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DE BELGISCHE DIAMANTNIJVERHEID Hoveniersstraat 22 - 2018 Antwerpen Driemaandelijks

april / mei / juni 2014

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84e jaargang, nr 2, april / mei / juni 2014

de belgische diamantnijverheid Periodieke uitgave van het Syndikaat der Belgische Diamantnijverheid Periodical Publication of the Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry

editoriaal

Verantwoordelijke uitgever Responsable editor Edward Denckens Dennenlaan 2 2243 Zandhoven

Redactie en Publiciteit Editorial Office and Publicity SBD Hoveniersstraat 22, 2018 Antwerpen Tel. : 03/233.11.29 - Fax : 03/227.46.30 e-mail: sbd@sbd.be

RedactiecomitĂŠ Editorial Board Edward Denckens, Jos Heiremans, Dirk Loots, Linda Vancauwenberghe

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Voor de teksten zijn uitsluitend hun auteurs verantwoordelijk. Nadruk van teksten toegelaten mits uitdrukkelijke bronvermelding.

Graphius, Oostakker

We hebben, net voor de zomer en voor we aan die welverdiende vakantie kunnen denken, traditiegetrouw een paar drukke maanden op het programma; de reeks van vakbeurzen, netwerk evenementen en congressen volgden elkaar in sneltempo op, onze sector bruist van de activiteit. Van Hong Kong, naar Las Vegas, met het AWDC in Los Angeles en Miami of met de Beurs voor Diamanthandel in New York, het CIBJO congres in Moskou, de Kimberley Process Intersessional in Shanghai, en als kers op de taart, het World Diamond Congress hier in onze eigen achtertuin, georganiseerd door de World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) en de International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) met de steun van het Antwerp World Diamond Centre. Bijna 70 jaar na het eerste wereldcongres, is het geen toeval dat Antwerpen opnieuw het toneel was van de samenkomst van de hoofdrolspelers van de wereldwijde diamantindustrie, de plaats bij uitstek waar de krijtlijnen van de toekomst van onze industrie uitgezet werden en worden.

Het 36e World Diamond Congress werd officieel geopend in het bijzijn van meer dan 200 vertegenwoordigers uit zowat alle hoeken van de wereld en onder inspirerende woorden van onder meer WFDB Voorzitter Ernie Blom, wiens mandaat overigens terecht verlengd werd tijdens dit congres. Blom pleitte onder meer voor een verbeterde

en gestroomlijnde communicatie als onderdeel van een brede strategie die gedragen wordt door alle elementen van de pijplijn. Maar de meest wijze woorden in Blom’s openingstoespraak, verwijzend naar de uitdagingen waar onze sector voor staat, kwamen van Henry Ford. “Als alles tegenslaat”, zei die, “weet dan, dat een vliegtuig alleen kan opstijgen tegen de wind in, niet met de wind mee.”

Ook Vlaams Minister President Kris Peeters verwelkomde namens regio en land de deelnemers aan het congres: “Antwerpen was en is het historisch epicentrum van de diamanthandel, klein in grootte, maar groot in waarde”, zei Peeters. Hij verwees ook expliciet naar het engagement van de Belgische overheid om Antwerpen te vrijwaren van de mogelijk desastreuze gevolgen van Europese handelssancties tegen diamant in het licht van de Oekraïense crisis. Terecht, want de schade voor Antwerpen, niet alleen voor haar leiderspositie, maar voor de werkgelegenheid en de reputatie van de stad zou onherstelbaar zijn. Het is goed om te weten dan onze politici ook nà verkiezingstijd weten waar de prioriteiten liggen.

Maar in vier dagen congres werd natuurlijk over veel meer gepraat, zoals de blijvende noodzaak tot waakzaamheid rond synthetische diamant die nog te vaak valselijk als natuurlijke diamant worden aangeboden, ondanks de vele detectiemogelijkheden die vandaag beschikbaar zijn. Maar ook het belang van uniformiteit die vandaag nog teveel ontbreekt tussen de verschillende diamantlabo’s die diamanten certifiëren kwam aan bod. Even prangend is de kwestie om de financiering van onze industrie te behouden en te versterken door het verbeteren van wat de banken ‘reputational risk’ noemen, zeg maar een beter imago voor de sector en meer vertrouwen in onze industrie.

IDMA Voorzitter Maxim Shkadov legde de vinger op een andere wonde en sprak over de krimpende winstmarges voor de diamantnijverheid, een thema nauw aan ons hart. Shkadov hield een warm pleidooi ten overstaan van alle spelers in het veld, inclusief de grote producenten, om samen, in een constructieve dialoog te komen tot een evenwicht waar ieder element bij gebaat is. In zijn uiteenzetting 2

sprak Martin Rapaport, de man achter de Rapaport Group, over de achterliggende process en valkuilen in termen van het marketen van ons product in een omgeving waar mensen een steeds groter aanbod aan concurrerende luxeproducten voorgeschoteld krijgen.

De keynote speech van Erevoorzitter van het Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) Rory More O’Ferral ging ook niet onopgemerkt voorbij. O’Ferral waarschuwde dat de industrie het vertrouwen van de consument, per slot van rekening de motor die de sector aandrijft, dreigt te verliezen als hete hangijzers zoals mensenrechten en sociale achteruitgang, niet in het minst in de diamantproducerende landen in Afrika, niet snel en efficiënt worden aangepakt.

Volgens de DDI Erevoorzitter is het hoog tijd dat de hele industrie mee de schouders zet onder projecten zoals die van DDI rond de problematiek van miljoenen artisanale diamantwerkers, om zo samen echt werk te maken van de transitie van conflictdiamant naar ontwikkelingsdiamant.

Organisatoren IDMA en WFDB beslisten ook samen met CIBJO om een nieuw initiatief op te starten dat de gemeenschappelijke standpunten in relevante thema’s in de toekomst zal vertolken, het President’s Forum, een overlegmechanisme waarin de voorzitters van elk van deze organisaties zullen zetelen. Bedoeling is dan ook dat het President’s Forum éénsgezind naar voren kan treden en zo het brede draagvlak van de sector kan vertegenwoordigen, bijvoorbeeld in nieuwe, externe initiatieven.

