The current position of Schachter & Namdar is the outcome of nearly fifty years of diligent work, with the firm commitment of growth, a consistently high level of product quality and the careful cultivation of a strong client base. But not least important is our ability to repeatedly stay a step ahead of development in the diamond industry.

The following is a summary of the first five decades of our corporate history:

1952 Michael Beck and Leo Schachter founded the company as Beck & Schachter. The partnership began operations employing sixteen polishers, operating on a fast turnover basis.

1966 Leo Schachter became a sightholder. This was the beginning of a close relationship with the syndicate that strengthened as the company grew.

1967 Leo Schachter opened a sales office in Tokyo, becoming the first American diamond manufacturer to sell its wares in Japan.

1973 The company chain of continuity began to extend to the second generation. Eric Austin became head of the sales department concentrating at first on the Japanese market. Elliot Tannenbaum joined in 1974 and was active in European sales. David Greenberg joined in 1986.

1976 By the mid 1970s the company had become strong enough to create its own marketing opportunities.The company was left unscathed by the bust of 1980. Financially healthy, Leo Schachter was ripe for expansion.

1981 The direction of expansion was to be Israel. Joining forces with the Namdar family of Milan, Leo schachter opened an Israeli affiliate, Schachter & Namdar Polishing Works, Ltd.

Schachter & Namdar’s meteoric growth was impressive by any standard and the company has been Israel’s leading exporter of diamonds since 1984.

1984 Schachter & Namdar received the Outstanding Exporter award.

1988 Leo Schachter & Company broke the $100 million mark. Sales totaling $110,000,000 were directed to three continents, including 65% to Japan and the Far east, 5% to Europe and 30% to the USA.

1990 Schachter & Namdar developed an automated bruting machine in conjunction with the Haifa Technion.

1992 Mr. Leo Schachter was admitted to the Diamond Hall of Fame by the New York Diamond Industry Steering Committee.

1993 Schachter & Namdar achieved a record ten years as Israel’s largest exporter of polished diamonds, with exports surpassing $200 million.

1994 Schachter & Namdar opens offices in Bombay, India. Avraham Namdar is presented with the Outstanding Diamond Exporter to Japan award by the Japanese Ambassador to Israel, Haruhiko Shibuya.

1995 Schachter & Namdar opened a factory and offices in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1997 Schachter & Namdar began a joint venture to cut and polish diamonds in Kunming, the Yunnan province of South West China. Sales top $400 million.

1998 Schachter & Namdar buys a 95% interest in the Lazare Kaplan International factory in Botswana. The plant employs 500 workers and produces Ideal cut diamond.

1999 Schachter & Namdar is appointed as one of ten sight holders to manufacture and distribute the De Beers Limited Edition Millennium diamond. In Belgium, Schachter & Namdar merges with Katz Diamonds to form SNK Diamonds BVBA to serve the European market at close proximity.

2000 Schachter & Namdar expand even further into the Italian market by merging Capellaro & Co. of Milan into the group with offices in Milan, Valencia and Vicenza.