The Diamond District in New York City , also known as the 47th Street in Manhattan , is a paradise for jewelry lovers and all those who are looking for diamonds and gemstones.
Here tradition meets craftsmanship and offers a unique shopping experience for engagement and wedding rings as well as other pieces of jewelry . Whether you are looking for a special accessory or just want to look around, the Diamond District is definitely worth a visit.
photographed by Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From the perspective of the handicrafts, the phenomenon behind the sales counters behind the sales counters is of great interest: in small, winding manufacturers, jewelry in the five to six-digit sales value is created by hand, as was 100 years ago.
Here you meet goldsmiths and diamond loafs that have perfected their art for decades and create incomparable jewelry with unprecedented precision, which is loved by so many wealthy Americans. Without automated manufacturing processes, robotics and 3D printers .
The fascination of the Diamond District in New York City
A walk through the Diamond District in New York is an unforgettable experience for every jewelry lover. The neighborhood, which is located on the 47th Street between the Fifth and Sixth Avenue near Times Square and Rockefeller , attracts visitors from all over the world. Here you will find all types of diamonds, from raw diamonds to sparkling jewels.
The Diamond District is the heart of diamond trade in Manhattan and the home of some of the most exclusive jewelry shops in the city. It is also a popular destination for couples looking for engagement or wedding rings.
As soon as you turn from the Sixth Avenue, you have a pronounced old school new york feeling , even if the city around the quarter changes rapidly.
Photographed by Chrisruvolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In a Smithsonian article, the hustle and bustle in it was compared to that of an old world (the price negotiation is still an extremely important part of the transactions in the district).
Whether you buy a diamond, sell diamonds, have a engagement ring evaluated or look at the block of the block, the West 47th Street is a very exciting, sometimes overwhelming place.
Excursus on the history: a long tradition of diamond dealers
The Diamond District in New York has a long and fascinating story as the center of diamond trade. Since the late 19th century, the best diamond dealers in the world have settled here to sell their valuable treasures.
Photo by Nguyen Huy @Huynguyen12, via unsplash
the movie "Uncut Gems" of the Safdie brothers from 2019 brought the New York diamond district back to life for spectators throughout the United States.
In it, an over -indebted diamond jeweler named Howard Ratner, played by Adam Sandler, tries desperately to compensate for his bad business bets by completing larger business.
The film brilliantly captures the manic energy of the restless business district in Manhattan's 47th street between the Fifth and Sixth Avenue.
In the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city, this small part has preserved its original character as a retreat for trade and transactions, which are still sealed by handshake.
He defied the decay of the urban environment, survived both revitalization and gentrification. In a time of the rise of modern finance and e-commerce as well as economic change, it remained and adapted to the heights and deep global migration.
The author Barak D. Richman examines in his book "Stateless Commerce: The Diamond Network and the Persistence of Relational Exchange" , as the New York Diamond District is apparently immune to economic changes.
He discovered that traditional mechanisms of an pre -modern economic system are exactly those instruments that enable the 21st century
A craft model of the 17th century in a city of the 21st century
From the middle of the 19th century to the 1920s was the center of the diamond trade in New York City on Maiden Lane, four blocks north of Wall Street. As wealthier banks in the 1920s, rents in the city center began, the diamond dealers shifted their business at Forty-Seventh Street.
Builders built builders in the 47th street building, which were specially tailored to attract jewelers and enable them to move without a problem. This enabled them to start a new area around the diamond and jewelry industry. In 1925 the Diamond District, as we know it today, was founded.
The importance of Forty Seventh Street grew considerably during the Second World War when refugee diamond dealers came to New York. After the war, Belgium and Israel established themselves as important trade centers for diamonds and Jewish merchants from Antwerp, Tel Aviv and New York dominated the industry for decades.
In the 1970s you heard as much Yiddish and Hebrew as English. From the 1990s, Indian retailers also got into business and finally turned Mumbai into today's undisputed headquarters of the global diamond industry.
Although the faces have changed, the business practices have remained the same. The New York Times described the Forty Seventh Street in 2001 as
a remnant from the seventeenth century in the middle of a city of the twenty -one century ”.
The ethnographer Renée Rose Shield described this street as follows:
The diamond industry enables its residents to be both modern and traditional, even ancient and at the same time adapt to new times. ”
The district has shown impressive resistance and perseverance by surviving the decline of the area in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, the Times Square, just a few blocks west of the district, had a high crime rate and was notorious for his peep shows.
The Rolling Stone even described it as "the most shabby block of America" . In the recent past, the district was not pulled down by the rapid gentrification. Although the commercial rents in Manhattan have reached historical highs, this part of the district remains a place with limited retail areas and back room production .
If you visit the 47th street today, the stylish pedestrians of the Fifth and Sixth Avenue are gradually disappearing from the picture. Instead, you can see older ultra-orthodox Jews in black coats and fedoras as well as southern and central asians walking around with traditional Karakul hats.