En nu we het toch over voorzitters hebben, het nieuws dat bij het ter perse gaan écht heet van de naald is draait natuurlijk rond de herverkiezing als Voorzitter van de Raad van Bestuur van koepelorganisatie Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) van Stephane Fischler, vertegenwoordiger van ons eigen Syndikaat der Belgische Diamantnijverheid (SBD) en de Vereniging van Kempische Diamantwerkgevers (VKD).

Stephane is, als derde generatie in het familiebedrijf Fischler Diamonds, een doorwinterd diamantair die in Antwerpen en ver daarbuiten bekend staat

voor zijn enorme toewijding voor het vak en voor de Antwerpse diamantgemeenschap. Na twee jaar vice voorzitterschap en twee jaar aan het roer van de Raad van Bestuur van AWDC krijgt Fischler terecht opnieuw het vertrouwen en kan hij zijn werk als vertegenwoordiger van de hele sector in binnen- en buitenland in de komende twee jaar verderzetten. Naast het voorzitterschap van AWDC kan Stephane overigens voortbouwen op een zeer rijk gevulde carrière aan voorbije en lopende mandaten in tal van sector gerelateerde organisaties zoals de World Diamond Council, het Diamond Development Initiative, WTOCD, Diamond and Jewellery Management Institute Antwerp, IDMA en ga zo maar door.

bijzonder veel succes toe in het aanpakken van de vele uitdagingen waar onze industrie voor staat.

Ford’s wijsheid - een vliegtuig stijgt pas op tegen de wind in niet met de wind mee - indachtig heb ik voor hen een laatste woord van advies; wie wind zaait, zal storm oogsten zegt men, de kernboodschap is en blijft dat enkel door samen te werken en allemaal aan hetzelfde zeel te trekken, we succesvol kunnen zijn.

Ik wens iedereen een deugddoende, welverdiende vakantie!

Edward Denckens Voorzitter SBD

Ik wens Stephane Fischler, zijn Raad van Bestuur en bij uitbreiding alle voorzitters en ‘presidents’ die we hier de afgelopen weken mochten begroeten,

editorial With summer just around the corner, and before we can set our minds to that well deserved vacation, the agenda of the industry traditionally is packed and bustling with activity, filled with a series of trade fairs, networking events and congresses, one after another.

From Hong Kong to Las Vegas, joining the AWDC in Los Angeles and Miami or the Bourse’s Diamond Week in New York, the CIBJO gathering in Moscow, the Kimberley Process Intersessional and piece de resistance; the World Diamond Congress, supported by the AWDC and organized by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) right here in our own backyard. Almost seven decades after the very first World Diamond Congress was organized in our city, it shouldn’t come as a surprise Antwerp again is the place where our industry’s leaders and key players gather, to set the course for the future of the global industry.

The 36th World Diamond Congress was officially inaugurated in the presence over 200 representatives from all around the globe with inspiring speeches from, amongst others, Ernie Blom, who was rightfully reelected during this congress. Blom pleaded for improved and unified communication as part of broader strategy that spans the entire value chain. But perhaps the wisest words in the speech came from Henry Ford, as Blom referred to the challenged our industry faces; “When everything seems to go against you”, Ford said, “Remember a plane takes off against the wind, not with the wind”.

Flanders’ Minister President Kris Peeters welcomed participants on behalf of the region and Belgium saying “Antwerp was and remains the historical epicentre of the global diamond trade, small in size but great in value”. He also referred to the ongoing crisis

in the Ukraine, repeating the Belgian commitment to safeguard the Antwerp diamond industry from the potential dramatic consequences of European trade sanctions against diamonds.

Rightfully so, because sanctions would have a devastating and irreparable effect, not just on Antwerp’s leading position as trade hub, but also on local employment and in terms of reputational damage. It is good to hear our politicians know their priorities, even after Election Day. Over the course of the four-day event much more was discussed, such as the need to remain vigilant towards undisclosed synthetics, in spite of the many tools for detection that are available in the market. Another issue that was addressed was the lack of uniformity in lab grading and certification. Furthermore participants spoke on the need to retain and even further strengthen industry financing, by improving what banks refer to as ‘reputational risk’, in other words, a better reputation of and more confidence in our industry.

IDMA’s President, Maxim Shkadov, went to the heart of another issue close to our hearts and minds; the ever decreasing profit margins for the diamond manufacturers. Shkadov called upon all industry stakeholders, including the producers, to engage in a constructive dialogue to tackle this challenge to the benefit of the entire value chain. In his keynote address, Martin Rapaport, leading the Rapaport Group, discussed the dynamics of product marketing for diamonds in an environment where consumers have the choice between a continuously growing number of competing luxury products.

Honorary Vice Chairman Rory More O’Ferral of the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) delivered a keynote speech that

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didn’t go unnoticed. O’Ferral cautioned the industry for the threat of losing consumer confidence if issues such as human rights and social degression aren’t tackled efficiently, especially in the African producing countries. The Honorary Vice Chairman called upon the industry to act now by supporting projects such as the DDI initiatives aimed at improving the situation of millions of artisan diggers, truly enabling the transformation of conflict diamonds to development diamonds.

Together with CIBJO, organizers IDMA and WFDB decided to set up a new initiative that will voice common viewpoints in issues that pertain to the entire industry. This new consultative committee, named the President’s Forum, will comprise of the Presidents of all three organizations and endeavors to move the industry’s agenda forward more efficiently, especially in regards to new and external initiatives, through a unified approach.

Speaking of Presidents, the news that is hot off the press is undoubtedly the reelection as President of the Antwerp umbrella organization Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) of Stephane Fischler, representative of our very own manufacturers organizations the Syndikaat der Belgische Diamantnijverheid (SBD) and Vereniging van Kempische Diamantwerkgevers (VKD).

diamond community and the worldwide diamond industry. After two years as Vice President and two years leading the AWDC Board as President, Fischler is now rightfully reappointed, enabling him to continue his work at the AWDC for the next two years.

Apart from his Presidency at the AWDC, Stephane can bow on an extensive career with numerous past and present mandates in various diamond industry bodies such as the World Diamond Council, the Diamond Development Initiative, WTOCD, Diamond and Jewellery Management Institute Antwerp, IDMA and many more.

