Faces of the Industry: Mike Akiki of Antwerp Cut

In ‘The Faces of the Industry,’ a recurring item in our newsletter, we bring an industry name to the spotlight, one at a time. This person has been nominated by the previous ‘Face of the Industry’ and will appoint the one for the next edition of the Antwerp Diamond Digest.

This time, we had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Akiki, founder of Antwerp Cut. Mike has been active in the colored diamond business since the nineties, first as a diamond polisher and now as the CEO of his own company, specialized and known for polishing exquisite fancy-colored diamonds. We had the opportunity of visiting his offices, and having a behind-the-scenes look into their new Antwerp Cut Manufacturing facility.

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and the company you are at the helm of?
Mike Akiki: I’ve been active in the diamond industry for over three decades, primarily as a master diamond cutter with a strong focus on innovation in polishing and value creation. I’m best known for introducing and developing fancy color diamond polishing techniques in Antwerp in the early 1990s, where I also trained the first generation of specialized color diamond polishers.

Today, I remain deeply involved in the high-end segment of the market, working with exceptional stones where craftmanship, experience, and precision make a real difference. My work is very hands-on and quality-driven, with an emphasis on maximizing the natural beauty and rarity of each diamond.

Just a few weeks back, we opened our new Antwerp Cut Manufacturing facility, a polishing atelier that employs nine master cutters. I’m extremely proud that we have over three hundred years of experience there combined, a few polishers I have even worked with from the very beginning.

How did you get into the diamond industry?
Mike: I entered the diamond world through craftmanship rather than trading. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by how much potential lies hidden inside a rough stone, and how the cutter’s decisions ultimately define its destiny.

Over time, I gravitated toward complex and challenging stones, particularly fancy colored diamonds, which require far more intuition and experience than standard white goods. That journey shaped my career and ultimately brought me to Antwerp, where I was fortunate to contribute to a new chapter of diamond polishing.

What do you think are Antwerp’s strengths as a diamond trading center?
Mike: Antwerp’s greatest strength is its concentration of expertise. You have generations of knowledge, advanced grading, financing, logistics, and trust, all within a very compact ecosystem.

Another key strength is transparency and regulation. Antwerp has consistently positioned itself as a serious, professional hub that values compliance, ethics, and long-tem credibility. That matters enormously today, especially in the high-value and fancy color segments.

What do you experience as your biggest challenge right now?
Mike: The biggest challenge today is the speed at which the market is changing: consumer expectations, technology, and global competition are evolving faster than ever.

For fancy colored diamonds specifically, maintaining true expertise is becoming harder. There is a lot of noise, but real mastery is rare. Educating clients, preserving craftmanship, and protecting long-term value in a short-term market environment is an ongoing challenge.

If there’s one word or expression you would like people to use for your company, what would it be?
Mike: Integrity. In our business, integrity shows in consistency, transparency, and respect for the stone itself. If people associate my work with integrity, then I’ve done my job properly.

What golden tip would you like to give to fellow diamond entrepreneurs? 
Mike: Don’t chase volume, chase knowledge. Diamonds reward patience, specialization, and long-term thinking. The real value is not in moving stone quickly, but in understanding them deeply and building trust that lasts longer than any market cycle.

As an Antwerp diamond company, how do you view AWDC’s role as an industry organization?
Mike: AWDC plays a crucial role as both a guardian and a representative of Antwerp’s diamond sector. Its work in compliance, sustainability, and international positioning is essential for maintaining Antwerp’s credibility on the global stage.

In times of change, strong institutions matter more than ever, and AWDC provides an important framework for stability and dialogue within the industry.

Why did you choose to specialize in fancy colored diamonds? What color diamond is your personal favorite and why?
Mike: Fancy colored diamonds are the ultimate test of a cutter’s skill. There are no formulas, every stone is different, and every decision affects both beauty and value.

If I had to choose a favorite, it would be blue diamonds. They combine extreme rarity with depth and elegance, and when cut correctly, they have a presence that is both powerful and understated. They demand absolute precision, there is no room for error.

Finally, whose story within the Antwerp diamond industry are you curious about? And why exactly?
Mike: I’m most curious about the lesser-known craftsmen: the cutters and polishers who quietly shaped Antwerp’s reputation without ever being in the spotlight.

Their stories matter because the diamond industry is ultimately built on hands, skill, and dedication. Without them, there would be no legacy to pass on. That is why I nominate master cutter Erwin Zielinski.