{"id":57748,"date":"2025-03-24T13:56:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T12:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.diamantrad.com\/?page_id=57748"},"modified":"2026-02-10T11:58:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:58:46","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img data-dominant-color=\"457f80\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #457f80;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"153\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-37640 size-full not-transparent\" alt=\"Diamantrad geschichte historisches werk\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamantrad-geschichte-historisches-werk.avif\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamantrad-geschichte-historisches-werk.avif 333w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamantrad-geschichte-historisches-werk-300x138.avif 300w\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#4f4f4d\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-cover-text-2fFY0P wp-block-lazyblock-cover-text\"><div class=\"covertext container py-5 d-flex flex-column colorscheme-light justify-content-center\" id=\"covertext-2fFY0P\">\r\n  <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diamant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The story of an iconic Eastern German brand<\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-1v8oLx wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-1v8oLx\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">140 years of history is an impressive journey. Built on a foundation of innovation and courage, Diamant found success early. The story of Diamant also talks about fortunate coincidences, as well as moments of failure and resilience. It reflects not only the history of our hometown, Chemnitz, in Saxony but also the broader industrial history of East Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This text is a bit long, but it&#8217;s worth reading. Here\u2019s an absolutely short summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Founded in 1885 in Chemnitz-Reichenbrand as a manufacturer of knitting machine components; starting with bicycles in 1895.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant success in cycling sports during the 1920s and 1950s, including the first German world champion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The popular and sought-after brand among the two bike brands that existed in East Germany<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rescued from bankruptcy by Villiger after the German reunification; moved to the current location in Hartmannsdorf.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part of Trek since 2003; all bikes are still assembled by Diamant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-ZqlAfj wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-ZqlAfj\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f5f5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f5f5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"326\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-1024x326.png\" alt=\"Diamant koepfchen ahnengalerie\" class=\"wp-image-21461 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-1024x326.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-768x244.png 768w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-1536x489.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Diamant_Koepfchen_Ahnengalerie-2-png.avif 1899w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-ZMhGVR wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-ZMhGVR\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1885 \u2013 1912: Early years \u2013 From knitting machines to bicycles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The story begins with a failure. In 1885, Friedrich Nevoigt lost his job at a knitting machine factory. In need of work, he began producing plates for knitting machines on his own, with such success that his brother Wilhelm joined the business. A first sales slump inspired them to diversify into producing steel pen nibs using a steel alloy that they labeled \u201cDiamant steel\u201d. When the \u201cvelocipede\u201d became a hit in the mid-1890s, they realized their steel was just perfect for bicycle frames as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilhelm and Friedrich were inventors at heart, and Diamant bicycles were meticulously crafted from the start \u2013 a testament to German engineering. By 1898, they had introduced two groundbreaking innovations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A candle-powered bicycle lamp that brought light to the dark.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first double-roller chain in Germany, now standard in all bicycles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hard work paid off. Diamant bikes gained popularity, and in 1911\/1912, Diamant became the company\u2019s name. The Nevoigt brothers also protected their brand with the \u201cDiamant\u201d name and logo. A unique identity was born.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-parallax\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-55010 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Diamant_Aiden_Details0303_A4.avif)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#d1d2ce\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-Z1fszwB wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-Z1fszwB\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1913 \u2013 1945: Pioneers of the bicycle \u2013 Expanding on the back of innovative cycling tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During World War I, Diamant sadly had to produce military goods. Only in 1918, the Fahrradwerke resumed bicycle production. By 1922, production climbed back to an impressive 55,000 bikes annually, and by 1926, the company held 12(!) patents that led to groundbreaking innovations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A lightweight track bike weighing less than 7 kg even though it was just 1927.