I wish Stephane Fischler, his Board of Directors and for that matter each and every Chairman and President that visited our city over the past weeks a great deal of success in tackling the issues and challenges our industry faces.

Keeping Henry Ford’s wise words in mind – the airplane will only take off against the wind, not with the wind – I have my own words of advice for them; you can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails. The bottom line is and remains we need to work together, with one common goal in mind if we want to be successful.

I wish all of you a gratifying, well-deserved vacation!

Stephane, third generation in the Fischler Diamonds family business, is an experienced diamantaire who is known in Antwerp and far beyond as highly committed member of the Antwerp

Edward Denckens President SBD

Viability of an international diamond grading standard; WFDB, IDMA, ISO, CIBJO, IDC and GIA 1. A BRIEF HISTORY Before, had each business society, worldwide, a chamber of commerce to advocate on behalf of their business community.

These chambers of commerce are non-governmental bodies and have no direct role in the writing of laws and regulations that affect businesses. They may however, act as a lobby in an attempt to get laws passed that are favorable to businesses. In any case they represented a broad base form their community.

In “relative rare” occasions can an private initiative, setup independently its own quality grading standards for an industry.

It is an exceptional rarity, that such an initiative could influence a whole industry in a massive way by successfully implementing these grading standards. GIA started issuing diamond grading reports in 1955, based on their “diamond grading and evaluation appraisal” set up by Richard T. Liddicoat, G. Robert Crowningshield and Bert Krashes.

During the next twenty years, diamond quality reports remained relative unpopular, because the diamond manufacturing company itself was giving its own quality guaranty. Jewelers however needed with the increasing popularity of diamond engagement rings, a more independent third-party quality verifier. Therefore jewelers established in 1961 CIBJO (Confédération International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie des Diamants, Perles et Pierres), with a global rather than a continental focus.

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In the mid-seventies started several diamond grading laboratories in Antwerp; IGI (International Gemological Institute) and EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) both a private initiative and HRD (Hoge Raad voor Diamant); a collective initiative of the diamond community in Antwerp. These 3 grading labs adapted for a substantial part the existing diamond grading nomenclature and had the same point of view; facilitating the trade but with a different approach; creating added value only or elevating consumers’ confidence additionally. The last aim was the real challenge, a clear and unambiguous description of a polished diamond characteristics and quality, this was taken up by IDC. The IDC was established in 1975 to provide its founders – the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) – with a single grading system and created a set of universally accepted standards of nomenclature for polished diamonds within the international diamond trade. At that time, it was mostly a ‘horizontal’ interest, meaning that is was of interest predominantly to the diamond and diamond jewelry trade. In 1978 at the World Diamond Congress approved the WFDB and IDMA the IDC rules for grading polished diamonds. HRD Antwerp became the largest lab to apply the IDC rules. Currently 3 gemological laboratories worldwide apply the IDC rule ; Antwerp Diamond High Council (HRD), Belgium, Diamant Prüflabor, Idar Oberstein, Germany and

Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia, Sydney, Australia; in 2001 DCLA received a HRD-graded IDC color master set.

2. HARMONISATION attempts In 1990 an wider foundation was searched for recognition of an international diamond grading standard in cooperation with IDC, CIBJO, GIA, the World Jewelry Confederation and the Scandinavian Diamond nomenclature. A representative workgroup tried to list up a set of grading standards that could be recognized by the International Standards Organization ISO. This effort resulted (12 years later) in May 2002 in a document of more than 70 pages; the FDIS the Final Draft International Standards. But this document couldn’t find ultimately the necessary approval by all its participating members. The world leader in grading service’s believed that their own system could be accepted as an international standard.

End 2008 De Beers stated as primary objective, acting together in partnership with CIBJO Europe, using it’s Blue Book, to achieve legislative action across the EU to protect the consumer for deceptive business practices by misuse of the nomenclature. This attempt, of lobbying in the European parliament to increase the consumers’ confidence in the diamond industry and to provide a base for future growth of the industry couldn’t gain the competitive edge. Particularly because the other important stakeholders overseas, were not invited around the table for discussion.

Beginning this year, Harry Levy was asked to join the board of the IDC in order to foster greater understanding between CIBJO and the IDC, and in particular to help bridge the differences between IDC and CIBJO nomenclature. At CIBJO, he served alternately as president and vice president of the Colored Stone Commission. He also served on the Laboratory Commission CGC, and for 10 years, through March 2008, he was president of the Diamond Commission. Remarkable is the setup in the CGC, of the Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee LMHC but for precious stones only.

In this LHMC are all global players represented and the results can be called remarkable productive, compared to the diamond nomenclature harmonization attempts.

Surprising is that the Blue Book of CIBJO, meant as an first aid to read a diamond grading report, is kept separate from the “tedious” grading procedures. These grading procedures are mentioned in the Blue Book under the “normative references” as PAS 1048/1 and 1048/2 which are part of the German DIN for optics and precision mechanics, dated March 2005. The PAS nomenclature and grading procedure is nothing less than the original IDC rules for grading polished diamonds, which are reviewed and the excellent grade introduced in January 2009.

Today is the pressure for harmonization becoming rather boisterous, with laboratory-created diamonds and its delicate identification and nomenclature.

The other challenge is that everyone is fighting over what the standard is. But ­consumers don’t know this and retailers tell them all labs are created equal. Some large retail chains have already drawn their own conclusions and are replacing a lab guarantee with their own corporate certificates, like the De Beers downstream aspirations Forevermark.

3. WHO IS GRADING the LABS? This “leading” question was first raised by Martin Rapaport.

Indeed, grading inconsistency and “lenient” grading are a serious problem and it’s not getting better.

The constant grow for the demand of diamond grading reports, for nearly any sizes, created a global grading revenue that is worth more than $300 million a year, about 80% of all polished is certified.

Labs are getting larger and opening more international branches, it can be hard to maintain standards worldwide. The dependency of the diamond industry on the GIA has gradually also become one of the industry’s major vulnerabilities. But the vulnerabilities for the GIA grow as well, the greater the number of stones, the greater becomes the challenge of consistency in the grading.

