Cutting & Polishing

Faceting rough gemstones brings out their beauty, and the stones are then later worked into jewellery. Faceting of gemstones demands great skill, and if not carried out in good conditions, it can pose risks to the health of a gemstone cutter. Approximately 90 percent of diamonds are cut and polished in India, in the Gujarat and Maharashtra states, where the sector employs nearly one million people. Historically, the most important diamond trading centers have been Antwerp and Tel Aviv, but Mumbai became a major diamond-trading hub in early years of the twenty-first century due to its strength in diamond manufacturing and in the local market. Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India are the most important centers for coloured gemstone manufacturing and enhancement. Bangkok, Jaipur and Hong Kong are the most important centers for the colored gemstone trade.