Open Buyers Week in Tel Aviv Attracted 200 Buyers From 17 Countries

Tel Aviv (Sept. 10, 1999)—More than 200 buyers attended the Open Buyers Week held by the Israel diamond industry Sept. 5-9. International polished diamond buyers, who attended from 17 countries, traded openly on the Israeli trading floor.

An international symposium, "Polished Diamond Marketing in the Millennium," coincided with the Buyers Week and was held in cooperation with De Beers at the new Tel Aviv Intercontinental Hotel.

Stephen Lussier, international marketing manager of De Beers, said he was pleased to have the chance to team up with the Israeli diamond industry for this special conference, which was held Sept. 6.

In addition, the buyers also took part in two separate, private rough and polished diamond tenders. These tenders were organized by the Israeli auction house of Tzoffey's, owned by Avner Sofiov, and by Martin Rapaport of Rapaport Diamonds.

Diamond buyers who purchased in excess of $50,000 of polished diamonds were offered three free nights at the venue hotel.

Normally the trading floor of a diamond exchange is the exclusive territory of exchange members and their certified and approved buyers.