Antwerp, World Diamond Capital

World Diamond Capital

Antwerp has traded in diamonds as far back as 1447 AD. Barely a century later, the city had become the New York of its era: an international metropolis, with a shining role for the diamond industry. Today, Antwerp remains home to the world’s most important mining companies, diamond traders and the most renowned diamond cutters and creative master polishers worldwide, specialising in large, exceptional and coloured diamonds. The diamond industry aspires to innovate, with a focus on automation and innovative technological developments. Furthermore, Antwerp has taken on a leadership role in consumer confidence; Antwerp companies heavily invest in both compliance and transparency.

Why diamond companies choose Antwerp

Antwerp, one of the world's most important diamond trading hubs, is the preferred location for many diamond companies to establish themselves and conduct successful business. The Diamond District is located in the city centre, close to its monumental Central Station. Although concentrated in less than one square mile, the city is home to approximately 1400 businesses, ranging from small companies to major multinationals. In that same square mile, Antwerp has four Diamond Bourses acting as marketplaces. It is possible to display and examine the goods under high-tech conditions, while an open atmosphere helps to encourage healthy competition.

Antwerp’s primary strengths as a global diamond city include its critical mass of buyers and sellers of rough and polished diamonds, its proximity to major luxury jewellery brands in Paris, Milano and Geneva, and its large number of successful diamond traders known for their long-term and trustworthy business relationships. Antwerp offers affordable rental office spaces, fiscal benefits, and investment support for innovation projects. Antwerp is open for business and supports entrepreneurs whenever possible. ‘Your business, our drive' is the city's motto, and that says it all.

Moreover, Antwerp and its surroundings offer an excellent quality of life, making it an ideal place to live, relax, and raise a family. The city’s affordable livability is a crucial factor in attracting and sustaining the large international community that has established itself in Antwerp over the years.

Did you know the most popular diamond cut in the world, ‘The Brilliant’, was invented in Antwerp in 1919 by Marcel Tolkowsky? This diamond polisher was barely 19 years old when he discovered a simple mathematical formula by which diamonds could be cut to make the most of their light, brilliance and fire. Tolkowsy’s calculations would serve as the foundation for all future brilliant-cut modifications and standards. Today, three-quarters of all colourless diamonds are cut in this brilliant, 57-faceted shape.

Most Trusted Diamond Centre worldwide

Compliance and transparency, also known as ‘the fifth C’ after carat, colour, cut and clarity, is at the core of Antwerp’s diamond business model. As the world’s most trusted diamond centre, Antwerp’s community and institutions are more than ever investing in compliance and sustainability initiatives. As a result, global luxury jewellery brands, diamond traders, manufacturers, service providers, mining companies and jewellers have chosen Antwerp as their preferred location to do business or to polish, buy or trade their diamonds.

Leadership in provenance, training and control

The Antwerp diamond industry has one of the strongest and most far-reaching regulatory frameworks in the world, often going beyond progressive EU legislation. A framework that is complemented by effective training, supervision and control. Companies are supported by the legal, tax and compliance experts of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the official representative of the Antwerp diamond industry. The AWDC Legal and Compliance Desk offers a full range of services including anti-money Laundering (AML) expertise, best practice training, supply chain due diligence and tax seminars.

Blockchain-based diamond traceability

In 2024 Antwerp took a leading role in the development of a global blockchain-based certification system to verify the origin of diamonds.

Antwerp World's Most Trusted Diamond Centre

Click here to discover why Antwerp is the World’s Most Trusted Diamond Centre.

Most trusted and preferred global hub
Demonstrating leadership in provenance
Registered diamond companies only
Integrity and accountability
Sustainability: corporate reporting & partnering to deliver
Revolutionizing diamond transparency
Antwerp's Most Brilliant: jeweller's label that guarantees high standards

“

In Antwerp we play on the highest level, call it the Champions League of diamonds.

Philip Hoymans

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Antwerp’s Most Brilliant jewellers

The city of Antwerp and AWDC have created a quality label for jewellers, called Antwerp’s Most Brilliant. The label guarantees quality and strengthens Antwerp’s reputation as a jewellery destination. To be awarded the label, jewellers must fulfil nine criteria and undergo auditing by an independent accredited office. Creative jewellers with a focus on design as well as diamond jewellers are eligible. In addition to applying for an audit, candidates will need the support of two of Antwerp's Most Brilliant jewellers. Here is the support form.

Thanks to this label, consumers can buy jewellery with confidence. Labelled jewellers are recognizable by a sticker in their shop window with the words ‘Antwerp’s Most Brilliant Officially Certified Jeweller’. Campaigns are set up to promote these jewellers, both locally within the city and internationally to visitors with an interest in purchasing Antwerp diamonds and jewellery.

Obtain the Antwerp's Most Brilliant-label

E-mail us with your request and we will get back to you shortly.

