Buying Diamonds on 47th Street? Meet the Manufacturers Behind the Counter.
New York's Diamond District is one of the most concentrated diamond marketplaces in the world. Almost none of that inventory was actually cut there.
New York vs. Surat
47th Street Sells Them. Surat Cuts Them.
Manhattan's Diamond District on 47th Street is an estimated 90% of diamonds sold in the United States passing through a few concentrated blocks — a dense, historic wholesale and retail marketplace unlike anywhere else in the country.
It's a marketplace, though, not a manufacturing base. The diamonds sold and traded on 47th Street were, in the overwhelming majority of cases, cut and polished on the other side of the world — in Surat, India, the source of roughly 90% of the world's cut diamonds.
For US-based wholesalers and retailers built around 47th Street sourcing, a direct visit to Surat shortens that chain considerably — trading a marketplace several steps removed from the source for direct access to the manufacturers themselves.
~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 New York
Cut Out Multiple Import Layers
Stones reaching 47th Street have typically passed through export, import, and wholesale steps. Direct Surat sourcing starts at the manufacturer.
Access Categories Before They're Allocated
Meetings matched to your buying profile mean seeing inventory shaped around your needs, not what's already been distributed to the US market.
Build a Sourcing Relationship, Not Just a Purchase
Repeat visits build direct manufacturer relationships that a rotating cast of wholesale suppliers can't replicate.
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.
Get Started
Plan Your Visit From New York
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 a trip from New York to Surat realistic for a US buyer?+
Yes — international buyers regularly travel from the US for hosted visits. VisitSDB coordinates flights, accommodation, and ground transport as part of the visit, so the logistics are handled end to end.
How is this different from buying from a 47th Street wholesaler?+
A 47th Street wholesaler is themselves buying from importers or manufacturers upstream. Sourcing direct in Surat means transacting at that upstream point yourself.
What if I only buy small volumes?+
Many buyers start with a smaller trial order on a first visit to establish the relationship before scaling volume on subsequent trips.