Antwerp diamonds

Antwerp diamonds have international fame. Some 85% of the world's rough diamonds, 50% of cut diamonds, and 40% of industrial diamonds are traded here annually.

Antwerp diamonds Center of the World. Antwerp's association with diamonds began in the late 15th century when a new technique to polish and shape the gems was evolved here. Today with 85 percent of rough diamonds and 50 percent of the cut diamonds being sold here, Antwerp is more then ever the hart of the diamond business.

• 8 in 10 of all rough diamonds in the world are handled in Antwerp.
• 1 in 2 of all cut diamonds passes through Antwerp.

When you buy a stone in New York, Paris, Sidney or Tokyo, it most likely passed several times Antwerp in its journey to your ring or necklace.

Antwerp diamonds District begins on Pelikaanstraat on the west side of the Central Station. It spreads out along the Vestingstraat, Rijfstraat and Hoveniersstraat. Within an area of less than one square kilometre you can find around 1,500 diamond companies and four diamond exchanges.

• The Antwerp diamond sector has an annual turnover of 39 billion U.S. dollars.

• The diamond trade is responsible for 8% of Belgian exports, and 12% of the Flemish region’s exports.

• 30.000 people are directly or indirectly employed by the Belgian diamond sector.

Shopping for Antwerp diamonds
If you're looking to buy diamond jewellery, your first stop should be the Diamond High Council ( HDR ) this center provides a directory of diamond-related businesses that operate in Antwerp and information on what to look for when buying a stone.

There are 4 C's to a diamond - the Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. They influence it's price.

Diamond cut refers to the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of the diamond. A diamond is generally cut into one of these shapes: Round Brilliant, Emerald, Heart, Marquise Oval , Pear, Princess or Radiant.

Certified diamonds. Although many diamonds look the same - they are not. Certificated diamonds come with a Diamond certification: written proof of a diamond's attributes.

Diamond settings is the platform on which the diamond sits. The variety of diamond settings (rings/bands) available is almost endless. Where do you begin?

Engagement rings
Diamondland – Visitors can buy their diamond engagement rings or loose diamonds directly at the source.

Here you can see polishing and cutting demonstrations at the city's largest diamond shop. It is especially popular for it’s engagement specials.

So what exactly is a diamond?

The diamond is one of the 4 forms of carbon that can be found in nature. It received its name from the Greek word ‘Adamas’ which means unbeatable. It’s the hardest natural mineral known on earth and has therefore a hardness of 10 on Moh’s scale of mineral hardness.

To find out more about the history of a girl’s best friend visit Antwerp Diamond Museum which has an interactive displays showcase mining and cutting processes, and polishing demonstrations take place Saturday afternoons. You can view items dating from the 16th century to the present.

21 Facts about Diamonds Fun diamond trivia and interesting Diamond Fact s about Love & Magic, famous diamonds, crime and diamonds, Diamonds in Antiquity …

America buys more than half of the world's total gem quality diamonds - accounting for the world's largest diamond market.

The engagement diamond is worn on the third finger of the left hand, because the ancient Egyptians believed that the vein in that finger ran directly to the heart.

If you were to gather all the diamonds ever polished since the beginning of time, they would fill only one double-decker bus.

More Diamond Facts and Trivia

“Kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and sapphire bracelet lasts forever” 

Anita Loos

"Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles!"

Sonja Henie

"Diamonds are a girl's best friend and a man's worst enemy!"

Author Unknown
More Diamond Quotes ...

Diamond Bus
Hop on / Hop off tour by double-decker bus.
All stops belong to public bus company De Lijn. Buses leave at Stop 1 every hour from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm (3.30 pm during winter time only on Saturday and Sunday)