Over the past several weeks, I gave an overview of the main diamond-producing countries and diamond centers. This tour, which took us around the world, would not be complete without a few words on five countries that play an important role in the diamond pipeline.
A major diamond rush, located in Lüderitz (in the former German colony of Deutsch-Südwestafrika - German South West Africa) is among Namibia’s most famous diamond sites. In 1907, the Germen railroad worker, August Stauch, heard that there may be diamonds in the area and he asked railroad laborers to keep an eye out for sparkling stones along the railroads in the region.
When most people hear about diamond mining, they think of South Africa, where diamonds were discovered in 1866 in the Kimberley region. A 15-year-old boy discovered the now-famous 21.25-carat Eureka Diamond on a farm on the banks of the Orange River. That discovery set off a staking rush and power struggle that led to the formation of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited. De Beers consolidated the many mining licenses that had been granted in the region, established South Africa as the world’s premier supplier of diamonds for decades to come and gave rise to the modern diamond industry.
China, among the most ancient nations on earth, has one of the oldest jewelry industries in the world. However it is a relative newcomer to diamonds and the diamond industry as a center.
Hong Kong is an important diamond consumer market gateway to China’s consumer market. It is also the gateway of the diamond and jewelry manufacturing facilities in China heading to the global markets.