The New Generation is a WDC newsletter series that tells the stories of up-and-coming diamond industry leaders, examining the role that they see for themselves in the business and the diamond itself. Each article in the series is delivered in the person’s own voice.
The tenth article in the series features Cedric Barsamian, a fourth-generation member of a diamond dynasty that was started by his great grandfather, Carlo Sirakian, in Paris in 1907. His grandfather, Varham Barsamian, helped established V. Barsamian Diamants in Antwerp in 1948. The company would later change its name to Barsamian Diamonds.
In 1981 management of the firm passed over to Cedric’s father Philippe Barsamian, who over the years would also serve as Vice President of the Diamantclub van Antwerpen, one of the four Antwerp diamond bourses, President of the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses, and most recently as Vice President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB). He stepped down as the company’s managing director in 2017, although he remains in a consultative role.
Cedric is based in Hong Kong, where he serves as general manager of BFE Diamonds, a diamond wholesaling company that is Barsamian Diamonds’ exclusive sales partner in the region.
CARRYING FORWARD A 118-YEAR-OLD LEGACY
The author, Cedric Barsamian, a fourth generation member of a family that got its start in the diamond industry in 1907.
JANUARY 15, 2026
In my family, the expression “pressure makes diamonds” is much more than just a saying – it’s a state of mind in which we live every single day. And so it has been for more than a century. We have all been instilled with the understanding that the pursuit of excellence must be constant, and through it we earn the trust of our clients and our colleagues. It’s true for every business relationship, every management decision, and every diamond we touch.
All clients are valuable, whether they are large-scale operations or independent jewelers. Our business philosophy is simple – when they grow, so do we. We are partners in their success.
This approach can be traced back more than 118 years, when my great-grandfather took his first steps in the business in Paris, and it would be passed on from generation to generation as we expanded our reach into the world’s key markets.
Today, we operate in Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Far East, the Middle East and the United States. Each location plays a pivotal role in connecting us to diverse markets, while staying rooted in the values and traditions that have defined our family.
Four generations of a diamond dynasty, beginning with the author’s great-grandfather, Carlo Sirakian (top-left), followed by his grandfather, Varham Barsamian (top-center), and father, Phillippe Barsamian (top-right). The memebers of the fourth generation stand below (from left) Nicolas, Alexandre and Cedric.
Starting from the ground up
For myself and my brothers, Nicolas and Alexandre, continuing the Barsamian legacy into the fourth generation is not just about preserving a name, but about evolving it. Each of us brings a unique expertise and perspective to the business, and this diversity of thought is today one of our greatest strengths. Our views may differ at times, but our shared vision keeps us united.
Running a family business as storied as ours is uniquely rewarding, but it comes with its challenges. My brothers and I are not just business partners we are also siblings, sons, and cousins to other company staff. Balancing these roles requires care, respect and a shared commitment to the bigger picture.
We were born into an established business, but we all were expected to learn the ropes from the ground up. Right after university, each of us spent a year in Surat. There were lived with the same local family and worked six days a week in cutting factories, far from our comfortable European routine. Surat was located in a dry state, so the evenings were quiet, with very few distractions. We were forced us to slow down, and had time to observe and learn.
It was a year that grounded all three of us, instilling an appreciation of the complex processes that are applied for every polished diamond we handle. It’s easy to talk about “precision” when at your desk in an office, but in a factory in Surat you watch it happen, hour after hour, in skilled hands.
The author at the polishing wheel in Surat, India, in 2014, learning the industry from the factory floor up.
It was a formative experience, that we all still carry. I have deep respect for the discipline and craftsmanship that goes into shaping the stones we trade, and for the people whose work makes the entire industry possible.
A source of wisdom and inspiration
My father, Philippe, has been one of the greatest influences in my life. As WFDB Vice President, he today dedicates his career to advancing our industry’s interests, while upholding its highest standards. Seeing him through the eyes of others — especially when he is in the Middle East, where he is treated with the utmost respect and admiration — is a reminder of the legacy we are entrusted to carry forward.
Working with someone you admire so deeply is not always easy. Our professional perspectives sometimes differ. But these are moments have taught me the value of diplomacy, patience and collaboration. My father’s example has shown me that even challenges can lead to growth, and his integrity inspires me to strive for excellence every day.