Part of the problem is that diamond grading, by its nature, is subjective. Sometimes even graders within the same lab will disagree, therefor multiple opinions are defining the final grade.

To eliminate human errors labs are focusing on technology because humans are not infallible. GIA, De Beers, AGS and HRD have developed color grading devices to improve color evaluation consistency.

Associations that evaluate and certify labs do exist and regularly evaluate labs that look at food preparation and crime investigation.

They are, in a sense, third-party verifiers for the third-party verifiers. But few in our industry take advantage of them and are certified by an laboratory accreditation.

4. The 36th WORLD CONGRESS The IDMA meeting spent considerable time discussing the significant discrepancies that have surfaced between laboratory diamond grading standards. Some labs are making a mockery of the industry standards by using the same nomenclature.

The discussion’s participants, who were joined by diamond industry analyst Martin Rapaport, expressed their concern about the potential negative impact this may have on consumer confidence in diamonds.

Rapaport urged the industry to police labs that are regularly more than one grade off. Consistency is the keyword in diamond grading; which is partly science and partly art.

The participants agreed for harmonization purposes, to organize a physically comparison of the color masterstone series of IDC and GIA, Martin Rapaport vow to contact GIA. CONCLUSION The crucial question remains: Who would determine the ultimate accuracy of the grading result even with an international recognized standard?

You would need to have a group of ­long-term highly experienced independent graders.

But secondly, can a standard be forced into application, it is essentially voluntary and not binding, unless called up into legislation or cited as part of a contract.

Legislation can also refer to a standard as a mean of compliance with the standard as a possible way of fulfilling legal requirements.

Can an magic engine be found to research and established an international diamond grading standard together with GIA, IDC, CIBJO and PAS, it must be a wizard.

Pol Van der Steen Diamond Consultant

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Van 16 tot 18 juni vond in Antwerpen het 36ste Wereldcongres voor Diamant plaats, georganiseerd door de World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) en de International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA). Bij de vertegenwoordigers en experten uit de wereldwijde diamantindustrie waren ook delegaties van mijnbouwlanden en een aanzienlijke vertegenwoordiging van Gokhran aanwezig. Dit congres was een kans om de positie van Antwerpen als toonaangevend handelscentrum te benadrukken, wat Minister President Kris Peeters ook verwoordde in zijn openingstoespraak.

Maxim Shkadov, voorzitter IDMA, hield een warm pleidooi voor de overleving van de fabrikanten. Het gebrek aan winstgevendheid was een terugkerend thema in de verschillende sessies. Daarnaast werden ook topics besproken over het alsmaar groter wordend aandeel van synthetische diamant op de markt, de noodzaak tot meer uniformiteit bij de certificatie van geslepen diamant in diamantlabo’s, de ‘ken-uw-klant’ initiatieven om het witwassen van geld in de markt aan te pakken, de generieke marketing, de noodzakelijke financiering van de diamantsector door meer transparantie, een beter imago en een hernieuwd vertrouwen bij de buitenwereld. Eind november is er in New York een internationale bankconferentie gepland om dit laatste te bespreken.

IDMA President: “Diamond manufacturing industry is fighting for its survival” “Diamond manufacturers worldwide are fighting for their survival. They are caught between - and battered by - the proverbial hammer, a rough diamond supply system that is foul and faulty - and the anvil, a vertically integrated financial structure that basically continues to bleed them,” Maxim Shkadov, president of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), the representative body of the world’s diamond manufacturers, stated, speaking a day before the official opening of the 36th World IDMA President, Maxim Shkadov Diamond Congress.

“IDMA is the sum of 15 member organizations and our members are the beating heart of the diamond industry and trade,” Shkadov said. “At this congress, we have the most important and burning issues to cope with. In Antwerp, we will be discussing rough diamond distribution and pricing, the use of technology and due diligence in rough marketing, financing and the banks, as well as generic marketing, sustainability, responsible sourcing and reputational issues”, he added.

“Of course, we will also need to take a hard and close look at what IDMA as an organization needs to do to remain relevant in a rapidly changing diamond industry and market.Currently, our members’ impact on developments in the supply pipeline is minimal. However, the players in the entire diamond supply pipeline - from rough producers and distributors to manufacturing and retail jewelers - must realize that without us, the diamond cutters and polishers, i.e. the beating heart of the diamond trade, the whole industry body will collapse and die,” Shkadov warned.

© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Opening Session Bourla Theatre 6

© Courtesy of Laurent Boeki

Opening Session Bourla Theatre

© Courtesy of Laurent Boeki

During the World Diamond Congress following examples of developments of WTOCD were presented : D-Screen and Alpha Diamond Analyzer (screening for potential synthetic and HPHT colour enhanced polished diamonds), AvalonPlus (in-process measurement of facet smoothness and geometry), EOSFancy (automatic bruting of fancy shapes), Morgana (fast and precise alignment of tang, tang plate and polishing mill), Reflex (precise measurement of angles and dimensions of polished diamonds) and D-Scope (optical microscopy).

The Research center WTOCD was founded to assist the Belgium Diamond Sector on an academic and technological basis. Its mission is to help the Belgium Diamond Industry and Trade to enhance their competitiveness by supplying them with high technological products and services. WTOCD offers a spectrum of possibilities from R&D and scouting to the implementation of new technology, to produce diamonds of top quality.

The Equipment department of HRD Antwerp mainly commercializes developments of WTOCD. HRD Antwerp is dedicated to serving diamond professionals by offering products and services that benefit the Diamond Industry and Trade.

Yves Kerremans, director WTOCD; Mark Thomassen, HRD Equipment; Guy Van Goethem, WTOCD © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

World Diamond Mark Foundation signs MoU with Borsa Istanbul Parties will cooperate closely in diamond sales training for Turkish retailers The signing ceremony, held at the plenary session of the 36th World Diamond Congress in Antwerp, followed many months of negotiations and preparations between the two organizations and marks the start of the WDM launch in Turkey.

“With the Borsa Istanbul as a partner, the World Diamond Mark will gain strong, internal support for reaching out to key organisations and retailers in Turkey,” Popov said. “In practical terms, it means that the WDM’s first pilot programme for accredited retail members, Authorized Diamond Dealers (ADDs) will begin in Turkey, one of the most exciting, and rapidly growing luxury product consumer markets.”

