New York bourse members to be main participants US Diamond Week in Israel

Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) President Yair Sahar and Diamond Dealers Club of New York (DDC NY) President Reuven Kaufman have agreed that DDC members will be the main participants in the US Diamond Week in Israel in March.

However, members of diamond bourses elsewhere in the world will also be invited to take part, say Sahar and Kaufman.

The US Diamond Week in Israel, a customized rough and polished diamond sales event for accredited diamond dealers, will be held March 17-20 at the Israel Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan.

"Following the success of the Israel Diamond Week that was held at the DDC in New York last December, we decided to hold a similar event for our American counterparts in Israel," Sahar said.

"That means members of the DDC, as well as members of the diamond bourses in Miami and Los Angeles, and of the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America. These members will have the opportunity to bring goods for sale as well as to buy goods. Reuven Kaufman and I agreed, however, not to exclude any members of other diamond bourses affiliated to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) from registering and participating," he added.

Meanwhile, Kaufman said that he and his exchange were happy to be spearheading the organization of a sizable delegation of American diamantaires to Israel.

"By offering exclusive but affordable diamond sourcing opportunities to our members, we're enabling the attendance of many members who otherwise might choose not to participate. We're confident that the "US Diamond Week in Israel" will strengthen business relationships between American and Israeli diamond traders," he stated.

Sahar said that the US Diamond Week in March will be the first in a series of international sales drives that IDE will be staging this year.

"Israel is a leading, global diamond trading center, with lots of opportunities to develop profitable diamond business ventures," Sahar said. "The event in March is the first of several customized diamond buying opportunities that the IDE will be organizing in 2013 with the specific aim of attracting both first-time and returning diamond buyers to Israel."

The IDE will also play host to four rough diamond auctions at the exchange in March. They are due to be held by Russian diamond miner Alrosa; broker I. Hennig & Co. Ltd and Fusion Alternatives Tenders; Ediamonds; and Diamdel.

In addition, Tzoffey's 1818 will stage an exclusive auction for special loose diamonds and extraordinary diamond jewelry items.