Everywhere on the streets you can hear loud screaming of dealers in different languages from all over the world. The diamond dealers - also known as "Diamantaires" - open their shops openly on the sidewalk, like fruit sellers on a outdoor market, they negotiate about conditions for gemstone bundle.
Others are busy barking loudly on the mobile phone while holding out briefcases on their wrists; They seal business with a technical language that is incomprehensible to outsiders. Jewelry sellers sell their products to passers -by and attract customers in a way that dealers would do in a bazaar in the old world.
Exciting facts about the Diamond District in NYC
Are you interested in finding out how the processes in the New York diamond district are? Or would you like to find out how many gemstones are transported through this area and which safety precautions are taken here?
Read on to get some of the most fascinating information about this unprecedented part of the Big Apple.
Transactions: handshake and trust
The Smithsonian Magazine (source see above) compares this district with a traditional bazaar and emphasizes the importance of handshake agreements and Yiddish blessings- " Mazl and Brokhe" -as unconventional business practices. Mazl should wish the seller luck and Brokhe should wish the buyer future success.
Although this may seem risky in such a risky industry, it has worked for more than a hundred years and is still successful.
It should be noted that the purchase of jewelry is not taken to light shoulder - diamond dealers build strongly on the reputation of their family, mutual trust and sanctions on the part of industry against dishonest merchant to enforce the accountability.
Diverse marketplace for jewelry shops
There are many shops in the Diamond District of New York City, and over 2,600 individual companies work within a city block. A large number of jewels in the Diamond District does not operate their business as a single business, but in one of the various jewelry exchanges on site.
The most renowned shops in NYC have earned an excellent reputation for the sale of high -quality jewelry and also offer outstanding customer service.
Gemological Institute of America: Education of the industry
One of the most renowned diamond shops in New York City is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) . Thanks to its favorable location, it serves as a perfect place for prospective diamond grinders to refine their skills.
Here you will be taught how diamonds are assessed and assessed - from the creation of a evaluation report to the distinction between high -quality real diamonds and imitations.
of completing well -founded training in the areas of gemstone studies, jewelry design The GIA also offers further training for already certified experts in order to further expand their expertise.
A global hub
The Diamond District in New York City is the second oldest jewelry district in the United States and is considered the largest diamond shopping district in the world .
Although it is not as old as Jeweler's Row in Philadelphia, the Diamond District is undisputed in international diamond trading.
In fact, an estimated 90 % of all imported diamonds first reach the United States via this district .
The daily transactions in the Diamond District are estimated at around $ 400 million , which underlines its outstanding role.
Security and protection: a well -guarded jewel
Although the Diamond District has a long history of trustworthy business, technology has improved security. Every year, both security and efficiency of this city block are further developed.
Numerous police officers are present in the district and the entire area is equipped with surveillance cameras, many of which were provided by the Ministry of Homeland.
Despite these measures, the charm of the quarter was preserved-diamond-shaped street lamps decorate both ends of the block, sparkling sidewalks (literally) complement the ambience and a breathtaking Art Deco architecture underlines its general beauty and attraction.
Own dictionary for language use in the district
In the district there are many other common phrases and colloquial terms. Would you like to learn the difference between Shlok and Smir ?
The New York Times has an interesting dictionary with frequently used terms in the district: "The Secret Slang of the Diamond District" .
Famous personalities and their connection to the Diamond District
In the Diamond District in New York, many famous personalities have found their connection to diamonds and jewelry.
From Marilyn Monroe , who acquired her engagement ring here, to Elizabeth Taylor , who had a close relationship with this neighborhood - they all knew that the Diamond District was the place to find unique and high -quality jewelry.
Even today, the quarter still attracts celebrities from all over the world, be it for the purchase of engagement or wedding rings or simply to shop for exclusive fashion and luxurious accessories.
How newcomers can find their way around the diamond district
For first -time visitors in the Diamond District, orientation in the busy area can be somewhat overwhelming. To make your visit as smooth as possible, plan your trip during regular business hours , usually Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. While some shops are open on Saturdays, many are closed on Sundays.
With regard to transport, you should consider subway The nearby stations are 47th - 50th Streets - Rockefeller Center (lines B, D, F and M) or 49th Street (lines N, Q, R and W).
Photo by Tdorante10, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you prefer to arrive by car, look for parking garages in the area, but be on possibly high parking fees.
To ensure that you work with reputable jewelers, search for companies with good online reviews, proper accreditation and connections to prestigious industry organizations such as Jewelers of America or American Gem Society .
Trust your instinct and avoid offers that seem too good to be true because you can refer to fraud or inferior diamonds.
If you do research and remain vigilant, you are well prepared to find your way around in the pulsating Diamond District in New York City.
Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