Alex Popov (left), Chairman of the World Diamond Mark Foundation and Dr. Ibrahim Turhan, Chairman and CEO of Borsa Istanbul, at the signing cermony of the MoU between the two © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow organisations.

The World Diamond Mark® Foundation (WDMF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Borsa Istanbul of Turkey to implement the World Diamond Mark programme in Turkey.

The MoU was signed by WDMF Chairman Alex Popov and by Dr. Ibrahim M. Turhan, CEO of Borsa Istanbul. Borsa Istanbul is one of the 28 bourses worldwide affiliated to the WFDB.

“We’re very honored to cement this relationship with WDMF here in Antwerp, during this top networking event of the international diamond industry and trade,” Dr. Turhan noted.

“The planning of our joint promotional activities will start with a planned roll out in late 2014”. “Therefore, this MoU is significant step toward the proliferation of the WDM programmes in Turkey. Borsa Istanbul and WDM both seek to sustain and improve consumer confidence for diamond and diamond jewellery worldwide. We look forward to advance WDM’s main objective, i.e. to accredit retailers and multiply the sales in diamond markets,” he stated.

Contact: communications@worlddiamondmark.org

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Conclusions The four days 36th World Diamond Congress closed on a very positive note with a record attendance. The congress again brought together the key Industry players in Antwerp, “The Diamond capital of the world”. The Congress was jointly attended by major sister organisations CIBJO and the World Diamond Council.

WFDB President Ernest Blom said that he was very pleased with the strong attendance of the WFDB affiliate bourses and with the topics that were raised and covered. “At the heart of our discussions were the sustainability and reputation of the diamond industry and trade at large. Among others, the WFDB resolved to build on its communications strategy and to expedite communications on a global level.”

Key issues discussed over the four days covered many aspects including: • Formally approving the membership of Canada and South Korea as members of the WFDB. The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council India (GJEPC) was also admitted as an Associate member. This forms part of a broader strategy implemented to expand the membership base by getting producing countries and mining companies to expand the WFDB membership base • Synthetic coupled with lab reports formed a part of the discussions. A decision was made to speak with one voice and ensure uniformity in lap reports while keeping a watchful eye on synthetic diamonds, ensuring that they are disclosed as synthetics. The meeting made it clear that synthetics were not seen as an enemy as they have their own market niche but that they must be marketed with full disclosure.

• Gender equality was discussed and very strong support was shown by delegates for the WFDB to see more young people and more female members. The President, Mr. Ernie Blom reflected that in order to secure the WFDB’s future and relevance

From L to R: Mr. Chang Soo Nam from the South Korea Diamond Exchange and Mr. Blom President of the WFDB congratulating South Korea on joining the WFDB © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

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From left (standing): Eli Izhakoff, Honorary President of the WFDB; Stephane Fischler, president of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and IDMA Treasurer; Edward Asscher, president of the World Diamond Council; Dieter Hahn, Honorary Treasurer WFDB; Jeffrey Fischer, Honorary President IDMA; and Julien Drijbooms, President of HRD Antwerp NV. Seated, from left, are Shmuel Schnitzer, Honorary President of the WFDB and President of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE); Maxim Shkadov; Ernest Blom; Rony Unterman, Secretary General WFDB; and Ronnie VanderLinden, IDMA’s Secretary General Manager. © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

it was key to start developing the next generation of leaders.

• Communications formed an important part of discussions with the new WFDB website being launched, including social media platforms. The Congress stressed that communications is the cornerstone of WFDB and industry development in the future. The speed at which the WFDB can communicate with its full membership and the global sector at large was critical.

“Telling the Story” is key to building consumer confidence and top of mind awareness for diamond jewellery.

IDMA president Maxim Shkadov said the IDMA members and the WFDB had held long and intense discussions on the diamond supply chain. The meeting resolved to communicate to the rough diamond producers their deep concerns about the viability of the diamond manufacturing industry.

“We talked at length about issues such as financing and the manufacturers’ relationships with the banks and other financial institutions active in the diamond industry and trade.

We wish to enhance and solidify the longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship between the diamond industry and its banking partners worldwide. Therefore, in recognition of the industry’s dependence on a healthy and enduring long-term relationship with financial institutions, the IDMA members resolved to engage the industry’s bankers in constructive dialogue, so that industry members may better understand the intricacies of international and domestic regulatory changes that continue to impact client relationships.

In addition, we expressed our concern regarding the significant diversities of laboratory diamond grading standards and their impact on consumer confidence in diamonds; spoke about the DDI (Diamond Development Initiative) and the necessity of promoting advances in social and economic conditions throughout the diamond mining sector worldwide; and reviewed the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) report about money laundering,” Shkadov noted. “And these are just a few out of the many other topics raised,” he added.

The topic of synthetic/lab grown diamonds resulted not only in a demand to continue the efforts of detection and the need for proper disclosure, but also a call on the diamond industry trade to engage in constructive dialogue with the synthetic diamond growers The IDMA members also echoed the long-standing requirement for full disclosure of any diamond treatment, and voted that the following statement should appear on all invoices for sales of natural, untreated diamonds: “The diamond(s) contained herein are natural and untreated.”

The WFDB and IDMA resolved that the 2015 Presidents’ Meeting will take place in Ramat Gan, Israel and the 37th World Diamond Congress in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

For more information about IDMA: Ya’akov Almor - Communications Liaison - communications@idma.co For more information about WFDB: Andrew Meyer andrewm@isikhova.co.za

New Executive Committee of the WFDB President: Ernie Blom Vice President: Julien Drybooms Secretary-General: Rony Unterman

Michel Schonfeld (Deputy) Treasurer-General: Dieter Hahn

Harry Levy (Deputy) Executive Members Committee: Rami Baron, Reuven Kaufman, Harry Levy, Nikhil Jhaveri, Anoop Metha, Peter Meeus, Sergery Oulin, Alex Popov, Lin Qiang and Shmuel Schnitzer.

