Whether looking for an engagement ring, a wedding ring, a special anniversary gift, birthday present or a simple sparkling treat, visit Amsterdam's diamond factories

Many visitors go to Amsterdam for the canals and the Dutch capital's fabulous art museums, but for other travelers Amsterdam has one sparkling attractions: its diamond factories.

Amsterdam Diamonds: History

Buying a diamond in Amsterdam is a very special occasion, as the city has been a world centre for the diamond trade since the 16th century. It was then that Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition sought the safety of Amsterdam, and brought the diamond trade with them.

As the Dutch had colonised parts of southern Africa, the diamond trade boomed when diamonds were discovered there and turned it into one of the biggest diamond-producing areas in the world. Many of these diamonds were brought to the more sophisticated factories and workshops of Amsterdam for polishing and processing. The trade flourished, until the Amsterdam Jewish community was almost wiped out by the Nazis during World War II. A lot of the Amsterdam diamond trade moved to Antwerp, but it has continued to prosper in Amsterdam in more recent years thanks to the large tourist trade.

*

Buying an Amsterdam Diamond

No-one should rush into buying Amsterdam diamonds. There are certain things to learn about diamonds before you buy, and these you can find out by visiting the Amsterdam diamond factories and workshops.

There are several large diamond factories in Amsterdam, and anyone who is seriously interested in buying a diamond there should visit two or three of these to get a diamond education before purchasing. The basic facts are straightforward, but some guides are better at explaining them than others. At busy periods they also have less time for individual questions, but at least the tours are usually free.

Don't worry about pressure-to-buy, as although visitors are inevitably led to the shop at the end of factory tours, there is no hard sales pressure. Diamond shops and factories know that buying a diamond is seldom an impulse purchase, and diamond shoppers need time to check the rocks and choose.

*

The Amsterdam Diamond Factories

AMSTERDAM DIAMOND CENTRE

Rokin 1-5

Tel: 020 624 5787

Open daily 9.30-6 (8.30pm on Thursdays)

The most central outlet, this huge diamond shop also has diamond tours though it lacks the history and atmosphere of an old diamond factory. It does, however, have a huge stock, not only of diamonds but of other jewellery and regular souvenirs too.

*

COSTER DIAMONDS

Paulus Potterstraat 2-8

Tel: 020 305 5555

Open daily 9-5

One of the most popular factory tours, as it is close to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, so is usually busy with tour groups. The history of Coster Diamonds goes back to 1840. It was here that the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond was polished, for the British Crown Jewels. At that time it was the largest known diamond in the world.

*

GASSAN DIAMONDS

Nieuwe Uilenbergerstraat 173-175

Tel: 020 624 6084

Open daily 9-5

Gassan Diamonds offers one of the best of the Amsterdam diamond factory visits, as here you have a thorough tour of the factory, which dates back to 1897. At the end you sit round a table with the guide, examining and handling the diamonds, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions but absolutely no pressure to buy.

*