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  De Wachter will assume the role in January 2026: HRD Antwerp Board    The Board of Directors of HRD Antwerp, a subsidiary of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), has appointed Paul De Wachter as its new CEO. Bringing over twenty years of experience and a proven track record in the international diamond industry, De Wachter will assume the role in January 2026. As CEO, he is tasked with strengthening HRD’s position as a reliable partner for the international diamond trade and leading the organization through a period of significant transformation.    Former CEO Ellen Joncheere, whose contract was not renewed, is stepping down, with Stanley De Belie appointed as interim CEO during the transition phase. De Wachter began his career in the diamond sector in 2002 and rose to the position of Senior Relationship Manager at the Antwerp Diamond Bank. After a brief period at Channel Capital Advisors in a similar role, he joined the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF), w...

  HRD Antwerp, announces it will cease certifying SDs    HRD Antwerp, the Antwerp-based diamond laboratory and subsidiary of AWDC, last week; announces it will cease certifying Synthetic Diamonds [SDs]. With this decision, HRD becomes the first and only diamond lab in the world to focus exclusively on natural diamonds.    The move reaffirms Antwerp’s role as the international hub for natural diamond trading and marks a concrete step toward strengthening consumer trust by clearly distinguishing between natural and synthetic diamonds. Certificates will still be issued for jewellery containing synthetic stones.    Founded in 1973, HRD Antwerp has issued certificates verifying the authenticity and quality of diamonds for over 50 years. Now, HRD becomes the first lab to make a firm commitment to natural diamonds and will no longer certify synthetic diamonds. As of 2026, we will no longer issue quality certificates for loose synthetic diamonds ...

HRD Antwerp opening in London’s Hatton Garden The supply of laboratory grown diamonds is ever increasing. As a result, jewellers are unknowingly selling jewellery which features a mix of natural and lab-grown diamonds. HRD Antwerp announces a new service for jewellery grading to help combat this growing problem. The new London drop-off point will give UK jewellers easy access to HRD Antwerp’s services, including jewellery and diamond grading reports at very competitive rates. The comprehensive grading report will provide jewellers with peace of mind, reassuring them that all of their diamonds are indeed natural, and not laboratory grown. “There are increasing amounts of laboratory grown diamonds available on the market” says David Ziegler, Commercial Director of HRD Antwerp. “In an industry where so much relies on trust, it’s essential that you safeguard your reputation by certifying that all of your diamonds are natural and untreated. A cost-effective grading report f...

Designed by Jewellery Design Lecturer Veerle Van Wilder Recently Alibaba’s B2C online platform Tmall held its First Chinese New Consumption Award Ceremony. This ceremony was in honor of the top 24 Brands which used Tmall’s Innovation Center to release and sell their new products and services in the past year. HRD Antwerp Jewellery Design Lecturer Veerle Van Wilder was invited to design the award trophy. "Organic shapes based on the lotus flowers of Hangzhou (West Lake). Alibaba is based in Hangzhou and spread out all over the world, even reflected in my personal environment at the other side of our globe. This trophy will find his home location at different continents and different cultures, and reflecting the energy of “Tmall Heybox” platform “said Veerle Van Wilder. Earlier in November 2018, as the result of a new partnership between the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and Alibaba Group, Shape of Antwerp was launched exclusively on Tmall platform: Belgia...