Which regions are the main centers for diamond cutting and polishing today?

• A. India (Surat) and Belgium (Antwerp), with Israel and UAE as other centers
• B. United States and China
• C. Russia and South Africa
• D. Australia and Brazil

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is where skilled work of shaping rough diamonds into polished stones is concentrated around the world, driven by skilled labor, cost efficiency, and established trade networks.

The strongest two regions today are Surat in India and Antwerp in Belgium. Surat has grown to be the world’s largest cutting and polishing hub because it combines a vast workforce of trained cutters with very competitive costs, plus a dense ecosystem of processing facilities that handle huge volumes. This makes it the go-to place for turning rough diamonds into polished stones efficiently and at scale. Antwerp, meanwhile, has a long tradition as a diamond capital, with deep expertise in high-quality cutting and polishing, an extensive network of manufacturers, traders, and services, and a central role in global distribution of polished diamonds. This combination keeps Antwerp a leading center for value-added work and for linking suppliers with markets.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates are important secondary centers that have grown due to skilled craftsmanship, favorable business environments, and strategic locations for trade and logistics. Israel has a strong base of advanced cutters and gem specialists, while the UAE, especially Dubai, serves as a major re-export hub that expands cutting and polishing capacity and streamlines global distribution.

Other regions like the United States, China, Russia, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil do not match the same level of scale or specialization for cutting and polishing, even though they may be significant markets or, in some cases, producers.