Diamond centers are created where diamonds trade, where they are cut and polished and sometimes inserted into jewelry. They are also located in distribution centers in consumer markets (or consumer markets). They are the middle part of the diamond pipeline.
When discussing diamond centers, the first center that comes to mind is Antwerp, Belgium, and this is justified. It is one of the oldest diamond centers, it has a rich history, which in various ways speaks about the history of changes in the global economy over the past five centuries.
From India to Antwerp
The history of the Antwerp diamond industry begins in the early 1500s, when diamonds coming from India were first delivered to the city of Bruges and then to Antwerp, where they were cut and polished and inserted into jewelry for the nobility and wealthy merchants.
An important turning point in the field of diamond cutting was the fact that in 1456 Lodewik van Berken invented a scaif, a polishing wheel using a mixture of oil and diamond dust. For the first time it became possible to polish all sides of the diamond symmetrically at angles that allowed to reflect light as never before. Skyf revolutionized the polishing of diamonds. This led to an increase in the popularity of diamonds, and Antwerp strengthened its position as a global diamond center.
Competition with Amsterdam
The first phase of leadership ended when, in 1585, the Spaniards conquered Antwerp. Most of the jewelers from this city rushed to Amsterdam, which led to the cessation of polished diamonds in Antwerp, according to AllAboutGemstones.com.
And only a hundred years later, when the Thirty Years' War ended in 1648, the Jew-cutters began to return to Antwerp. But Amsterdam retained its dominant role in the diamond industry for another hundred years as a result of constant pressure from the Spanish Inquisition. At that time, Amsterdam supplied low quality diamonds from Antwerp to Antwerp, which led the Antwerp diamond manufacturers to devise new ways to maximize the cost of their diamonds.
Return of Antwerp
After the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, Antwerp became part of the Netherlands, and the Jewish community received equal rights. The Jews returned to Antwerp in full force and again rebuilt their diamond business. In this situation, in 1863 Antwerp diamantaires opened their first official diamond exchange (Bourses).
The discovery of diamonds at the Kimberley field in South Africa in 1871 gave an additional impetus to the development of Antwerp. And again, after 300 years, Antwerp became the world's leading diamond center. At the beginning of the 20th century, King Leopold II decided to annex the Congo, and diamonds were among the goods exported from this African territory to Belgium. In 1914, during the First World War, the outer and inner rings of fortification around the city were destroyed, and the German army entered the city, occupying it until its liberation in 1918.
Thanks to the attention that was paid to the city in connection with the hosting of the Olympic Games in 1920 and the World Expo in 1930, the diamond and diamond industry of Antwerp has blossomed again.
After the First World War, diamond mining in the Congo led to an increase in exports to Belgium, providing Antwerp with an important source of diamonds. Then, like many countries, in the 1930s, Belgium suffered from the American Great Depression. As depression deepens, demand for diamonds and other luxury goods has plummeted. During this period Antwerp reduced production by 50%, reduced working hours and about 25,000 jobs.
The Second World War
The outbreak of World War II again caused a sharp decline in demand for diamonds in the world. When Germany occupied Belgium and then the Netherlands, Jews engaged in diamond trade were arrested, interned, and many were killed by the Nazi regime. Survivors went to Tel Aviv and New York and created new diamond centers in those cities. Of the 35,000 Jews originally residing in Antwerp, less than 5,000 survived the war.
After the war, diamond-diamond activity in the city revived. Diamond-producing companies and banks settled in Antwerp. Resurrected from the ashes of World War II, Antwerp regained its status as the diamond capital of Europe. Since then, until the mid-1970s and early 1980s, it was the world's leading diamond center. Most of the world's diamonds were sent here and were cut and polished here. To support him, banks were created, and diamonds were sent all over the world.
Protection of Belgian diamonds
In 1973, on the initiative of the Belgian government and representatives of the diamond and diamond industry, Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD), or the Diamond High Council (Diamond High Council) was established. His mission was to protect and stimulate the development of the diamond and diamond sector in Belgium. Among other things, he also has a commercial branch for issuing certificates. In 2007, the original Supreme Diamond Council was restructured and split into two different organizations.
The first organization, the Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC), is a private foundation responsible for representing the collective interests of the Belgian diamond and diamond industry both nationally and internationally, as well as promoting Antwerp as the world capital of the diamond- Diamond industry. The second organization, HRD Antwerp, is a completely independent commercial division of AWDC and has six branches: the Diamond Lab, the Precious Stones Lab, the Research branch, the Education branch, the Graduates Club ) And the Equipment Branch.
Currently, there are 1,700 diamond-diamond companies registered in Belgium and over 4,500 dealers providing livelihood for more than 10,000 people. There are 45 large diamond-diamond companies (over $ 500 million annually), 100 medium-sized companies ($ 500- $ 150 million) and 1,400 small companies. They work on four diamond exchanges: Diamant Kring, Diamant Beurs, Diamant Club and Beurs voor vrije Diamanthandel.
As a result of all these events taking place over several centuries, Antwerp diamond producers were forced to constantly develop their methods of producing diamonds. Beginning in the mid-17th century, when Antwerp cutters were forced to produce precious stones from small diamonds of low quality given to them by Amsterdam diamond traders, they improved their craftsmanship, enabling them to cut and polish larger stones. Working with small diamonds "mele" to stones of medium size, they increased the experience necessary for the production of precious stones of very large size and high quality. Antwerp was forced to abandon the production of small and medium-sized diamonds due to competition with other centers, Who were able to do so at lower labor costs. The ability to quickly acquire new skills and high technology supported Antwerp in this transitional period.
http://www.ehudlaniado.com/home/index.php/news/entry/antwerp-and-diamonds-a-rocky-love-story
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