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A \u201chealth handlebar\u201d for a relaxed placement of the hands, with which Diamant created the foundation for modern bike ergonomics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first lever nuts for an accelerated change of wheels, paving the way towards Tullio Campagnolo&#8217;s invention of the quick-release lever in 1933.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a97f80\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a97f80;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"926\" height=\"917\" data-id=\"55077\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-hebelmutter-1922-png.avif\" alt=\"Diamant history hebelmutter 1922\" class=\"wp-image-55077 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-hebelmutter-1922-png.avif 926w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-hebelmutter-1922-300x297.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-hebelmutter-1922-150x150.avif 150w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-hebelmutter-1922-768x761.avif 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"6b8582\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #6b8582;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"761\" height=\"1024\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 761px) 100vw, 761px\" data-id=\"55380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Plakat_01334-04_1906_1912-761x1024.avif\" alt=\"Plakat 01334 04 1906 1912\" class=\"wp-image-55380 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Plakat_01334-04_1906_1912-761x1024.avif 761w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Plakat_01334-04_1906_1912-223x300.avif 223w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Plakat_01334-04_1906_1912-768x1033.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Plakat_01334-04_1906_1912.avif 927w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d77f80\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d77f80;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"926\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-id=\"55366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-gesundheitslenker-1024x926.avif\" alt=\"Diamant history gesundheitslenker\" class=\"wp-image-55366 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-gesundheitslenker-1024x926.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-gesundheitslenker-300x271.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-gesundheitslenker-768x694.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-gesundheitslenker.avif 1176w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the early 1920s, one racing success follows another. Business is booming, and Diamant shines brightly. But during the Great Depression, Diamant&#8217;s initial luster fades as well. The Nevoigt brothers have long since left the company, and not on entirely peaceful terms. In 1928, Opel takes over the company amid significant turbulence. Diamant ventures briefly into motorcycles. Some of these machines eventually make it all the way to India. This period also lays the groundwork for the early development of the e-bike. For example, Diamant&#8217;s delivery bike from 1934 could be equipped with a small motor from Fichtel &amp; Sachs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The quality of the bicycles fades. Opel focuses on cheap manufacturing to boost sales through low prices. But that approach simply doesn\u2019t align with Diamant. The management revolts, regains independence, and refocuses on high-quality bicycles from Saxony. Then, World War II breaks out. This marks our darkest phase, as the Diamant bicycle factories also use forced labor for armament production. On March 5, 1945, more than 900 US bombers attack the industrial city of Chemnitz, leaving it in ruins. By sheer luck, the Diamant factories remain untouched by the bombs. As part of the repair agreements, the neighboring Wanderer factories have their machinery dismantled and sent to the USSR. Once again, chance plays a role in Diamant\u2019s fate: the Fahrradwerke simply rank low enough on the list. Dismantling policies come to a premature halt.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-parallax\"><div role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diamant history sport team 4\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-55436 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-sport-team-4-png.avif)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#8b8277\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-2m0xOX wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-2m0xOX\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1946 \u2013 1990: Challenging achievements \u2013 The Peace Race gives birth to an iconic reputation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1946, a public referendum dissolves the Diamant AG. The Soviet joint-stock company Awtowelo (an abbreviation for &#8220;self-propelled bicycle&#8221;) takes over Diamant. Shortly after, Diamant becomes a state-owned enterprise (VEB). Once again, the Fahrradwerke teeter on the brink of collapse, as the VEB is supposed to quit with bicycles and to focus on knitting machines. Then the GDR leadership recognizes the economic potential of high-quality bicycles, which only Diamant produces in East Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-dominant-color=\"546e8b\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #546e8b;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1245\" height=\"881\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1245px) 100vw, 1245px\" data-id=\"55103\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-veb-strickmaschinen-png.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55103 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-veb-strickmaschinen-png.avif 1245w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-veb-strickmaschinen-300x212.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-veb-strickmaschinen-1024x725.