Diamant (German bicycle company)

Innovation continued: in response to existing bicycle chains' poor durability, in 1898 Diamant introduced a new double-roller chain, a design that was to become our modern worldwide standard, now in use on all sorts of machines, from bicycles to motors to industrial machinery.

During the same year, Diamant developed new tube-bending machinery, allowing the introduction of their "Gesundheitslenker" (health-beneficial handlebars), whereby the handles are facing the direction one is going, resulting in a more comfortable ride, on a model dubbed the "Holland-rad" (Hollander bike).

Diamant developed stronger lightweight tubing, allowing the development of their racing bike, model 67, in time for Ernst Ihbe (Leipzig) and Carly Lorenz (Chemnitz) to win gold at the 1936 Olympic Games, and for Diamant to also be in gold position during the German National Championships, and the Worlds Championships in Zürich.

Even the well-known Diamant badge fell victim, no longer being made, to save on materials.

[3] In 1951 the company grew to 1,588 employees, and at its head, Kurt Schneeweiß set a new goal of 200,000 bicycles.

Following the fall of the Berlin wall, Diamant became a public corporation again, under the name "Elite-Diamant – GmbH Flachstrickmaschinen- und Fahrradwerken Chemnitz".

In 1992, the bicycle production division was spun off as a separate corporate entity, "Diamant Fahrradwerke GmbH".

The company is not connected with the Norwegian bicycle manufacturer of the same name nor with the Belgian brand Diamant.