The Carat+ show opened on Sunday, helping to raise sentiment in the Antwerp diamond market.
Exhibitors noted busy visitor traffic on the opening day, which culminated in the Carat+ Night event, featuring actress Elizabeth Hurley as the guest of honor. More than 2,400 professionals attended on Sunday, which was beyond expectations for the second edition of the show, organizers said.
Traffic was slower on Monday morning, with exhibitors reporting mixed feedback about the market in general.
“We’ve entered a quieter period of the year,” explained one Antwerp-based exhibitor. “Prices are stable but the bigger problem at the moment is demand. Buyers bought enough goods at the beginning of the year.”
A few suppliers said the show was better than last year, and most agreed it was an important event for the Antwerp diamond community, even if orders were relatively slow.
“We need to be here because it’s in our hometown, and we want events like this to take place here,” said one supplier of high-end loose diamonds and jewelry. This, at a time when many suppliers are limiting the number of shows at which they exhibit. Some noted they’d pulled out of the Baselworld show due to the high cost of sending goods and exhibiting.
At the glitzy opening event, Hurley talked publicly about how her career as an actress and model had created opportunities to wear exceptional high jewelry. She also spoke about how she had developed a fascination with vintage and one-of-a-kind diamond pieces over her years in show business.
“With a huge number of guests arriving for the occasion, Carat+ Night has cemented itself as a must-attend event for Antwerp’s diamond sector and professionals from the international diamond and diamond-jewelry markets,” the organizers said.
CARAT+ promotion
In a special CARAT+ promotion, Antwerp-based diamond specialist, Pluczenik, has presented the Bentley Diamond – a 29.64ct stone that includes a Bentley Continental Convertible within the sale price.
The D-colour VVS1 Type IIA diamond, which is GIA certified, is on sale for US $4.5 million.
Visitors to CARAT+ could see the Bentley Continental Convertible in all its glory at the entrance to Antwerp Expo. The spectacular diamond could be seen on the Pluczenik stand at 4G-21 in Hall 4.
“It is essential for the Antwerp diamond community to regularly hold special and unique events “
Sylvain Goldberg