He began preparing myself and my brothers for our life in the industry from a very young age. In Antwerp at the time, large dealers would visit our office, and my father would “bring the market” to them, by laying out quantities of tiny, polished stones—melee down to minus sizes—on the table so that it looked like it had been dusted with light. At the ages of four or five, Alex, Nicolas and I were expected to crawl under and make sure that no small stone had fallen onto the floor.
It’s a memory that clearly stuck with all of us. To this day, we still store the rubbish and even the vacuum-cleaner bags—just in case. It may sound excessive. But if work with goods where the smallest element can carry real value, it makes sense. It’s more than a habit; it’s part of our mindset. We treat every part of our clients’ inventory as if it were our own—right down to the last point.
And there were other lessons. One didn’t take place at the office, but in in our living room. My father once spread parcels of diamonds across a chair and told me to sit on them, telling me to “press down hard.” I was obviously uncomfortable, so he explained, “You see, Cédric—this is what it feels like to have too much stock. It hurts.”
The author’s father Phillipe, of whom the author writes ‘he has been one of the greatest influences on my life.’.
This captured something essential. One must remain ambitious, without letting ambition become a burden. In the diamond business, inventory isn’t just value on paper—it also represents risk, responsibility, and decisions that follow one home.
Clients as family
One of our family’s most beautiful strengths is the way we build relationships. When I see my father or brothers traveling the world, it is as if they are visiting relatives. From Dubai to Antwerp to Hong Kong, we treat every one of them as extended family.
And the feelings are mutual. There’s a client in the Middle East who has worked with my father for decades, calling him “brother Philippe” with both respect and affection. The first time Alex, Nicolas, and I visited without our father, he looked at us, smiled, and said, “If you are his sons, you are already my nephews. Now show me the stones.”
Business may be the reason we meet, but trust is what keeps people coming back—and in our industry, it’s rarely stays purely transactional. Over time, it becomes personal.
When I visit a major trade show, it often fees that in ever row of every hall there is at least someone who worked with my grandfather or my father years before. Alex and Nicolas joke that we cannot walk five meters without someone hugging our father and telling a story from the 1980s.
At end of the day at shows our stand often looks less like a booth and more like a family reunion. Customers introduce their children to us, saying “These are the people my father trusted with his stones.”
The author (left) and his father Phillipe examining diamonds in the company’s offices in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2022.
Forging a path in Hong Kong
While my family’s legacy provided strong foundation, I’ve always believed I must forge my own path. Early in my career, I sought opportunities in the world’s most competitive markets, knowing that trial by fire would accelerate my growth.
Being based in Hong Kong has been particularly transformative. It’s a city that demands resilience, adaptability, and a relentless focus on relationships.
I focus on the Far East from Hong Kong, while Nicolas and Alexandre oversee operations in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Distance has taught us the importance of communication and mutual dependence.
Each of us has a role to play, and we rely on one another’s expertise, just as our clients rely on us. This structure has allowed us to thrive, even in the face of geographic and cultural differences.
Hong Kong reinforced my understanding that in our line me that trust is everything, irrespective of whether you are working with a new designer or an established jeweler. Reputation is our most valuable asset, and every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen it.
Balancing tradition and innovation
Barsamian Diamonds is rooted in tradition, but innovation lies at the heart of how we serve our clients. As the fourth generation, my brothers and I are constantly seeking ways to blend the timeless artistry of diamonds with modern technology and new ideas.
For example, we are exploring blockchain solutions to enhance transparency and traceability, ensuring that our clients cannot be assured about quality of our diamonds, but also of their ethical origins.
We also believe in creating personalized, intimate experiences, whether it’s through bespoke consultations or crafting custom pieces that tell a unique story.
While the diamond trade is my primary focus, I have developed a passion for jewelry design. Collaborating with master artisans has given me a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind every piece. To me, jewelry is not just about luxury — it’s about storytelling. Every diamond, every design represents a milestone, a memory, or a moment of love.
We are also deeply committed to sustainability and transparency. We believe the future of the diamond industry needs to be anchored in ethical practices, and we are determined to lead by example.
For my family, our company is more than a business – it’s the embodiment of our tradition and vision. For 118 years, we worked tirelessly to build a legacy that my generation is carrying forward.
My brothers and I are committed to ensuring that the legacy continues to thrive, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.
‘As the fourth generation, my brothers and I are constantly seeking ways to blend the timeless artistry of diamonds with modern technology and new ideas,” writes Cedric Barsamian.