Already Buying Diamonds in Mumbai? The Source Is a Few Hours Away.
Bharat Diamond Bourse is where India's diamond trade is conducted — but it isn't where the diamonds are made. Surat, the actual manufacturing origin, is a short trip from Mumbai.
Mumbai vs. Surat
Mumbai Trades Them. Surat Cuts Them.
Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex is the world's largest diamond bourse by membership and the commercial heart of India's diamond trade — home to thousands of trading offices, the Customs House, and the banks that finance the industry.
But BDB is fundamentally a trading and export hub, not a manufacturing center. The vast majority of the diamonds that pass through Mumbai's trading floors were actually cut and polished roughly 300 km away, in Surat — the city responsible for cutting an estimated 90% of the world's diamonds.
For a buyer already working within India's diamond trade, that means the source is closer than it looks. A short domestic flight or drive separates Mumbai's trading floor from the manufacturing floor where those same stones originated — and where pricing doesn't carry the accumulated cost of an extra trading layer.
~90%
Of world diamonds cut & polished in Surat
$24B+
Historical annual industry turnover
6,000+
Polishing units in Surat
700K+
Skilled workers in the trade
Why Buyers Are Switching
What Changes When You Source Direct From Mumbai
Skip the Trading Margin
Stones traded in Mumbai have typically already moved from manufacturer to trader. Buying in Surat means transacting with the manufacturer directly.
Minutes From Mumbai, Not a New Continent
Surat is a short domestic flight or a few hours by road from Mumbai — this isn't a new market to learn, it's the same industry, one step closer to the source.
The Same Trust, Fewer Steps
India's regulatory and customs framework applies in both cities. What changes is how many parties are between you and the stone.
Read the Full Picture
See the complete case for sourcing direct in Why Surat, what a hosted visit includes on For Buyers, and the step-by-step process on How It Works.
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Plan Your Visit From Mumbai
Tell us your buying category and preferred dates — we'll confirm feasibility and scope a hosted visit around your schedule.
FAQ
Common Questions From Buyers
Is Surat hard to reach from Mumbai?+
No — Surat has its own domestic airport with regular connections through Mumbai and other major Indian hubs, and it's also a manageable road or rail trip from Mumbai directly.
Do I still get the same documentation and customs support?+
Yes. Surat Diamond Bourse has India's largest dedicated diamond customs house built into the complex, so export documentation is handled on-site.
Why would a manufacturer sell to me directly instead of through Mumbai traders?+
Manufacturers at SDB are actively looking to build direct international relationships — that demand for direct buyers is exactly the gap VisitSDB was built to close.