De Beers has mined and sold more diamonds the last hundred years than any human being on earth. He has had a monopoly which has gone unregulated since the 1800's. De Beers mining operation was located in Africa and he averaged [24] tons annually of rough mined diamonds to be sold on the world market. His sale price for twenty four tons of gemstones was a flat [7] seven billion dollars..His cost annually was [2] two billion dollars. De Beers made a clean two billion profit every year.

Eighty percent [80%] of these rough diamonds have been sold in one place for the last one hundred years. The place is Antwerp-Belgium. The majority of the world's diamonds are sold by master jewish diamond cutters who have lived in Antwerp since the 1500's. There is only a two block area where 19 tons of rough diamonds are sold to buyers from all over the globe. The highest quality and most valuable stones are concentrated in that two block area. Find a hotel in Antwerp City Centre. The entire operation is run by a group called the "High Diamond Council."

In last few decades since the 1970's changes have occurred in Antwerp. The Jewish Diamond cutters have been jobbing out their diamond cutting and polishing business to save money and increase profits. The majority of Antwerp rough diamonds are now in the hands of Indian diamond cutters in India. Moreover; the Indians have also relocated to Antwerp and compete directly with the Jewish community. India currently has become the largest importer of rough diamonds and exporter of finished diamond jewelry in the world. All, if not most of the department stores in the United States; Macy's, JC Penny's, Montgomery Ward's, etc;Get all of their diamond jewelry from India. But the largest, most valuable diamonds are still only hand cut by the Jewish master diamond cutters in Antwerp. They still control the higher end diamond market of three carats and above, and all of the colored diamonds as well.

The Israel Diamond Industry in conjunction with the Diamond Manufacturers of Israel, have recently aligned their diamond industry directly with the Jewish diamond merchants in Antwerp- Belgium. This business alliance has made the Israel Diamond Industry the second largest in the world and is closing the gap with India. They have expanded their diamond mining operations into Africa to further strengthen their economic position. Their goal is to become number one by developing a complete one-stop diamond operation from mining to selling finished diamond jewelry retail worldwide.

The Sona Israel Gemological Institute is a member of the Diamond Manufacturers of Israel. There goal is to capture the world market of man made diamonds with their "Sona Hybrid Diamond Simulant." They have produced the next generation of simulated diamonds that are made from real diamond crystals and sapphires..A major breakthrough in the shared science of composite and fusion technology. The Sona Diamond has the natural diamond qualities of hardness, brilliance and color that the old standard "Cubic Zirconia" diamond simulants lack. The Israel Diamond Manufacturers believe that the man made diamond market will capture a large share of natural diamond retail business in the near future.

http://www.sonadiamondjewelry.com MediaRoomRelease Free Public Education Series
Dr. C. Phillips
Sona Research Department
sonadiamond@comcast.net