Our Antwerp Heritage
Antwerp is known as the diamond capital of the world thanks to its rich history with this precious stone. Antwerp currently processes more than 120 million carats of diamond every year. These diamonds are famous around the world for their exquisite beauty.
For many years, anyone who wanted to buy one of these diamonds had to purchase it from a jewellery retailer. This meant that they had to pay high prices and didn’t have access to the information that they needed to understand what they were buying.
We have changed this scenario and made it possible for you to deal directly with a diamantaire. This is the best way to get the information that you need to make an informed decision, as well as the best diamond possible.
All of our diamonds are backed by Antwerp’s rich diamond heritage. This heritage stretches across five centuries and makes Antwerp diamonds extraordinary in their quality and craftsmanship.
2024
We opened our new showroom on Rue de la Vallée 50, located in one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods of Brussels. Our team is at your disposal to help you discover all our creations and find the perfect jewel for you.
2021
We launched a brand-new website to further enhance the online customer experience. Along with a new look, we now offer the option of purchasing a selection of jewellery online.
2015
Beldiamond is created. We combined the words "Belgium" and "diamond" to create the name Beldiamond, because we wanted to highlight one of our country’s specialties. As 3rd generation diamantairs, our goal was to provide direct access to a diamantair while also offering the personalised service of a jeweller at Hoveniersstraat 30 in the diamond quarter in Antwerp. We wanted to combine the best of both worlds.
2000
Antwerp says “NO” to blood diamonds and implements the Kimberley Process to guarantee that their diamonds come from ethical sources.
1973
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) opens its doors on the Hoveniersstraat. It directs the import and export of diamonds, coordinates the diamond district, and organizes events that benefit both dealers and buyers.
1905
Antwerp’s diamond district is nicknamed the Diamond Square Mile. It grows to contain 1,800 international diamond companies, 4 diamond bourses, numerous banks and the HRD, a well-respected diamond grading laboratory.
1893
Antwerp opens the first diamond bourse in the world. It is named the Diamantclub van Antwerpen and begins to serve as a meeting place for diamond dealers and buyers.
17th & 18th century
Kings and queens in England and France, as well as other high-ranking people around the world, begin to prefer Antwerp diamonds above all others.
Master baroque painters, including Rubens, Van Dyck, and Jordaens, also appreciated the beauty of these fine diamonds and included them in various of their masterpieces.
16th century
Antwerp enters its Golden Age and becomes the world’s leading diamond centre. Diamond traders from all over the world arrive to buy and sell industrial grade diamonds, as well as the carefully cut and polished diamonds that Antwerp is famous for.
15th century
In the early 15th century, Antwerp was an ordinary port city that began to trade an occasional load of diamonds from India.
By 1447, jewellers in Antwerp were dedicating themselves to diamonds and Lodewijck van Bercken soon invented the scaif, an abrasive polishing wheel that revolutionized the diamond cutting process.
Antwerp’s long history in the diamond market has given it a wealth of highly skilled craftsmen, experienced diamantaires, an extensive selection of fine diamonds and gemstones, as well as excellent prices. Thanks to our location in Antwerp, we are able to take advantage of these benefits and pass them on to you.