FAIRNESS IN TRADING
Mutual trust, mediation and arbitrationSAFE DEPOSIT BOXES
Complete peace of mind and confidentialityOFFICES FOR RENT
Offices in various sizes availableREPUTATION
Worldwide recognition of a high level of ethicsSECURITY
We offer a secure business environmentMARKET DEMAND
Exclusive access to real demand for diamondsEXCLUSIVE TRADE EVENTS
Attend our important and informative eventsINTERNATIONAL ACCESS
Gain access to WFDB affiliated bourses directlyPRIME BUSINESS NETWORK
Meet and get to know other professionalsBOURSE MEMBERSHIP
An Antwerp Diamond Bourse membership is a coveted privilege that grants its
bearer good reputation and access to the global diamond community.
Member’s Rights and Benefits
Business development and enrichment programs
Antwerp Diamond Bourse facilities
Voting rights for shareholders
History of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse
Founded on June 7th 1904, by Antwerp diamond merchants keen to move their diamond dealing activities from café ‘Petit Duc’ in the Pelikaanstraat to a more secure and organized place of business, the Antwerp Diamond Bourse has contributed its rich 110 year chapter to the 550 year glittering history of diamonds in the city.
Situated in a listed building spanning a block stretching from the Pelikaanstraat to the Hovenierstraat, the Bourse is host to a magnificent trading hall, a testimony to the centuries of Antwerp’s trade in rough and polished diamonds leading and contributing to the international diamond trade.
Antwerp’s diamond trade has for 550 years mirrored the movements of commerce, traders and diamonds from India, Africa, Russia, Canada, and Australia whilst reflecting developments in cutting, polishing and trade. Antwerp’s diamond heritage and expertise is also intertwined with the histories of the diamond trade of India, Israel, USA, Russia, South Africa, and Botswana.
From 1464 until today, diamonds have etched their history in the economic ebbs and flows of the city of Antwerp. After the devastation of World War II, De Beers was looking to Antwerp to re-launch the diamond trade. The Belgian government reached out to the Antwerp Diamond Bourse members to bring back Antwerp expert polishers who had fled the Nazis to South America and New York.
Dispute resolution system
The smooth functioning of the Antwerp diamond market is enabled by a multi-level dispute resolution system managed by the Board of Directors in conjunction with the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses, according to its rules and regulations. These form part of the broader dispute resolution procedures under the umbrella of the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses. In case of international disputes or differences the by-laws and Inner Rules of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses apply.
Dispute cases brought to the secretariat of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse are heard weekly by different Directors of the Board acting as mediators. Using their experience as diamantaires and their commercial acumen, these mediators attempt to resolve differences to the satisfaction of both parties. If the mediation attempt is unsuccessful, the parties are given leave to proceed to arbitration, a fully-fledged legal process.
Arbitration takes place under the authority of the Federation of Belgian Diamond Bourses. In both cases, mediation and arbitration, the process managed by diamond professionals, tends to be faster and cost-effective compared to the litigation in court, thereby rendering a valuable service to the diamond market.
World Federation of Diamond Bourses
The Antwerp Diamond Bourse is a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses. The object of this organization is to protect the interests of affiliated bourses and their individual members, and to further the amicable settlement or arbitration of differences and disputes between the individual members of the affiliated bourses and between the affiliated bourses.
Members of the Bourses affiliated to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses pledge themselves to uphold the traditions, principles of mutual trust, consideration and friendship which prevail among the members of the Bourses world-wide. They pledge themselves to abide by and hand down these principles and to ensure that they will serve as a basis in business relations between members of affiliated Bourses.