When diamonds were discovered in South Africa in 1869, there was a near immediate windfall for Amsterdam's Jewish community, a third of whom worked in the diamond trade. Built in 1879, Gassan Diamonds was once home to the Boas diamond-polishing factory, the largest in the world, where 357 diamond-polishing machines were working nonstop. Today, Gassan offers polishing and grading demonstrations and free one-hour tours (for which it's best to book ahead) of the building and its glittering collection of diamonds and jewelry. If you'd like to spend some money on glitter of your own, call ahead to see about arranging a "diamond and champagne" tour, capped off with a champagne reception (and a diamond gift for one lucky prizewinner).
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