Anyone here know where to find diamond wholesalers?

[fastlanedoll]

The source of this market seems to be obscure.
Some sellers advertise themselves as 'wholesalers', when in actual fact, they're just middlemen who marked down the (huge profit margin) on diamonds.
I know this, because some very reputable sites (Blue Nile, James Allen etc.) sell them at an even lower price (and even they are not the wholesaling).

Diamonds aren't expensive or rare to begin with, it's just a very well-regulated industry where the price is artificially inflated (and kept at such to keep reaping in the profits), so I can see why they would try to keep the source out of public eye.

Do you have to actually know someone in the industry to get them at real wholesale prices?
Anyone here know someone (or are themselves) in the industry
I have a colleague who has a family business in diamonds. But asking where they source would be way to personable, and I'd doubt she'd tell me anyway.

I'm very curious.

 

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[minivanman]

I think in a LOT of businesses, it is really hard to find a REAL wholesaler. Lots of people CALL their business wholesale when it is not. There used to be a show on that would follow these 2 guys while they were in another country and they would buy all of these stones wholesale and have them cut. My wife wanted to do that and then I guess the show went off the air and she forgot about doing it..... whew! Saved me on that one.

Good luck!

 

[minivanman]

I think this might be it. Atleast it might give you some ideas on how they did it.

Gem Hunt (TV Series 2013– ) - Plot - IMDb

Gem Hunt (TV Series 2013– ) - Plot summary, synopsis, and more...

www.imdb.com

 

[fastlanedoll]

Yea, I'm thinking you need to know someone who actually cut these diamonds then buy it from THEM before you can say it's wholesale.

 

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[RazorCut]

Depends on your location and how serious you are but you are not going to get them from De Beer's so next logical place would be to go to Antwerp. That will be as close to the source as you will get. Lots of true wholesalers there. You might find you need an introduction though as it can be a rather closed industry.

 

[ChrisV]

lol omg you're all over the place

 

[fastlanedoll]

Scouring ideas.. partly for entrepreneurship, partly for myself... muahahahah.

 

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[broswoodwork]

Over on etsy, these guys get talked about a bunch by the jewelry makers:

Rio Grande Jewelry Making Supplies for Jewelers of All Experience - RioGrande

Rio Grande supports the jewelry-making industry with a one-stop selection, exemplary service, technical expertise, and educational support. We are a leading provider of precious materials, bench supplies, customization, and cutting-edge technologies.

www.riogrande.com

Not sure if they're a wholesaler, and not sure what their gemstone selection looks like, but I know the makers over on etsy can buy source materials from Rio Grande and mark up the finish products substantially with no resistance.

Not sure if this helps, but maybe it's a starting point.

 

[fastlanedoll]

Over on etsy, these guys get talked about a bunch by the jewelry makers:

Rio Grande Jewelry Making Supplies for Jewelers of All Experience - RioGrande

Rio Grande supports the jewelry-making industry with a one-stop selection, exemplary service, technical expertise, and educational support. We are a leading provider of precious materials, bench supplies, customization, and cutting-edge technologies.

www.riogrande.com

Not sure if they're a wholesaler, and not sure what their gemstone selection looks like, but I know the makers over on etsy can buy source materials from Rio Grande and mark up the finish products substantially with no resistance.

Not sure if this helps, but maybe it's a starting point.

Thanks!!