The President of the WFDB Mr. Ernie Blom congratulating the President of the Diamond Bourse of Canada, Mr. David Gavin on joining the WFDB

Presidents of CIBJO, WFDB, IDMA and WDC establish ‘The Presidents Forum’ to coordinate strategies on issues of common Interest Against the backdrop of the 36th World Diamond Congress, the heads of the Jewellery and diamond industry’s four leading international representative bodies have agreed to establish “The Presidents Forum”, which is a joint consultative committee with its members being the presidents of each organization.

Together they will discuss and formulate coordinated strategies and policies for the industry on important issues of common interest.

Hosted by Dr Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation; this meeting included Ernest Blom, President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB); Maxim Shkadov, President of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and Edward Asscher, President of the World Diamond Council (WDC). The meeting was chaired by Eli Izhakoff, Hon. Life President of CIBJO, WFDB and WDC. Following this inaugural meeting, The Presidents Forum issued the following statement: “As the elected presidents of international organisations, each of which counts among its members the key national organizations and leading commercial bodies in their respective fields, we collectively represent the rank and file of the diamond, Gemstone and Jewellery industry worldwide.”

“The objective of The Presidents Forum is to reflect the interests of all participants and stakeholders in the industry through discussion and coordination.”

“Among our first order of business the presidents of CIBJO, WFDB and IDMA will engage with the Precious Stones MultiStakeholder Working Group to discuss the creation of acceptable due diligence guidelines to defend the integrity of the supply chain. The President of the WDC will be consulted.”

© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

New Executive Committee of IDMA Honarary President: Jeffrey Fischer President: Maxim Shkadov Chairman Executive Committee: Avraham (Bumi) Traub Secretary-General: Ronnie VanderLinden Treasurer: Stephane Fischler Vice Presidents: Edward Denckens, David de

Toledo, Suresh Shah, Philippe Roolant.

(from left): Ronnie VanderLinden, IDMA Secretary General; Maxim Shkadov, IDMA President; Eli Izhakoff, Hon. Life President of CIBJO, WFDB and WDC; Jeffrey Fischer, IDMA Hon. Past President; Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President; Edward Asscher, WDC President; Julien Drybooms, WFDB Vice President and Ernest © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow Blom, WFDB President

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Speech Edward Asscher, President WDC Antwerp 36th Word Diamond Congress, 16 June 2014 When I look at the history of the World Diamond Council and the Kimberley process we can be grateful for the two organizations who started the World Diamond Council: The International Diamond Manufactures Association and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, later joined by the CIBJO. The World Diamond Council is especially grateful to its own founding members and the members who support us today by their membership and in manpower although there is an obvious shortage in women who represent our organizations and the World Diamond Council.

The commitment of governments is of prime importance for the working of the KP and a recognition by governments and NGO’s that the diamond and jewelry industries have important economic and social roles to play on a multinational basis.

The Kimberley Process was a groundbreaking experiment in international relations, with a coalition of governments from both developing and developed economies, working in tandem with industry and civil society to tackle a problem of massive human proportion.

The bottom line is that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2003 saved many lives. With the cessation of conflicts that had been illegally financed by rough diamonds sales, the future of people in Africa was improved.

The effectiveness of the Kimberley Process inspired further confidence in our product, the diamond. This was a benefit of the Kimberley Process, but an important one for the people of Africa as well, because it provided the groundwork for continuing and sustainable economic opportunity.

As geopolitical circumstances evolve, the Kimberley Process must remain a dynamic system, and should be constantly reviewed to ensure that it is able to meet ongoing challenges, and remain relevant to the situations that exist at any particular point in time.

The KP has updated and upgraded over the years, but as we all know it is a gradual process, in part because it requires agreement of the entire membership. The Administrative Support Mechanism, or ASM, which began operating last year, was part of this process, providing more permanent civil service to an organization in which the reins of leadership shift from country to country, year by year.

The ASM that we manage has no policy-making function. Its entire role is to serve and support the KP administration. We should be grateful that it is financed by the AWDC, GJEPC, Israel Diamond Institute.

We are proud to have been involved in the reforming of the KP, and we will support further reforms, including an expansion of

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Edward Asscher, President WDC Š Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

the definition of conflict diamonds to include all rough diamonds directly associated with acts of organized and institutionalized violence. (Conflict diamonds should cover all diamond related violence in rough diamond producing areas). We realize that the process of arriving at an agreed definition is a complicated one, but we feel strongly that topics of this sort must be tackled head on. The industry decided so a few years ago, now the KP should continue with the implementation.

An organization such as the KP is a mature one and needs to look critically at what improvements can be made. After all it is the integrity of our products at stake and the wellbeing of all who work directly or indirectly in this industry. It is not only governments, industry and NGO’s which wish to make the KP more effective and expand its working scope, it is also the banking industry which is asking transparency, accountability and compliance.

Without finance manufacturers will find it difficult to purchase rough, countries might receive less for their rough and industry will get much small at a time that demand is getting bigger.

Just as the KP needed to review its structure and operation after 14 years of operation, so did the World Diamond Council.

Our organization is today fully financed by member fees, more transparent, and with a new leadership, which was elected through a system that ensures that all sectors of our industry are appropriately represented.

To a great degree, it is due in part to the success of the Kimberley Process that a debate has been generated in our industry as to how we can further improve the lives of all of our stakeholders, and most importantly those living in areas where the rough materials are located and processed. The issues that are raised often go beyond the more narrow scope of conflict diamonds and include other social and humanitarian challenges faced by the industry.

We are being asked whether we contribute to further improving the lives of those involved in and dependent upon our industry?

In other words, should KP’s mandate be expanded beyond preventing the infiltration of conflict diamonds into the legitimate pipeline, to include other issues which challenge the integrity of our products and the reputation of our business?

When we look around us there are new initiatives in the diamond- and jewelry industry, some are based on profound Corporate Social Responsibility, others have a commercial and marketing effort. All are meant to prove that our diamonds or those specific diamonds marketed by certain organizations are conflict free and contributing to a wider range of human and social aspects. The same is true today for other initiatives that are close to our hearts.

It is our collective responsibility to assess and consider all potential risks, confront them, mitigate them and work in unison and harmony within the Kimberley Process. It has been decided that the KP Working group will discuss all risks around the KP and so has decided not to duck any issue but confront them and to see later if KP should discuss them and if and when and how we might be able to mitigate them.

