Diamonds and fashion

Antwerp is unquestionably the world's diamond capital. With 84% of the world's rough diamonds and 50% of the world's cut diamonds passing through, the city attracts international traders looking for the best diamonds. But how did Antwerp become the world's diamond capital? Discover the city's history, from its beginnings as a trading post to the modern-day Diamond Quarter.

The Antwerp diamond exchange was founded around 1456 when a local diamond polisher invented the Scaife, a type of polishing wheel. The instrument was capable of symmetrically polishing all of a diamond's facets to achieve the sparkle that is accustomed today. This invention increased orders among the European aristocracy and drew many diamond craftsmen, establishing Antwerp as the world's diamond capital.

Antwerp, home to 1,700 diamond firms, traded $46 billion in diamonds in 2017. Four of the world's thirty diamond exchanges are located in Antwerp's Diamond Quarter, also known as the Diamond District. Despite being only one square mile in size, it is the heart of Antwerp's diamond trade. Antwerp is the place for custom jewelers to select the highest quality diamonds, with 84% of the world's rough, or uncut, diamonds passing through.