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-veb-strickmaschinen-768x543.avif 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-dominant-color=\"5d7f80\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #5d7f80;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"657\" height=\"928\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px\" data-id=\"55402\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-friedensfahrtmannschaft-png.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55402 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-friedensfahrtmannschaft-png.avif 657w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-friedensfahrtmannschaft-212x300.avif 212w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-dominant-color=\"4d698b\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #4d698b;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1127\" height=\"653\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1127px) 100vw, 1127px\" data-id=\"55416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-ddr-tourenrad-werbung-png.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55416 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-ddr-tourenrad-werbung-png.avif 1127w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-ddr-tourenrad-werbung-300x174.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-ddr-tourenrad-werbung-1024x593.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-ddr-tourenrad-werbung-768x445.avif 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bicycle and a rider become legendary. With the No. 167 road racing bike, \u201cT\u00e4ve\u201d Schur wins the Course de la Paix (Peace Race) in 1955, marking the first victory by a German rider in the biggest of all bike races on that side of the Iron Curtain. On this \u201cPeace Race model,\u201d Schur also becomes the world champion of amateur road cyclists in France in 1958 (and again in 1959)&nbsp; \u2013 the first German to achieve this feat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He is not the only famous German professional to ride (at least for a while) on a Diamant (and the following list could expand a lot):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Uwe Ampler: Four-time winner of the Peace Race, Olympic gold medalist in men\u2019s team time trial<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adolf and Richard Huschke: Germany\u2019s most successful cycling brothers of the 1920s, with Richard holding the distance record at the Berlin Sixdays until today<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gustav \u00abT\u00e4ve\u00bb Schur: The first famous Eastern German cyclist. Back-to-back World Champion of the Amateurs in 1958\/1959, double winner of the Peace Race.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jan Ullrich: The German wunderkind on a bike, full of talent and potential, first and only German winner of the Tour de France in 1997<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jens Voigt: Winner of two Tour de France stages, holder of the hour record in 2014, widely popular international cycling personality<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erik Zabel: 211 victories to his name, including six point classification victories at the Tour de France, making him one of the greatest sprinters of all time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c8cfd8\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c8cfd8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"515\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Startseite-Blog1-Highlight-Text-Bild-black-BG-Diamant167-png.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30646 has-transparency\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Startseite-Blog1-Highlight-Text-Bild-black-BG-Diamant167-png.avif 950w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Startseite-Blog1-Highlight-Text-Bild-black-BG-Diamant167-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Startseite-Blog1-Highlight-Text-Bild-black-BG-Diamant167-768x416.png 768w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Diamant 167 with a signature from T\u00e4ve Schur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the GDR, there are only a few bicycle brands: Diamant, Mifa, and, until the early 1960s, M\u00f6ve. Anyone wanting a good bike buys a Diamant. Even back then, Diamant earns most of its money from touring sports bikes for everyday use and vacations. However, in close collaboration with the Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES), many highly innovative and high-performance racing bikes are also developed in Chemnitz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-container brlbs-cmpnt-content-blocker brlbs-cmpnt-with-individual-styles\" data-borlabs-cookie-content-blocker-id=\"youtube-content-blocker\" data-borlabs-cookie-content=\"PGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iSG93IGRpZCBEaWFtYW50IHByb2R1Y2UgYmljeWNsZXMgaW4gdGhlIEREUi9HRFI\/IChubyBzb3VuZCkiIHdpZHRoPSI5OTIiIGhlaWdodD0iNzQ0IiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUtbm9jb29raWUuY29tL2VtYmVkL054S1FNNE1ackpJP2ZlYXR1cmU9b2VtYmVkIiBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgYWxsb3c9ImFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXI7IGF1dG9wbGF5OyBjbGlwYm9hcmQtd3JpdGU7IGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYTsgZ3lyb3Njb3BlOyBwaWN0dXJlLWluLXBpY3R1cmU7IHdlYi1zaGFyZSIgcmVmZXJyZXJwb2xpY3k9InN0cmljdC1vcmlnaW4td2hlbi1jcm9zcy1vcmlnaW4iIGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbj48L2lmcmFtZT4=\"><div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-preset-c brlbs-cmpnt-cb-youtube\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-thumbnail\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/borlabs-cookie\/1\/yt_NxKQM4MZrJI_hqdefault.jpg')\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-main\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-play-button\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-content\"> <p class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-description\">You are currently viewing a placeholder content from <strong>YouTube<\/strong>. