The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), organisers of the International Diamond Week 2019, which concluded yesterday, January 30, 2019, said that “this was the largest and most successful of the events to date”.

“IDWI 2019 attracted over 350 foreign buyers from more than 30 countries, one-third of whom were new to IDE,” the bourse reported in its wrap-up statement on the event. “Over 150 Israeli companies exhibited polished diamonds, with dozens of additional companies offering high-end diamond jewellery in a dedicated section. Traffic throughout the three-day event was extremely lively.”

IDE also said that special events held simultaneously with the show attracted  particular interest. “The opening ceremony on January 28 featured speeches by Minister of the Economy Eli Cohen, who pledged continued government cooperation with the diamond industry, and IDE President Yoram Dvash, who thanked participants for their support and wished them a fruitful exhibition,” IDE summed up.

The bourse added: “Diamond expert and publisher Martin Rapaport delivered an absorbing talk on the trading floor about how to make money from selling diamonds, stressing the importance of segmentation and niche marketing.”

IDE also held a function to dedicate  a Diamond Auction Center, adjacent to the successful International Tender Center opened two years ago, on the sidelines of the IDWI. “The new facility will host international live diamond auctions, with the first one scheduled to take place in April,” IDE said.

If the days were occupied with business concerns, evenings were for after hour social events. These  included “a lively dinner reception with live entertainment and dancing”, as well as a free beer Happy Hour at the close of the show.

IDWI Chairman Ezra Boaron said that he was thrilled by the amount of participants and the level of traffic on the trading floor. “Our many months of efforts have certainly paid off. We can declare IDWI 2019 a major success, but we won’t rest on our laurels. We’re already working on making IDWI 2020 even more exciting. Save the date 02.02.20,” he said.