Antwerp Diamonds

A Long History as a Diamond Center

Antwerp, Belgium has a long history as a world diamond center. By the middle of the fourteenth century the diamond trade was flourishing in Antwerp, part of a trade route that led from Eastern Asia to Europe.

In the next two hundred years the Antwerp diamond cutters developed important working and cutting techniques and were turning out high quality, and highly sought after stones. Francois I eschewed the established diamond cutters of Paris for those craftsmen of Antwerp, and setting a precedent that is still in effect today.

The Renaissance

Amsterdam began to grow in popularity during the Renaissance as a diamond center and Antwerp diamonds were forced to take second place. This happened for many reason but historians agree that a big part of it was that all the rough diamonds came through Amsterdam and she kept the best for herself. The Diamond Guild of Antwerp had to utilize whatever inferior stones were sent its way. The Antwerp craftsmen met the challenge and developed techniques and skills that transformed the mediocre stones into expertly cut Antwerp diamonds.

DeBeers Opens Up South Africa

By the late 1800s DeBeers Consolidated Mines, Ltd. had begun large scale mining in South Africa. This flooded Europe with rough diamonds and within a few months the talented Antwerp craftsmen were again creating top quality gemstones, better than ever before because of the techniques that they had developed. The beauty of the Antwerp diamonds created a growing demand for the stones. Antwerp had again become the undisputed diamond center of the world.

World War II

Antwerp again was faced with a challenge when the Depression hit the entire world. The diamond trade was forced to slow its production to a trickle. The cutting shops would shut down for weeks at a time and many experienced cutters were forced to find other work.

Just before the outbreak of World War II in Europe Jewish businessmen, many of them involved in the diamond trade, left Antwerp and fled to the United States, England, and Portugal. In England over 500 diamond dealers from Antwerp continued to work the diamond trade. To save the precious Antwerp diamonds from the German Army the dealers brought the diamonds with them, and with the help of the British government set up the Correspondence Office for the Diamond Industry, a diamond registry.

The Diamond High Council

Because of their foresight the Antwerp diamond industry was able to begin where they had left off once the war was over. Concerned that it maintained the reputation it worked so hard to achieve the Diamond High Council, now known as the HRD, was created. Its purpose was to regulate and watch over the Antwerp diamond industry as an enforcer of consistency and quality control.

Buying Antwerp Diamonds

With all of that diamond experience and history it is no wonder that Antwerp diamonds are synonymous with quality and beauty. You can buy an Antwerp diamond nearly anywhere because most independent jewelers ultimately get their stones there.

Certification

Just because a stone originated in Antwerp does not mean that you should buy it without considering a few things. A good stone should come with a certification: Look for one of these three-

• HRD- Diamond High Council
• GIA- Gemological Institute of America
• AGS- American Gem Society

There will not be a price value given to the diamond. It will only be rated for its color, cut and clarity.

Other Certificates are available. IGI and EGL started out with good intentions but both have added price values to the stones. Both of these labs’ certificates have been turned into selling tools with overly inflated retail prices. They are then used by some jewelers to show a perceived value savings, when in fact the retailer is charging a full mark-up and not offering a good buy.

The Grade

There are a few things you need to know about graded diamonds before you go shopping for one.

• Quality Cut: Look carefully at the stone. How does it look? The cut will, in a large part, determine the beauty of the stone. This is the most difficult to grade. Always look for an ideal cut diamond.
• Color: Look for an absence of color. The whiter the stone is the better.
• Clarity: The diamond should not have flaws you can see with the naked eye.
• Carat Weight: the weight of one carat is 200 mg. A carat is divided into 100 equal points in weight. Points are like pennies to the dollar.
  • If the diamond is not certified ideal cut let the buyer beware. Gemstones weighing exactly one carat may have been badly cut to stretch the stone to the commercially desirable weight.

A Lasting Legacy

Antwerp diamonds are some of the most beautifully crafted gemstones in the world. The legacy of quality stretches back for hundreds of years. Whatever diamond you decide to buy remember that it is only a symbol of your commitment to your bride.