During the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States at the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels, we presented an exclusive ring featuring 321 natural diamonds to the United States of America in the name of the Antwerp diamond industry. The ring symbolises the historic trade relationship between Antwerp and the United States, for decades the most important export market for Antwerp's natural diamonds, and pays tribute to Antwerp craftsmanship and the unique value of natural diamonds.
The exclusive ring was designed and crafted by Antwerp jeweler and diamantaire David Gotlib, and certified by the Antwerp diamond laboratory HRD Antwerp. The design is inspired by the iconic American Super Bowl rings and features subtle references to the 250th anniversary of American independence. Crafted from 18-carat gold, 321 natural diamonds and 75 gemstones, it is a unique piece created especially for this occasion.
American Ambassador Bill White, who accepted the jewel during the ceremony, is deeply honored by this gift. It reflects not only the craftsmanship for which Antwerp is renowned worldwide, but also the special bond between both countries.
The United States has been our most important trading partner for generations. A large share of the natural diamonds traded in Antwerp ultimately find their way to American jewelers and consumers. With this ring, we wanted to celebrate that enduring economic relationship while also showcasing what Antwerp stands for on the world stage: trust, craftsmanship and natural diamond.
321 natural diamonds
That the ring was made primarily from natural diamonds was a natural choice. During the VIP reception at Autoworld, we took the opportunity to inform guests about the distinction between natural and synthetic diamonds. Guests could watch a diamond polisher at work and have their jewelry scanned by diamond laboratory HRD Antwerp, which determined whether pieces contained natural or synthetic diamonds.
To the naked eye, natural and synthetic diamonds appear identical, but their origin, scarcity, value and societal impact are fundamentally different. Natural diamonds are unique natural products that are billions of years old and exist in finite supply. Moreover, the natural diamond sector has a positive impact on millions of people worldwide, creating jobs and investing in education, healthcare, infrastructure and local economic development in producing countries such as Botswana, Angola and India.
Synthetic diamonds, by contrast, are an industrially produced product that can be manufactured without limit. It is therefore important that consumers are correctly informed about these differences, so they can make a conscious and informed choice.
With the presentation of this exclusive ring, we sought not only to mark a historic milestone for the United States, but also to highlight its centuries-old expertise, its strong economic ties with the United States, and the intrinsic value of natural diamond.
The gifting of the ring was covered globally - from national press, to outlets in Armenia, Uzbekistan and the United States of America. 350+ news items were published on this specific topic.
Relive the celebration & discover the ring: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1TLBRZQUT4fPkzhj8
