Moshe Schnitzer, 82, former chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute, was recently awarded the Israel Prize, Israel’s highest honor, for “making a special contribution to the State of Israel and Israeli society”—particularly his role in turning Israel into one of the world’s leading centers for diamond manufacturing.

This is the first time the award has been given to a diamantaire. Schnitzer received the award at an official ceremony on Israel Independence Day on April 26.