Antwerp: World's Most Trusted Diamond Center

As a purebred Antwerp diamond trader, we obviously don't have to convince you anymore. Still, we'd like to list again all the elements that make Antwerp the world's most reliable diamond trading center. Our question for you? Spread the word! The more people are familiar with and convinced of our strengths, the more this will benefit Antwepren as a diamond hub. 

We all know that because of the increased focus on sustainability in the jewelry and watch industry, customers and suppliers want to know that they are dealing with partners that not only share their values but can also help to improve their credentials by contributing to a positive supply chain. And that's where our Antwerp traders appear on the scene.

The most trusted and preferred global hub 

Not only is Antwerp the oldest diamond hub in the world, but it is also the largest. This particular diamond hub is also very committed to having the highest level of compliance and transparency. It is not without reason that this is also known as the fifth ‘c’ after carat, color, cut, and clarity. Furthermore, Antwerp exhibits unparalleled expertise across the diamond pipeline. 

Demonstrating leadership in provenance 

Antwerp's diamond industry must comply with the world’s most robust and far-reaching regulatory requirements, and the legal, tax, and compliance experts at AWDC always support them. AWDC also supplies compulsory best practices and anti-money laundering training for the companies. 

Registered diamond companies only  

Only companies approved by the Belgian Federal Public Service Economy can be officially registered as diamond companies. With that, Antwerp offers innovative, state-of-the-art polishing ateliers adherent to European social protection standards. Did you know that having four diamond bourses in one city is unique to the world? Antwerp has it all!  

Integrity and accountability 

When diamonds arrive in Antwerp, they first go to the Diamond Office, a unique import and export institute of independent diamond experts. They make sure all diamonds are conflict-free and ethically sourced. On top of that, the companies selling the diamonds have to screen potential customers before entering into a business relationship because of the European anti-money laundering legislation. Then, companies are regularly visited by the compliance inspection of the Belgian government. 

Corporate sustainability reporting 

Starting in 2025, companies must be subject to the progressive EU law on corporate sustainability reporting. This means large companies have to publish a sustainability report on their impact and explain their efforts in environmental, social, and governance policies (ESG).  

Partnering to deliver sustainability 

In Antwerp, we are actively engaged in the international promotion of responsible sourcing and sustainable business. More than 160 Antwerp diamond and jewelry companies have been certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). Antwerp also hosted the first sustainability boot camp in 2023 by The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030.  

Revolutionizing diamond transparency 

The AWDC and the Belgian government have put in place a verification and certification system to verify the non-Russian origin of diamonds destined for the G7 and EU markets. The diamond tracking systems used in Antwerp are innovative in that sense. The Natural Diamond Council also established the Antwerp ASSURE laboratory to divide synthetic diamonds from natural ones. 

Antwerp’s Most Brilliant Label that guarantees high standards 

Antwerp is also the only city in the world with a quality label for jewelry retailers. ‘Antwerp’s Most Brilliant’ guarantees consumers peace of mind when buying diamond jewelry. It ensures that it meets the highest sustainability standards, safety, ethics, transparency, and service.  

Check this document - as the result of a collaboration between AWDC and the City of Antwerp - for an overview of activities and initiatives by the Antwerp diamond community to ensure global luxury jewelry brands, traders, investors, mining companies, etc, chose Antwerp as their preferred and most trusted diamond hub.