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.<\/p> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-provider-toggle\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-show-provider-information role=\"button\">More Information<\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-buttons\"> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-unblock role=\"button\">Unblock content<\/a> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-accept-service role=\"button\" style=\"display: inherit\">Accept required service and unblock content<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This video shows bicycle production at the historic Diamant bicycle factory in 1959.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-ZssWkA wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-ZssWkA\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1990 \u2013 2003: A new start after reunification \u2013 Saxon craftsmanship with Swiss support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of the GDR era, resources and modern equipment are scarce. With reunification, the bicycle production and knitting machine divisions separate. Demand for bicycles from East German production collapses completely. The largest Swiss manufacturer, Villiger, saves Diamant from collapse, recognizing the invaluable skills of Diamant\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover has-parallax\"><div role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Diamant history eurobike 1996\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-55494 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-eurobike-1996-scaled.avif)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#83754d\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-1eO5zC wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-1eO5zC\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villiger, with over 100 years of tradition in cigar production, had only started producing bicycles in the 1980s. Villiger invests \u2013 successfully \u2013 in Diamant and makes headlines with creative, bold innovations. Unfortunately, some are more curious than clever:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The City-Blitz<\/strong>: Germany&#8217;s second e-bike in series production with a range of 26 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Handy<\/strong>: An impractical folding bike made of stainless steel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Stripper<\/strong>: A hand-brazed, clear-coated bike produced in small series but plagued by just problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Beachcruiser F40<\/strong>: An experimental bike for an entirely new category.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Tepex\u2122 Demo Bike<\/strong>: An innovative city bike made of composites instead of metal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Snike<\/strong>: A bicycle with a pivot steering mechanism operated from the hips.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By 1995, the old bicycle factories reach their limits. Diamant relocates from Chemnitz-Reichenbrand to the outskirts of the city in Hartmannsdorf into a brand-new assembly. It\u2019s one last greeting from the knitting machine division. They built the hall but never got to move in before they ran into bankruptcy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a37395\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a37395;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"942\" height=\"895\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 942px) 100vw, 942px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-katalog-1995-png.avif\" alt=\"Diamant history katalog 1995\" class=\"wp-image-55476 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-katalog-1995-png.avif 942w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-katalog-1995-300x285.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-katalog-1995-768x730.avif 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-2rAR5O wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-2rAR5O\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Post 2004: Renaissance \u2013 Wait, they still exist!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around the turn of the millennium, the bicycle market shrinks. Villiger prefers to focus on cigars and exits the bicycle business in 2002. Trek, an American company owned by the Burke family, acquires Villiger and all its sub-brands \u2013 including Diamant. Germany&#8217;s oldest bicycle manufacturer captures the interest of John Burke, Trek\u2019s president. Trek eventually discontinues almost all sub-brands, but Diamant endures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Diamant expands into new markets. For the first time in over 125 years, Diamant enters the shop windows of Austria and Switzerland. In Switzerland, Diamant proves so successful that, within 15 years, its market share there surpasses that in Germany. Today, more than 50,000 people buy a new Diamant bike each year.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"948979\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #948979;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1343\" height=\"917\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1343px) 100vw, 1343px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-zouma-if-design-1-png.avif\" alt=\"Diamant history zouma if design\" class=\"wp-image-55451 not-transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-zouma-if-design-1-png.avif 1343w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-zouma-if-design-1-300x205.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-zouma-if-design-1-1024x699.