Antwerp Diamond District
A five-century global hub for diamond trade, precision cutting, and trusted certification
Diamond trade
Nestled beside Antwerp Central Station, the Antwerp Diamond District is recognized as the world's premier hub for diamond trade and craftsmanship. For over five centuries, this small network of streets has been where the world's most precious stones are bought, cut, and sold.
Antwerp handles around 84% of the world's rough diamonds — and roughly half of all cut diamonds — at some stage of their journey, more than any other city on Earth. The district's streets — Hoveniersstraat, Schupstraat, and Rijfstraat — host hundreds of diamond offices, exchanges, and workshops, many family-run through generations.
The area's strength lies in its precision cutting and trusted certification: four diamond bourses — including the world's only rough-diamond bourse — and some 1,700 diamond companies set the global benchmark for quality and authenticity. It's a melting pot of cultures — Jewish, Indian, Lebanese, and Belgian — all contributing to the unique rhythm and integrity of its trade.
Unlike flashy luxury districts, Antwerp's diamond trade is quiet, professional, and discreet, built on expertise, heritage, and reputation.
Planning to visit or buy in Antwerp Diamond District?
Getting there and when to go, what a fair price looks like, how to verify what you're buying, and how to spot a fake — the practical, no-nonsense guide.
Read the buyer's guideWorked here
A gemstone is rarely mined, cut, dealt and sold in the same place — those are four different trades. Here is Antwerp Diamond District's part in that journey: the stones it handles, and exactly what it does with each.
- Cut
- faceted, carved or finished here
- Trade
- dealt and wholesaled here
- DiamondCutTrade
Belgium mines not a single carat, yet for five centuries roughly 84% of the world's rough diamonds have passed through a few streets beside Antwerp's central station — a capital of trust and dealing, not digging. Antwerp was the world's cutting city from the 1500s, but volume polishing moved to India's Surat from the 1960s; today only the largest, most valuable stones are still cut here. The quiet irony: the natural-diamond capital is also where IGI — now the leading grader of lab-grown diamonds — was founded in 1975.
The diamond gemstone
Makers & Houses
The Antwerp Diamond District links the world's diamond trade to the individual buyer through a rim of consumer-facing houses. Stones cut, graded, and dealt in the quarter's secured B2B core reach the walk-in customer buying a certified engagement ring on the tourist-facing rim.
The district proper (Hoveniersstraat, Rijfstraat, Schupstraat, Pelikaanstraat) is overwhelmingly B2B: secured wholesale offices and bourses, not open shops. Genuine walk-in consumer retail clusters on the tourist-facing rim: Vestingstraat, Appelmansstraat, Pelikaanstraat and De Keyserlei, where the entries below sit.
- African & global minesSource
- AntwerpCut
- Retail worldwideSell
Geretti
Known for a certified diamond, a stock piece, or a custom-designed engagement ring, crafted in Belgium and Italy
One of the district's longest-standing family jewellers, founded in 1929. It pairs near-century longevity with the City of Antwerp's 'Antwerp's Most Brilliant' consumer label, a rare pillar in a quarter otherwise dominated by B2B trade.
Adin Fine Antique Jewellery
Known for authenticated Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau and Deco estate pieces, in-showroom or via its long-running online shop
A rare consumer-facing antique and estate specialist inside a wholesale district, provable through its own long-running site and a fixed Vestingstraat showroom, giving buyers historic jewellery rather than new-stone retail.
Juwelen Orogem (OROGEM Jewelers)
Known for loose certified diamonds from 0.30 ct or finished and bespoke jewellery, sold with an independent lab certificate
A four-generation family diamond house with a fixed district shopfront, one of the clearest 'buy a certified stone direct from a diamond house' options for a walk-in consumer in the quarter.
RÖELL Jewellery
Known for in-house-designed collections and bespoke jewellery, with adjustments and repairs, from the Appelmansstraat boutique
A genuine consumer-facing maker on Appelmansstraat, with its own designers, workshop and retail boutique, showing the district still hosts atelier-to-counter commissioning, not only trading.
Antwerp Or
Known for loose certified diamonds or custom pieces, bought online or in the Vestingstraat shop
A district-based seller with both a real Vestingstraat showroom and a transactional website, letting a consumer buy certified stones direct from a family house.
- Antwerpsche Diamantkring. The world's only bourse dedicated solely to rough diamonds, founded 1929. Industry infrastructure, not a shop.
- Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The private foundation that represents and coordinates Belgium's diamond sector.
- HRD Antwerp. Antwerp's diamond-grading authority, descended from the 1973 Diamond High Council. A lab, not a retailer.
- International Gemological Institute (IGI). Founded in Antwerp in 1975 as a European grading authority; still headquartered there. A lab, not a retailer.
- Marcel Tolkowsky. Of an Antwerp diamond-cutting dynasty, published Diamond Design in 1919, the proportions the industry adopted as the modern round brilliant cut. A historical figure, not a business.
- IGC Group. A B2B diamond house describing itself as five generations of Antwerp expertise, supplying retailers and luxury brands rather than consumers directly.
- Grunberger Diamonds. Four-generation B2B diamond firm.
- Nasielski & Son. Six-generation B2B diamond firm.
- Fischler Diamonds. B2B diamond processing company, est. 1953.
- Rosy Blue. One of the world's largest B2B diamond companies.
- Willems Diamonds. B2B diamond-polishing workshop from 1925.
- Maison Celinni. Kept in reference pending firmer independent evidence of an Antwerp showroom.
On the map
In the district
Walk the district
Traveller notes
The Antwerp Diamond District is essential for anyone fascinated by gemstones, jewellery craftsmanship, or the business of diamonds. Start at Antwerpen-Centraal and walk into Hoveniersstraat to feel the district's rhythm: glass-fronted offices, discreet storefronts, and compact workshops where cutters and polishers work to exacting standards. Visit DIVA for clear context on cutting, grading, and the city's diamond history, and consider arranging appointments if you want an inside look at atelier processes.
- Best time: Weekday mornings — trade is active and offices are most accessible.
- Respect protocol: Many businesses are appointment-only and security is strict; call ahead if you want a tour.
- What to look for: precision cutting benches, grading certificates, and small family ateliers that preserve generational techniques.
- Nearby anchor: Antwerpen-Centraal (easy transit) — use it as your start/end point for a short walking route through the district.
- Combine visits: Pair DIVA with a walk down Hoveniersstraat and stops at AWDC for a fuller picture of Antwerp's role in the global diamond market.