The Antwerp
Dossier
Vol. I, Issue 1 
BrilliANT  - at the heart of the Belgian diamond industry 
BrilliANT Now Open to International Exhibitors!
 
Have you ever wondered why BrilliANT - the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair (ADTF) was created, and how it became the Belgian diamond industry's most successful calling card?
 
Two years after the economic crisis of 2008, a group of diamantaires, most of them members of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse, organised a project they had been musing about since the global crisis hit: to establish an attractive diamond trading platform that would bring hundreds of diamond buying jewellery manufacturers and retail jewellers, people who had never before set foot in Antwerp's diamond quarter before, to the bourses.
They called it the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair.

 
Now preparing for the eighth edition of BrilliANT, the format of the ADTF has proven very  succesful, Michel Nasielski, one of the organising committee members of the ADTF notes. "Once a jeweller participates in the fair, he or she is given a key that unlocks all the possibilities that the diamantaires who hold office in the Antwerp Diamond District have to offer! Demand from our members grew quickly, visitors now come to us from all five continents, and that is also why we, starting out in 2010 in just one hall, now have three halls converted into exhibition space!" Michel said.  
 
Just listen to Nicholas Wainwright, of Boodles, from the UK: "We find it is a good way to buy diamonds! ...Everyone is keen to sell, and it is relatively easy!"
 
 
Suggestions to move the ADTF out of the district have been considered in the past, but were summarily dismissed. "The whole concept of the ADTF is rooted in the diamond district itself. Visitors can enter and exit the three bourses' halls freely, allocate some time take an elevator up to visit a company in their offices, come back on the trading floor to continue and visit more exhibitors' booths, go for lunch in one of the on-the-premises restaurants, or quickly pop out back to their hotel, a walk of just a few minutes away," said Ya'akov Almor,  Communications Director of BrilliANT - ADTF.


 
"Any other location in or outside Antwerp, most probably in a non-descript exhibition hall, miles away from the district, would completely sever the direct and unique connection offered by the ADTF to the visiting buyers, and the Antwerp diamond business community at large!" he added. BrilliANT - ADTF has the full support of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the umbrella organisation of the Antwerp diamond business community.  The AWDC is also the chief sponsor of BrilliANT - ADTF.

But the loudest support is given by the visitors. Alfredo Morgado Russo, a jeweller from Spain who is a returning visitor, is quite vocal about it: "Antwerp is the leading centre for diamonds in the world. And you find good deals!"
 
Listen to Alfredo Morgado Russo de Morgado Russo Joyeros S.L., Spain

Was the Hong Kong fair good for diamonds?
 
Was the Hong Kong fair good for diamonds? A final review of the results of the recent Hong Kong Jewellery & Gems Fair is still forthcoming, but based on conversations with a number of diamond companies that exhibited at the Asian World Expo (AWE) next to Hong Kong's airport indicate that things seem to be looking up for diamonds. 
 

Numerous diamond traders who exhibited in halls 3 to 7 at AWE invariably indicated that while there had been a lot of pressure on their price points, sales had been made and orders had been placed. "We've been quite busy, and we are not unhappy with the results," said Hans Clement of the Antwerp-based IGC Group on the third day of the show. "Of course, we need to wait until the show is over, but it seems the market is waking up and as jewellery manufacturers and retailers need to stock up, demand seem to be picking up."
 
Another Antwerp trader noted that this year's show had yielded the best results since 2012.
 
Across the board, traders of larger-sized diamonds and fancy colored diamonds reported "healthy interest" and some were notably quite happy with demand and sales.
International diamond industry communications consultant Ya'akov Almor, who coordinates communications for BrilliANT, the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair, said he had spoken to a wide range of diamantaires from Antwerp, Israel, the USA and India. "Diamantaires have become used to complaining about the state of the diamond market, but, interestingly, at this show, I heard only optimistic voices. This is particularly important as the September Hong Kong fair is generally looked at as an indicator for diamond demand for the rest of the year, and specifically the months leading up to the winter holiday sales season," he said.

HRD Antwerp launches new Diamond Grading Report
at Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair
 
HRD Antwerp, Europe's leading authority in diamond grading, has launched its new, restyled Diamond Grading Reports and Diamond Jewellery Reports during the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair earlier this month.
 
The most important change, in addition to a brand new design and improved anti-tampering and security features, is that as of October 3, 2016, HRD Antwerp will cease using the term "certificate" and revert to the use of the term "diamond grading report." Consequently, the "HRD Antwerp Diamond Certificate" will now be called the "HRD Antwerp Diamond Grading Report."

"Following an in-depth analysis, it was decided by our Board of Directors to replace the term 'Certificate' with 'Grading Report' in order to be more compliant with the globally adopted industry terminology. As no changes were made to our grading services and procedures, these new reports in no way discount the quality or integrity of any existing HRD Antwerp 'Certificate' on the market," HRD's outgoing CEO Peter Macken said in a news release.
 
By reverting to the term "report" instead of "certificate," the HRD is once again in line with the rules and regulations of the International Diamond Council, to which the HRD Antwerp is subject.