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/diamant-history-zouma-if-design-1-768x524.avif 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Diamant benefits from Trek\u2019s strong supply chain and dealer-friendly distribution culture. While many Diamant bikes are built on shared frame platforms, there\u2019s always room for individuality and distinction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Diamant Juna reinvents the retro-style e-bike.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The innovative and stylish Zouma commuter e-bike, with its semi-integrated battery, wins design awards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A young tradition is born in the shape of limited editions, freshly designed each year for every new collection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00abWe still have an old Diamant bike in our basement\u00bb, &nbsp;someone writes to us. \u00abMy parents always used to ride Diamant bikes\u00bb, another says. On the streets of Chemnitz, Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin, and Potsdam, Diamant is what Peugeot is in Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne. With one difference: modern Diamant bikes mix seamlessly with the sought-after vintage models.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-parallax\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-55303 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/DI_25_Suvea_Lifestyle_67I9084_72dpi.avif)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#c3c3be\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"lazyblock-nncontainer-F7rIl wp-block-lazyblock-nncontainer\"><div class=\"section-standard\">\r\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"container-F7rIl\">\r\n    <div class=\"row\">\r\n      <div class=\"col py-4 py-lg-5\">\r\n        <div class=\"lazyblock-inner-blocks\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our future \u2013 High-quality bikes with cult status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the Diamant Fahrradwerke are Trek\u2019s only proprietary bicycle factory worldwide. Trek has given us stability and a future \u2013 we are alive and well. Diamant still stands for high-quality bicycles from Saxony. Our own mechanics in Hartmannsdorf continue to assemble every Diamant bike on-site. Today, we also build bikes for Trek and Electra for the European market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Product management and marketing for Diamant have been based in Switzerland since the Villiger era \u2013 a tradition now nearly 40 years old. Our engineers and designers collaborate with colleagues at Trek\u2019s development center in Harderwijk, Netherlands. You could say: Diamant is a Saxon with a holiday home in Switzerland, a second residence in the Netherlands, and a spouse from the USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We, the people who work for Diamant, are filled with passion. We strive to continue Diamant\u2019s long legacy \u2013 every day, with pride and gratitude. Diamant is a matter of the heart for us. This personal connection is shared by many loyal fans of the brand. It\u2019s what sets Diamant apart from other traditional companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-container brlbs-cmpnt-content-blocker brlbs-cmpnt-with-individual-styles\" data-borlabs-cookie-content-blocker-id=\"youtube-content-blocker\" data-borlabs-cookie-content=\"PGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iSGFuczogQSBHRFIgU3Rvcnkgb2YgSW5ub3ZhdGlvbiBpbiBJc29sYXRpb24iIHdpZHRoPSI5OTIiIGhlaWdodD0iNTU4IiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUtbm9jb29raWUuY29tL2VtYmVkL3VSSWdQaXR4ZlNrP2ZlYXR1cmU9b2VtYmVkIiBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgYWxsb3c9ImFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXI7IGF1dG9wbGF5OyBjbGlwYm9hcmQtd3JpdGU7IGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYTsgZ3lyb3Njb3BlOyBwaWN0dXJlLWluLXBpY3R1cmU7IHdlYi1zaGFyZSIgcmVmZXJyZXJwb2xpY3k9InN0cmljdC1vcmlnaW4td2hlbi1jcm9zcy1vcmlnaW4iIGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbj48L2lmcmFtZT4=\"><div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-preset-c brlbs-cmpnt-cb-youtube\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-thumbnail\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/borlabs-cookie\/1\/yt_uRIgPitxfSk_hqdefault.jpg')\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-main\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-play-button\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-content\"> <p class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-description\">You are currently viewing a placeholder content from <strong>YouTube<\/strong>. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.<\/p> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-provider-toggle\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-show-provider-information role=\"button\">More Information<\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-buttons\"> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-unblock role=\"button\">Unblock content<\/a> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-accept-service role=\"button\" style=\"display: inherit\">Accept required service and unblock content<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><em>We owe this portrait of a contemporary witness to Petor Georgallou, who created this interview with support of The Radavist, Bespoked, and Diamant.<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","slim_seo":{"title":"Diamant - We are Germany's oldest bicycle manufacturer","description":"This is our eventful story - Immerse yourself in the history of the bicycle and explore the highlights from more than 140 years"},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-57748","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/57748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57748"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/57748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73651,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/57748\/revisions\/73651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamantrad.com\/en-GB\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}