We know that we all have responsible members of society and our main concern is to look out for the wellbeing all of those, who mine, manufacture and deal in diamonds, as well as those who are dependent upon them. We do so by ensuring the integrity of our products and in so doing contribute to the quality of the lives of all stakeholders in our chain of distribution.

The Kimberley Process’s scope should remain limited to disassociating conflict from the rough diamond trade. Our focus should be on improving Kimberley Process within this framework be it in a modern and new stage of development.

How should we do this? Through our working committees and review processes, we should look to improve our procedures and documentation, so that any existing weak links and blind spots are eliminated. As mentioned before, we should revisit the subject of expanding the definition of conflict diamonds, and seek to achieve consensus. And most important, we should do all that we can to assist countries experiencing critical problems, (see last weeks program on France TV 24 about the CAR) by contributing to their healing processes and assisting in their sustainable development. We should also work for a level playing field. With that I mean that all diamond producing countries, all diamond centers, all government agencies use the same procedures, accuracy and policies. At present the level playing field is the first and formats challenge for the KP. The need for a chain of warranties is the second. This should really be applied throughout the whole diamond chain.

Let me emphasize that inclusiveness is a principle that cannot be discarded nor diluted. Allow me to stress the World Diamond Council’s opposition to any efforts that are designed to introduce new measures in the diamond, gemstone and jewelry industry without consulting the official representatives of the producing countries.

The strong believe we have in the Kimberley Process is that we all understand the principle of a common cause. That cause is that we can defend and protect the integrity of our wonderful product the diamonds which should contribute to the wellbeing and happiness of all involved, from the miner to the polisher to the jewelry industry and ultimately the consumer. That is what I stand for in the coming two years, that is what we at the World Diamond Council believe in.

Board IDMA: Edward Denckens, Edward Asscher, Ronnie VanderLinden, Maxim Shkadov, Stephane Fischler, Jeffrey Fischer, David De Toledo © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

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Participants Keynote session

© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Sectordinner: Bart De Hantsetters, General Board SBD and Sandro Sze, President China Diamond Manufacturers Association © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Sectordinner

© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Ronnie VanderLinden, Secretary-General IDMA; Maxim Shkadov, President IDMA; Jeffrey Fischer, Honorary-President IDMA © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Keynote session – Martin Rapaport

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© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

The participating IDMA members. Standing (from left): Philippe Roolant(Thai Diamond Manufacturers Association); Patrick Kwok (South African Diamond Manufacturers Association); Avraham (Bumi) Traub; David de Toledo; Suresh Shah (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council); Gerd Meng, (the Federal Association of the Precious Stones and Diamond Industry, Germany); Kim Lanny (Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association); Ben Kinzler, Legal Counsel IDMA; Linda Vancauwenberghe (SBD/IDMA); Sandro Sze (China Diamond Manufacturers Association); Luc Goris (Vereniging Kempische Diamantwerkgevers, Belgium); Paul Van der Steen (Syndicaat Belgische Diamantnijverheid, Belgium).

Seated, from left: Edward Denckens; Jeffrey Fischer; Edward Asscher; Maxim Shkadov; Ronnie VanderLinden and Stephane Fischler. © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

Bourla Theatre: Stephane Fischler, President AWDC; Cathy Berx, Governor Province Antwerp; Andrey Yurin, Gohkram of Russia; Kris Peeters, Minister President © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

City Hall: Linda Vancauwenberghe; Willy Henneuse; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Denckens © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

City Hall: Ronnie VanderLinden, Secretary-General IDMA; Stephane Fischler, Treasurer IDMA; Walter Chidakwa, Hon. Minister of Mines Zimbabwe; Ludo Van Campenhout, Alderman City Antwerp

Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Willy Henneuse, Chairman Organising Committee © Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

© Courtesy of Donald Woodrow

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Kimberley Process Antwerp hosts World Diamond Council and KP Chair for renewed ASM MOU  On May 23, the AWDC had the honor to welcome the Kimberley Process Chair, His Excellency Wei Chuanzhong, Vice-Chair Bernardo Campos and Mr. Edward Asscher, President of the World Diamond Council for the purpose of renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Kimberley Process Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM).

In 2012, the KP Plenary designated the World Diamond Council through its members AWDC, alongside the Israeli IDI, the Indian GJECP and the Ghana Government Diamond House as the host of the Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM).

This mechanism was designed to increase the efficiency of the Kimberley Process, to assist the rotating KP chairperson. AWDC was entrusted with the responsibility of running the ASM’s daily operations.

In the presence of AWDC President Mr. Stephane Fischler and AWDC CEO Mr. Ari Epstein, Mr. Edward Asscher, newly elected World Diamond Council President, and the Chinese KP Chair and Angolan Vice-Chair renewed the MOU which sets out the mutual expectations of the KP Chair and the ASM host organization. The renewal of the MOU reflects the KP Plenary’s and the KP Chair’s continued confidence in the ASM. In the framework of the meeting, AWDC, WDC President Mr. Asscher and the KP Chair and Vice Chair discussed relevant topics, such as the need for an equal level playing field, ensuring compliance to KP requirements is enforced on a global scale.

Furthermore AWDC stressed that the KP is a highly effective mechanism in assisting countries in meeting minimum requirements and in creating opportunities for diamond countries to reap the benefits from their natural resources. The representative organization of the Antwerp diamond industry therefore

Ari Epstein; Bernardo Campos, KP Vice-Chair; His Excellency Wei Chuanzhong, KP Chair; Edward Asscher, Stephane Fischler

requested the Chair to actively support the development dimension of the KP, for example by developing or supporting technical assistance projects.

In addition, the AWDC reiterated that the debate on a KP reform, initiated and supported by the KP Chair, should be based on the founding principles of the KP of inclusiveness, a tri-partite structure and bottom-up process.

AWDC also requests the Chairman to initiate the written procedure to allow the participating countries to resume the import of rough diamonds from Ivory Coast. In terms of the highly worrying situation in the Central African Republic, AWDC urges the KP and all its participants to make sure that no diamonds from CAR are entering the legal flow, and that these illicit diamonds are not illegitimately certified in their countries.

