The Amsterdam Diamond Museum has a travel story to tell. About a journey which began three billion years ago, 200 km under the surface of the earth, and which ends in the ring on your finger or in the pendant on your necklace. The hero of this story is the diamond, the hardest material in the world, loveliest of all gemstones. Bon Voyage!
My journey to this fascinating museum began with those beautiful words that I read at the entrance of the Amsterdam Diamond Museum. More than diamond I have always loved the story of its becoming!
The Story of Diamond in Amsterdam Diamond Museum – A photo essay!
Amsterdam was one of the important hubs for diamond trade for a long time. Local Jews dominated the business of cutting and polishing diamonds until WWII.
Today the main polishing centers are: Antwerp, Mumbai, Surat, Guangzhou, Tel Aviv and New York.
For more than four centuries, the diamond industry has been established in Amsterdam. The city has called itself the ‘City of Diamonds’ since its heyday in the mid-18th century.
Diamond Facts
This museum has displayed all the important information about diamonds in an easy to read format. I personally also loved watching the short cinema on diamonds.
It was interesting to note that the first diamonds were found in India. Until the 18th Century, India remained the most important supplier of this gem.
The value of a diamond is determined by four quality factors – Carat, Colour, Cut, and Clarity. These were established in 1975, in Amsterdam.
A Golden and Diamond Studded Racket
The Diamond Museum displayed information not only about diamonds but also about some interesting facts. I liked reading about a special gold and diamond trophy in Europe.
This is a replica of the special trophy for European Community Championship which was a professional tennis tournament held from 1982 until 1998 in Antwerp, Belgium.
The original trophy is a life-size, 13.2-pound gold racquet studded with 1,420 diamonds valued at $1,000,000.
The rule was if a player won the tournament three times within a 5-year span, he would receive this trophy.
In 2007 Amélie Mauresmo won this. In 2005 Venus Williams came very close to winning this racket which is worth 1 million euro.
Crown room in Amsterdam Diamond Museum
I loved not only looking at the cleverly recreated crowns in this museum but also the fun quotes about Crowns.
A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in ~ Frederick the great King of Prussia
To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious them that see it, than it is pleasant to them that bear it ~ Queen Elizabeth
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown ~ Shakespeare
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I love visiting museums as much as I love exploring nature. Modern-day museums impart information through multimedia-rich mediums and thus it is overall an enjoyable way to gain well-researched knowledge on a topic.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed – The Story of Diamond in Amsterdam Diamond Museum. You may enjoy these other travel guides:
- Keukenhof – World’s largest flower garden in Lisse, Netherlands – A photo essay!
- Spirit Museum in Stockholm, Sweden! Cheers!
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