Tools & Abrasives buying guideLast updated October 2026

Diamond Wire

The cutting edge of quarries and multi-wire saws.

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Price level
Premium
Best to buy
Feb–Apr, Sep–Nov
Top sources
Italy flagChina flagSouth Korea flag
Quarry workers holding diamond wire with its beaded cutting segments

Photo: Dr Peter Tzeferis, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

What it is

Diamond wire is a steel cable threaded with diamond beads, separated by springs or locked in a plastic or rubber coating. It runs on quarry wire saws, multi-wire slab saws and single-wire profiling machines.

Bead type (sintered, electroplated or vacuum-brazed), beads per metre and the coating decide how fast it cuts and how long it lasts. Performance is measured as square metres cut per metre of wire.

Quarry wire
Beads about 10 to 11.5 mm
Multi-wire
Beads about 6.3 to 7.3 mm
Beads per metre
Typically around 40
Bead types
Sintered, electroplated, vacuum-brazed
Coating
Plastic, rubber or spring-spaced
Key metric
m² cut per metre of wire

Applications

Best used for

  • Quarry extractionPrimary cuts and squaring.
  • Multi-wire slab productionGranite and quartzite slabs.
  • ProfilingColumns and balusters on CNC wire saws.
  • Concrete demolitionReinforced concrete cutting.

Origins

Which countries to source from

The producing countries that matter for diamond wire, what each is known for, and a direct link to vendors there.

Timing

Best time of year to buy

Consumables are bought all year, so timing is about stock: order ahead of the Lunar New Year shutdown in China and the August break in Italy, and buy trial quantities at the spring and autumn fairs.

  1. Jan: slower or pricier
  2. Feb: best time to buy
  3. Mar: best time to buy
  4. Apr: best time to buy
  5. May: normal
  6. Jun: normal
  7. Jul: normal
  8. Aug: slower or pricier
  9. Sep: best time to buy
  10. Oct: best time to buy
  11. Nov: best time to buy
  12. Dec: normal
Best time to buy Normal Slower or pricier
  • Chinese toolmakers close for Lunar New Year; place large orders by early December.
  • Italian and Spanish makers slow in August.
  • Hold four to eight weeks of stock of your fastest-moving tools to ride out shipping delays.

Import costs

Tariffs and import duties

Base duties for the main import markets, the extra US surcharge by origin, and the trade remedies to check before you quote a landed price.

HS codes

  • 8202.99Saw parts (typical classification; confirm)

Base import duty (MFN)

  • United StatesFree to 37.5% or moreDiamond wire is generally classified under 6804.21.00 rather than 8202.99. Verify classification with a customs broker as diamond goods often fall under specific anti-dumping orders.
  • European Union2.7%
  • United Kingdom2%

Importing into the US? Add the 2026 origin surcharge

Section 301 rates in force since 24 July 2026, stacked on the MFN rate above.

  • Italy flagItaly10% min.Section 301 (2026) tops the duty up to at least 10% in total; no surcharge if MFN is already higher.
  • China flagChina+12.5% & 30112.5% Section 301 (2026) plus the legacy China Section 301 duty (25% on most stone and machinery lines), on top of MFN.
  • South Korea flagSouth Korea12.5% min.Section 301 (2026) tops the duty up to at least 12.5% in total; no surcharge if MFN is already higher.
  • Imports of diamond sawblades and parts from China remain subject to long-standing anti-dumping orders and Section 301 duties.
  • US customs continues to actively investigate potential evasion of anti-dumping duties on diamond sawblades and parts.

Rates checked October 2026. Indicative rates for planning, not a customs ruling. Duties depend on the exact tariff line, origin, trade agreements and the rules in force on the day of entry. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before you price an order.

Before you order

Buying checklist

  1. 1Specify bead type and count for your stone and machine.
  2. 2Choose plastic, rubber or spring coating for the application.
  3. 3Check the connector (joint) type.
  4. 4Track m² per metre of wire and cost per m².
  5. 5Follow the maker's run-in procedure.

Price level: Priced per metre; premium wire usually wins on cost per square metre.

Vendor Network

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