A cooperation agreement was signed between HRD Antwerp and the Istanbul Chamber of Jewelry, allowing HRD Antwerp to extend its professional services in the Turkish jewellery industry. The ceremony took place in the Antwerp Town Hall and was hosted by Mr Ludo Van Campenhout, Vice Mayor of Antwerp and Alderman with responsibility ‘Diamonds’.

“This is a most significant development, because its represent an alliance between the world’s largest diamond trading centre and one of the world’s largest producers of gold jewellery, said Georges Brys, General Manager of HRD Antwerp.“As a grading laboratory HRD Antwerp already holds a dominant position in Turkey, with a market share of almost 60 percent. To underscore this success we established our first gemmological lab outside Antwerp in Istanbul.”

HRD will provide support in: diamond expertise, gemmological training and promotion, by opening a gemmological lab at the Istanbul Chamber of Jewelry. Also, three major jewellery wholesalers and retailers, namely Atassay, Topal and Atilla Karat have agreed to become HRD Antwerp partners, issuing HRD Antwerp diamond jewellery reports and certificates.