan and Antwerp

I don''t know the answer- but maybe some of our other members do!

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/27/2009 11:53:47 PM
Author:Rockdiamond
Or, better put, which city has the largest diamond trading center?
Mumbai
New York City
Bangkok Thailand
Moscow
Johannesburg South Africa
Los Angeles
London
Ramat Gan Israel
Antwerp Belgium

What do you guys think, both in terms of rough and polished?
I''ve only traded in NY, Ramat Gan and Antwerp

I don''t know the answer- but maybe some of our other members do!

As of today, NYC and Mumbai. At least that''s what my GIA course is telling me. Diamonds and diamond grading.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thanks Kaleigh!
That would probably be polished, right?

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Antwerp is where most Indian diamonds that do not already have a home go to be sold as diamonds from Antwerp.
A lot, maybe even most rough, is traded in Antwerp.

 

[Indira-London]

Like Garry, I say "Antwerp"

According to HRD http://www.hrdantwerp.be/content/hrd_antwerpen/about_hrd_antwerp.htm, the text below is directly from that page:

"For more than 500 years, the city of Antwerp has stood at the very centre of the diamond business, developing a level of skill, understanding and expertise that is without equal. The first diamond bourse in Antwerp, the ‘Diamantclub van Antwerpen’, was established in 1893. Currently, there are 28 diamond bourses worldwide, 4 of which are located in Antwerp, making Belgium the only country in the world with this many bourses.

Antwerp has always played an exemplary role in trading diamonds, setting the standard for the level of skill, quality and confidence that not only people in the industry, but also customers have come to expect. As a matter of fact, most other diamond bourses have based their structure on the Antwerp bourses, meaning that most stones that arrive in Antwerp from abroad adhere to our strict standards.

Nowadays, eighty percent of all rough diamonds in the world are handled in Antwerp, while fifty percent of all cut diamonds pass through Antwerp."

 

[Rockdiamond]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the input!

INteresting about Antwerp.
It could be that I''m simply more familar with NYC- or that the business attitude in Belgium is far more....subdued than that of NYC...but Antwerp seemed less busy to me.

Maybe next time I go, we can all meet up!

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

nyc supplies usa
many or most diamonds sold in usa were sold by chains.
they are not traded in usa - they are deals mainly done direct with manufacturers as a consequence of Rio, BHP and SoC
the rest of the world and increasingly usa deal with Belguim

 

[diagem]

Date: 7/28/2009 3:33:48 AM
Author: Indira-London

Like Garry, I say ''Antwerp''

According to HRD http://www.hrdantwerp.be/content/hrd_antwerpen/about_hrd_antwerp.htm, the text below is directly from that page:

''For more than 500 years, the city of Antwerp has stood at the very centre of the diamond business, developing a level of skill, understanding and expertise that is without equal. The first diamond bourse in Antwerp, the ‘Diamantclub van Antwerpen’, was established in 1893. Currently, there are 28 diamond bourses worldwide, 4 of which are located in Antwerp, making Belgium the only country in the world with this many bourses.

Antwerp has always played an exemplary role in trading diamonds, setting the standard for the level of skill, quality and confidence that not only people in the industry, but also customers have come to expect. As a matter of fact, most other diamond bourses have based their structure on the Antwerp bourses, meaning that most stones that arrive in Antwerp from abroad adhere to our strict standards.

Nowadays, eighty percent of all rough diamonds in the world are handled in Antwerp, while fifty percent of all cut diamonds pass through Antwerp.''

Its just a pity these 4 bourses are used for restaurant meetings and card playing and less for trading.