Antwerp, Belgium – January 31, 2013: The fourth edition of the Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair concluded on Tuesday, January 29. More than 500 visitors from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Russian Federation visited the exhibition booths of the 83 exhibitors in the trading halls of the Antwerp Diamond Bourse and the Diamond Club of Antwerp.John Waldron and his son Nick, jewellers from Rutland, Vermont, USA, were happy with their first visit to Antwerp. “We thought it was a fabulously organized event, made good contacts and bought some goods. The breakfast seminars were instructive, offering valuable information. We will be back.”
Most exhibitors were pleased with the make-up of the invited buyers, the majority of whom were first time visitors to Antwerp.
Exhibitor Ari Lieber of Krochmal and Lieber co. was positive. “The fair is proving itself as a genuine networking and business procurement event. This must continue,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dharmesh Patel, of first time exhibitor H.D. Diamonds, said: “It’s all about maximizing on your niche product. As leading manufacturers of under 0.20 carat rounds, we identified many opportunities for new business.”
Axel Beck of Beck Diamonds said he had made many new contacts. “We made some sales and look forward to following up with the visiting buyers.”
Oran Hickey of Bellataire was happy with the firm’s participation. “The fair’s format as an exclusive, dedicated diamonds-only sales, event is unique and a great tribute to Antwerp. It has been a great show.”
Gary W. Wright, a diamond buyer from Phoenix, Arizona, said the fair had the potential to bring many more first-time visitors to Antwerp. “There are lots of manufacturing and retail jewellers out there who would love to come to Antwerp. All you need to do is extend a helping hand across the big pond!” he noted.
The ADTF 2013 provided a range of events for visitors, including breakfast seminars, held at the venue hotel, the Radisson Blu Park Lane. Meanwhile, renowned jewellery designer Reena Ahluwalia of Toronto, Canada, gave a presentation on “design for business,’ in which she discussed what jewellers need to consider when working with a designer and how to develop a mutually successful relationship with jewellery designers. And Cynthia Unninayar, Editor-in-Chief of Couture International Jewellery (CIJ) spoke about the “Ten top trends and colours in jewellery design in 2013.”
Show visitors were also given a presentation on kidnap and ransom insurance by Peter Dobbs, of Catlin Group Limited, a global specialty property/casualty insurer and reinsurer. He illustrated his talk with a range of relevant anecdotes from his career.
