gemstonesonline.org

Israel and diamonds

Posted January 11th, 2009 by admin

In Israel, the industry started with four factories in 1939, but it has since grown to considerable importance. Most of the factories have been concerned with the processing of industrial stones, although gem stones are also cut. The center is the modern city of Tel Aviv, where a diamond market and club have been established by former European dealers. Other sites of this industry are at Nathanya and Petach Tikvah, and in 1945 there were some 33 factories employing about 3000 highly paid workers, both men and women, with an output of 96,638 carats. Most of the finished products are exported to the U.S.A.

In Brazil, gem cutting is now a fast growing and prosperous industry, and though entirely new to this country, expansion and development point to the fact that the industry is likely to remain there. It must be remembered that many varieties of gem stones, in addition to diamond, are found in this vast country, and old connections exist between Brazilian stone dealers and those who were formerly stone merchants in Germany. Cutters in Brazil number about 5,000, with many more apprentices, but this number includes those cutting semi-precious stones. Previous to 1939, most of the rough material was exported, but this is now being cut locally, in addition to material imported from London. The 1943 estimated production was 275,000 carats, of which 15,000 carats were carbonado (not gem quality diamond). Cutting centers are established in Rio de Janeiro, Bello Horizonte, and Theo-philo Ottoni.