Surat: The Diamond City

Surat: The Global Hub of Diamond Manufacturing

 Surat: The Diamond City


 Surat: The Global Hub of Diamond Manufacturing 


Surat is the world’s leading center for cutting, polishing, and manufacturing diamonds — both natural and lab-grown. It is not just important in India, but across the entire global diamond industry.

  • Surat processes over 90% of the world’s diamonds.

  • It has thousands of factories and lakhs of skilled workers who shape rough diamonds into beautiful polished ones.

  • It plays a central role in the supply chain of the international diamond business.

  • It is now becoming a major hub for lab-grown diamonds too.


Why It’s Called “Global Hub”:


Because diamonds from Africa, Russia, and Canada are sent to Surat for cutting and polishing — and then sold to the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world.

So, even though the diamonds may not originate in India, Surat gives them their final form.

Surat is not just a city in India — it’s the heartbeat of the world’s diamond industry.”




📘 Introduction: The History of Surat’s Diamond Industry 


Surat, located in Gujarat, India, is famously known as “The Diamond City of the World.”
The city's connection to diamonds began in the early 1900s, but the industry truly flourished after the 1970s, when skilled artisans started polishing small diamonds manually.

Over time, Surat developed:

  • A strong artisan workforce

  • Advanced cutting and polishing techniques

  • Family-run businesses that scaled globally

Today, Surat is responsible for cutting and polishing over 90% of the world’s diamonds.


🌍 How Surat Dominates Global Diamond Manufacturing 


Surat’s dominance is due to a perfect blend of skill, scale, and innovation:

  • 6,000+ diamond manufacturing units

  • Over 7 lakh workers directly or indirectly employed

  • Use of advanced technology like laser cutting, CAD, and automation

  • Exporting diamonds to major hubs like USA, Hong Kong, UAE, and Belgium

The city's ecosystem supports entire diamond lifecycle services — from rough sourcing to certification and export.


💠 The Rise of Lab-Grown Diamonds in Surat  


As global preferences shift toward ethical and sustainable luxury, lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) are booming — and Surat is at the center of this revolution.

Why Surat leads in lab-grown:

  • Affordable electricity & land for CVD & HPHT diamond growth

  • Skilled labor familiar with natural diamond processing

  • Existing infrastructure adapted for LGDs

  • Surat-based startups are gaining global attention in the lab-grown space

Surat is quickly becoming India’s lab-grown diamond capital, attracting investments and export growth.


📈 Future Growth & Opportunities


Surat is on the edge of a new era:

  • Govt. support like GJEPC, Diamond Research & Mercantile (DREAM) City

  • Lab-grown exports projected to grow 75–90% annually

  • Increasing focus on luxury jewelry manufacturing & branding

  • Opportunities in direct-to-consumer brands, technology innovation, and sustainable sourcing

With its rich legacy and readiness to evolve, Surat is not just the present — it's the future of the global diamond industry.




 

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