Discover all the Antwerp’s Most Brilliant jewellers online
Discover Antwerp’s Most Brilliant jewellers on foot
Discover Antwerp’s Most Brilliant in the historic centre. Take a walk with the “Diamond and jewellery tour" podcast
Browse the brochure Antwerp's Most Brilliant jewellers 2024

Innovation is key

Antwerp encourages diamond industry entrepreneurs to innovate, because they are the ones who must lead the way in innovating their industry. The city offers financial support for new initiatives that can future-proof Antwerp’s diamond industry.

The city supports diamond companies eager to innovate

Companies that wish to develop new opportunities can submit their innovation projects for support. The city of Antwerp stimulates innovation in the sector through two different programmes.

Fill in this questionnaire online to determine which programme is applicable to your project. If your company qualifies for support, an intake interview will follow.

Innovation of relevance to the entire diamond industry

Until 2025, it is possible to submit innovation projects of relevance to the entire diamond industry for the Antwerp Diamond Innovation Opportunities programme. On being accepted, companies will receive one year of free innovation coaching and expertise provided by Verhaert | Masters in Innovation.

The innovation should serve to future-proof the Antwerp diamond industry in finance, digitalisation, automation and robotisation, data analysis, cross-industry networking and sustainability & ESG.

In 2024, five Antwerp-based diamond companies launched their innovation project, guided by Verhaert | Masters in Innovation. Discover them in the 2024 report
In 2023, four companies worked out 3 innovation projects. Discover them in the 2023 report.
Four new innovation trajectories were launched in 2022. Discover them in this report.

Discover here all diamond innovation projects, supported by the city of Antwerp, by selecting the tab 'Diamond'.

“

Thanks to the programme, we manage to strengthen the position of Antwerp as the unmatched polishing centre for large-size diamonds.

Danny Meylemans, M.S.D.

”

Matchmaking for your own business’s innovation

When an innovation project is intended to future-proof your own company, it is important to find the right partner to grow your business, be it through innovation, R&D, cross-industry networking or by other means. ANTWERP. POWERED BY CREATIVES. (APBC) connects you with the perfect partner according to your innovation needs. This programme runs from the formulation of a clear innovation definition to finding an appropriate creative partner and designing a solution.

Want to find out how creatives can help you innovate? E-mail your questions to have us get back to you shortly.

Innovation in Antwerp

Innovation: 3D model to locate imperfections in a diamond

The Diamcad process starts with an in-house, high-precision scan of the rough diamond. This scanning technique was developed in collaboration with the University of Antwerp and produces an accurate 3D model. This allows for the precise location and identification of any imperfections within the stone.

Innovation: supply chain transparency and automated cutting

Where Diamcad is an early innovation adopter, HB Antwerp is the new kid on the block. This young company has managed to establish a fully transparent, closed circuit diamond supply chain, all the way from the mine in Botswana to manufacturing in Antwerp. HB has developed an automated cutting machine and uses blockchain technology to enhance transparency, security, and traceability. This is unprecedented in the diamond industry. They also recently introduced NFTs for diamonds (non-fungible tokens, a new business model in the Metaverse world).

Support for Antwerp diamond entrepreneurs

The city of Antwerp and AWDC offer diamond entrepreneurs support in finding a location, along with other services to help start up or grow a business in Antwerp.

Finding the very best location for your diamond business

Antwerp combines the best of all worlds: home to a busy port for access to international trade opportunities and with the administrative city of Brussels close by. Antwerp is the perfect gateway to Europe and the rest of the world. It is close to all of Europe’s major consumer markets, with 60% of Europe’s purchasing power located within only 500 kilometres of the city. The heart of the diamond trade lies within the ‘Antwerp Diamond Square Mile’, a secured area located in the Central Business District near the Central Railway Station. A wide range of secure office locations are available in close proximity to high-speed train connections to Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris.

If your company is involved in diamond production rather than trade, why not look for a location at one of our Antwerp commercial sites right by the port? Our newest industrial sites are BlueGate Antwerp, Innovative City Port and NxtGen District. All three sites are highly modern and sure to fulfil your technical requirements.

For tailored advice on locations, e-mail the city’s Investdesk.

Support for diamond traders, jewellers and industry professionals

As the official representative body of the diamond community, Antwerp World Diamond Center offers a full array of services to Antwerp’s diamond professionals and those interested in joining this business community. In support of a thriving, sustainable and transparent industry, AWDC’s experts offer assistance with various activities such as help starting a diamond business, provision of general legal & Anti-Money Laundering (AML) information, tailored advice and training.

More information

Diamond grading report (DGR)

A DGR describes the 5 Cs for a specific diamond. Jewellers with an Antwerp's Most Brilliant label will automatically supply customers with a DGR from HRD Antwerp (Hoge Raad voor Diamant Antwerpen), the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the IGI (International Gemological Institute) or the IIDGR (International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research).

Natural diamonds: if the DGR states that a customer has bought a natural diamond, they can be certain the diamond they have purchased is millions of years old.