HRD Antwerp set itself a new milestone with the official opening of its first gemmological lab outside Antwerp in the Turkish jewellery and commercial centre of Istanbul.

Announced at the Istanbul Jewelry Show on March 16, the decision is also in line with HRD Antwerp’s strategy of creating links between Antwerp, as a global diamond centre, and diamond jewellery hubs overseas.
 
The decision to open a certification laboratory for diamond jewellery in Istanbul was clear-cut given its status as one of the world's major jewellery hubs.
 
The Istanbul lab will provide on-the-spot diamond jewellery certification services to Turkish jewellers. By providing jewellery purchasers with an independent, objective analysis of jewellery items, HRD Antwerp also aims to boost customer confidence in Turkish jewellery. Turkish jewellery manufacturers will benefit from being able to receive jewellery reports from the local lab with a minimum waiting time and no overseas shipment costs.
 
"We look forward to a succesful partnership with the Istanbul jewellery industry," said HRD Antwerp General Manager Georges Brys. "We see this as a natural partnership between two cities with a long history – Antwerp for diamonds and Istanbul for jewellery."
 
World-renown for its high-quality services, HRD Antwerp will provide its scientific know-how and experience, built up over many years, to supply objective evaluations of diamonds and precious metals used in the jewellery pieces. The HRD Antwerp Jewellery Report provides an accurate description of the weight of the jewel and the precious metals used. The number of diamonds set in the jewel, their, shape, carat, colour, clarity and full cut are also clearly stated.
 
In addition, the HRD Antwerp Jewellery Report also provides an additional tool for insurance companies, which will be able to refer to a document that clearly defines the client’s premium.