Antwerp diamond district

While as of 2012, much of the gem cutting and polishing work historically done in the neighborhood had moved to low wage centers elsewhere, about 84% of the world's rough diamonds passed through the district, making it the largest diamond district in the world with a turnover of 54 billion dollars.

[4] Within the area is the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, and four trading exchanges[5] including the Diamond Club of Antwerp and the Beurs voor Diamanthandel, both of which were founded by Hasidic diamantaires,[6] the Antwerpsche Diamantkring and the Vrije Diamanthandel.

[7] The neighborhood is dominated by Jewish, Jain Indians, Maronites Christian Lebanese and Armenian dealers, known as diamantaires.

[15] After the Second World War, the city's mayor encouraged Jews to return to Antwerp and many did so, including some who were working in the diamond trade.

There was a subsequent decline however, starting in the 1960s, when some of the polishing business moved to India because of lower labour costs.

[16] [17] A 2019 research study stated that India continued to dominate the cutting and polishing industry.