The Taché Touch!
- Tracey Ellison TDG
- Mar 25
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
A decade ago, I attended my very first Baselworld exhibition. I had one goal in mind: Chopard had recently shared with the world the Garden of Kalahari, an exceptional suite of diamonds cut from an incredibly rare 342 carat rough diamond that had been discovered in Karowe, Botswana, and I had to see it! Combining D color – the most beautiful – with grade FL (Flawless) clarity, 23 diamonds were cut and polished and presented to the world. Five of them weigh more than 20 carats and each of the main stone cuts – cushion, brilliant, heart, emerald and pear – are represented. Who could have overseen such a daring, meticulous project? The answer is Taché, and at that moment, my fascination with this Antwerp based, legendary diamond house, was born.
Naturally, you can understand my excitement when Taché approached me, with an invitation to visit their Antwerp operation. The experience of immersing myself in their diamond manufacturing operation exceeded my wildest expectations. But before we look at my visit, let’s take a brief look at the history of Taché.
The Taché family's journey is an inspiring tale of resilience and evolution within the diamond industry. Starting from a modest jewellery shop in Damascus, they successfully navigated the tumultuous changes of the 20th century, ultimately establishing a global presence in the diamond market.
Key milestones in Taché history include:
1948: The family relocated to Beirut, where Jacques Taché began trading rough diamonds.
1957: Jacques founded Taché Company NV in Antwerp, beginning the family's expansion into international markets.
1960s: The company rapidly increased its foothold in major diamond hubs worldwide.
1970s: Establishment of the first manufacturing entity in Antwerp and achieving Sightholder status with De Beers, marking a significant step into elite diamond trading.
1980s: Taché became the largest importer of polished diamonds from the USSR and opened its second manufacturing facility in Johannesburg, reinforcing its position in the market.
1990s: Expansion continued into Armenia, Russia, and Malaysia, solidifying its status as a versatile manufacturer within the diamond industry.
2000s: The opening of a factory in Botswana highlighted a commitment to responsible practices and earned a third De Beers sight.
2010 onward: A strategic transformation towards luxury brand supply began, focusing on premium products and exceptional services.
Holding a Taché cut diamond replica, in front of a portrait of Jacques Taché.
Throughout these decades, the Taché family not only adapted to the industry’s demands but also set trends by integrating responsible practices and investing in innovation, which has positioned them as a distinguished supplier in the luxury segment of the diamond market.
Considering this background, you can imagine my excitement as I boarded the flight to London, and onward to Belgium. Upon arrival, I was whisked off to one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed at, The Botanic Sanctuary, which I highly recommend for anyone visiting Antwerp. After a wonderful dinner with several Taché family members, and an excellent night’s sleep, I was ready bright and early the next morning to visit the famed Antwerp Diamond District. The area is closed off to vehicles for security reasons, so we parked and made our way to the Taché offices. The offices have magnificent views over all of Antwerp and photos of family members with many famous people, including Nelson Mandela, which of course put a huge smile on the face of this South African!
Soon we were knee deep in touring the facilities. From sourcing to quality control to the in-house research and development, each and every department welcomed me with open arms, and shared their time (and their diamonds!) with me, happily! There was complete transparency, which is so important to me. And I loved discovering shared values between myself and Taché, as I saw the focus on traceability, sustainability and community awareness run through each and every department.
Here are some of the departments we spent time in:
Sourcing: Taché source rough stones from primary miners exclusively, guaranteeing the reliability and traceability of every manufactured diamond.
Holding two rough diamonds at Taché The Rough Diamond Division manages the sourcing, by-product sale, marketing and investment activities around rough procurement.
Melee: melee diamonds range from .0001 to .25 carat, yet each one is cut with the same care and attention as a 30-carat diamond! In 2023 more than 3 million melee diamonds were cut and polished by Taché! Supplying small-cut diamonds of unrivaled quality, alongside traceability, logistics and packaging is no easy task, yet the Melee Diamond Department continues to expand beyond major high jewellery houses, offering its services to new horizons such as the watchmaking and fashion sectors. The in-house Taché R&D Department dedicated to making sure each and every melee diamond (we are talking about many millions of melee diamonds, annually!) are checked and rechecked, resulting in 100% natural diamond supply, guaranteed.
Millions of melee diamonds are cut and polished by Taché annually, and each one gets the same attention as expertise as a larger diamond. Can you imagine that? Certified Diamonds: Taché are committed to offering their clients diamonds of the highest quality, and their mission is to supply exclusively certified merchandise that meets the most stringent requirements of the major jewellery houses. Taché also work with jewellery designers, and watch brands. It was interesting to hear Robbie Taché tell me about a watch brand that added (melee) diamonds to one of their watch models, only to find that the new, diamond version of the watch, became a huge hit with fans of the brand. Side note: Taché has a system of TRIPLE checking every single diamond, including melee diamonds, to ensure it’s a natural diamond. From rough to cutting to polishing to sorting…. Multiple checks are built into the process, giving their customers 100% peace of mind about the diamonds they are purchasing.
Exceptional Diamonds: The Exceptional Diamonds Department is dedicated to the extraordinary, to stones of great size and rare beauty. Always on the hunt for unique gemstones, Taché plays a crucial role between the mining sector and the world of high jewellery, as evidenced by the many important diamonds that Taché have brought to the market.
A superb selection of Taché polished diamonds, in every shape imaginable.
In addition to touring the facilities, I was fortunate enough to spend time with the Taché family, learning about their history firsthand. So many incredible stories, such a rich legacy steeped in the world of diamonds. the most unforgettable story was from Isaac Taché, who told me about a diamond that was returned to Taché by Lebanese jeweler, George Hakim, over 40 years later!!! Jaques Taché had visited George Hakim in Beirut, and unbeknownst to him, had left a diamond behind, as the packet had fallen off the desk, and lodged behind the safe. Decades later, George Hakim moved the safe… and found the diamond, in its original packet!
These are stories of deep bonds between manufacturer and jeweler and give insight into the nature of the genuine partnerships Taché enjoys with its customers.
We also visited Antwerp based Diamcad, who have worked together with Taché on several exceptional diamond projects. Again - the authentic relationship and mutual respect between Diamcad and Taché impressed me deeply. Instead of competing, it’s a choice to work together, partner with one another for expertise, and provide the best possible result to the customer.
I couldn’t leave without spending time in Antwerp itself - and ended up enjoying the best of Belgium chocolates, perfumes and food. Thank you to all Taché for this incredible experience, but a special thanks to Ilan Taché, for being my tour guide, photographer and friend!
Comments