Location and Surroundings
- Adjacent to the Central Station (Antwerp Centraal)
- A few minutes walk to Meir, Antwerp's main shopping street
- The Antwerp Zoo is nearby
- Numerous restaurants, bars, and cafes around the district
History
- Antwerp has been a focus of the diamond trade since the 15th century
- Lodewyk van Berken invented the scaif, a new form of diamond polishing tool, in Antwerp
- Charles the Bold commissioned him to cut and polish the Florentine Diamond
- Diamond industry established in Antwerp by families of diamond traders and manufacturers from Amsterdam in the 1890s
- Decline in the industry starting in the 1960s, with some business moving to India
Diamond Trade
- 84% of the world's rough diamonds pass through the district
- Approximately 50% of rough diamonds return to Antwerp for cutting and polishing each year
- Over $16 billion in polished diamonds pass through the district's exchanges annually
- 380 workshops serve 1,500 companies
- 3,500 brokers, merchants, and diamond cutters in the district
Trading Exchanges
- Antwerp World Diamond Centre is located within the district
- Four trading exchanges, including the Diamond Club of Antwerp and the Beurs voor Diamanthandel
- The Antwerpsche Diamantkring and the Vrije Diamanthandel are also present
- Founded by Hasidic diamantaires
- Dominated by Jewish, Jain Indians, Maronites Christian Lebanese, and Armenian dealers
Notable Events and Facts
- The Antwerp diamond heist occurred in February 2003, with jewelry valued at over $100 million stolen
- Antwerp has avoided European sanctions against Russia, with the industry claiming 10,000 jobs at risk if banned
- Antwerp is known as the capital when it comes to diamonds
- Over 80% of Antwerp's Jewish population works in the diamond trade
- No business is conducted on Saturdays in the district
Antwerp diamond district Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/antwerp-diamond-district |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antwerp_diamond_district |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4777485 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0gvtqw7 |