Historically, Israel has accounted for between one third and one half of all the diamonds sold across America, a growing market already worth $20 billion per year.  . . . .
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 2 2026 14:35 utc | 69
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“Historically” for eighty years.
The story of how Jews became the world’s diamond traders is interesting. William Dalrymple describes, in “Kohinoor,” the Deccan region of India as the source of the gems that dazzled Europeans when they heard travelers’ descriptions. My recollection of this aspect of the story is that court Jews in the royal court in Hyderabad were the first to start a regular trade in gems with Europe, with their center in Antwerp, and also to develop the various ways to cut diamonds to increase their brilliance (ability to fracture and throw off light).
Question (to Google’s AI): “Role of Jews in early diamond trade”
Answer: “. . . Key Contributions & Roles:
 

• Early Pioneers: Jewish merchants like Abraham and Abu traded diamonds for royalty in 11th-century Egypt, establishing early links.
• Middle Ages & Renaissance: Diamonds became a preferred form of collateral for Jewish moneylenders, making them adept at handling gems, notes Aish.com and the Shabbat Drop.
• Trade Network Builders: Jewish communities established networks along Indian Ocean routes and across Europe (Venice, Bruges) and the Middle East, facilitating trade from India, the world’s main source of raw diamonds.
• Amsterdam & Antwerp: Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition built vast diamond markets in Holland, achieving a near-monopoly for centuries, notes Duke Law Scholarship Repository and MID House of Diamonds.
• Industrialization: In 17th-18th century Germany, Jewish communities in Hamburg monopolized trade to European courts, and Jewish importers dominated London’s East India Company diamond trade.
• Foundation of Modern Industry: Jewish family-controlled syndicates, like the eventual De Beers group, emerged from these roots, culminating in the massive diamond centers of Antwerp and Israel.

Why Jews Excelled:

• Portability: Diamonds were small, valuable, and easily carried during frequent forced migrations.
• Community Trust: Close-knit Jewish communities across continents fostered trust and secure trade, notes The Shabbat Drop.
• Exclusion from Guilds: Being barred from many guilds (like those for goldsmiths) pushed them into diamond cutting and trading, an area with fewer restrictions, especially in Amsterdam, says Joods Cultureel Kwartier. 
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• [[I can’t get rid of bulleted list; hate these things;l so, no further comment]]

Posted by: Jane | Jan 3 2026 13:30 utc | 102