WDC and PAC call for changes at KP Intersessional in Shanghai On June 10, the Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional Meeting kicked off in Shanghai, China, under the auspices of KP Chair Mr. Wei Chuanzhong. As the Intersessional’s main sponsor, AWDC hosted the exclusive Gala Dinner for the Intersessional participants on Monday evening.

In addition to KP country participants, a broad range of key stakeholders such as the World Diamond Council (WDC) and Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) gathered in Shanghai to take

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part in the Intersessional Meeting.During the first day of the meeting, a wide array of speakers, such as the WDC and PAC, in addition to the KP Chair, took up the current challenges and successes of the Process in their remarks. The need to strengthen and improve the KP was clearly echoed.

In terms of bolstering the efficiency of the KP, Mr. Edward Asscher, the newly elected President of the WDC, referred to the most recent renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Administrative Support Mechanism (ASM) so as to “provide

more permanent civil service” for the rotating chairmanship of the KP. AWDC, along with Israeli IDI, the Indian GJECP and the Ghana Government Diamond House will continue to host the ASM, with AWDC entrusted with running daily operations.

considered key by meeting participants, so as to ensure that diamonds reap benefits for the people of the producing countries and their protection from any violence sponsored by the diamond trade is prevented.

As far as current challenges encountered with respect to the diamond trade and their broader effects, discussions took place surrounding the worrying situation in CAR. Mr. Alan Martin, Research Director a the Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) referred to the need for increased vigilance in neighbouring countries and for all diamond trade hubs, to step up efforts in ensuring that these diamonds do not enter the market.

AWDC CEO, Mr. Ari Epstein emphasized that “… we must continue to live up to our obligations and continue to work towards a strong and effective KP that is implemented fully by every participant, safeguarding the integrity and the goals of the KP.”

Mr. Martin pointed out “Belgium’s recent seizure” of a suspicious shipment of diamonds. AWDC believes that only these types of strict controls will lead to successful combatting of conflict diamonds and should be emulated by other trade centers.

Mr. Martin also expressed a strong concern regarding the lack of transparency and irregularities in some diamond hubs, which also leads to significant disadvantages for the coffers of African treasuries.

In addition to the demands placed on the KP, its support to aid countries returning to the KPwas highlighted, by discussing the case of Côte d’Ivoire and the lifting of the UN embargo. In the coming months, AWDC’s deployment of a capacity building and technical assistance program will help to ensure that the institutions and procedures in Côte d’Ivoire are fully-fledged.

Reexamining the definition of ‘conflict diamonds’ was also

For more information: AWDC Communications Department oject 0 0 0 ag a press@awdc.eu

DENCKENS Eduard

Dennenlaan 2 2243 Zandhoven Tel. 03 484 30 32

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AWDC concludes successful networking tour in the US On 27 May, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), kicked-off its US networking tour, with stops in Miami, Los Angeles and culminating at the JCK fair in Las Vegas. The tour proved successful in facilitating access for Antwerp companies to numerous US jewelers and retailers, helping to build closer relationships and leading to new business opportunities.

The world’s largest consumer market of diamond jewellery proved enticing for top Antwerp diamond companies who joined AWDC’s tour, namely: H.D Diam, Weinberg Bernard BVBA, Fischler Diamonds, Windiam, Rubin & zonen, Diarough, Rosyblue, Horizon Diamonds BVBA, Harmony Gems BVBA and SRS Diamonds BVBA. All companies took part in both Antwerp Diamond Nights taking place in Miami and Los Angeles, on 27 May and 28 May respectively.

At the exclusive Raleigh Hotel in Miami, Antwerp companies had the opportunity to meet with potential clients in the gateway city to South American trade. In addition to acquiring useful information about developments in the US market and upcoming hot-spots for trade, they met with potential business partners. In Los Angeles, at the iconic London West Hollywood, companies met with retailers and jewellers from this West Coast diamond stronghold, where numerous business connections were made.

The Antwerp Diamond Nights were very well received by participating companies, as attested by Mr. Abhay Nanavati of Harmony Gems, “In the world of diamonds, connectivity is everything. The more you can expand your business network, the better. Thanks to the AWDC networking events in the USA I managed to expand my network and concluded two deals with new clients, just a few days after meeting them in Miami and L.A. I look forward to the next AWDC networking opportunity”.

The networking tour culminated with an Antwerp Diamond Pavillion at the JCK Las Vegas fair, from 30 May till 2 June, with no less than 23 Antwerp diamond companies present. With the U.S.A. and Antwerp playing leading roles in the global diamond trade, AWDC is pleased that this string of events brought both these two parties together.

“I am delighted that AWDC was able to provide this opportunity for Antwerp companies. With a strong turnout from both the US and Antwerp side, I believe this series of events allowed companies to make meaningful business connections and at the same time they have proven to be a powerful marketing tool to reconnect the Antwerp diamond industry with the largest consumer market in the world, the United States. Lastly, organizing these events has been a very valuable experience for us.”, said Nele Bouchier, AWDC Head of PR & Communications.

You can find pictures of the events on our website www.awdc. be/en/photos.

AWDC is in the process of planning new networking events in Shanghai, Singapore and Malaysia. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make new business connections and expand your business - stay tuned for AWDC’s Newsletter announcements about all our upcoming events!

Diamond office offers a new service At the request of the industry, DO offers a new service: resealing of goods According to the Royal Decree of April 30, 2004, the accredited experts of Diamond Office conduct the physical inspection of diamonds imported into or exported outside the Kingdom of Belgium. They compare the data of the diamonds in terms of value, weight and qualification with data mentioned on the documents, submitted to evidence the declaration. In order to perform this inspection, all parcels are opened. As a result, the initial origin of the goods may no longer be guaranteed, in some cases.

At the request of the industry, and as of May 1, 2014, AWDC Diamond Office will offer a new service, namely the resealing of lots or shipments. Upon prior explicit request of the importer or exporter, a lot or a parcel can be resealed following its inspection. For this purpose, Diamond Office foresees special seals, and will also keep a record of the sealed goods, in case a statement to a third party will be required. Diamond Office will charge a fee of €25,00 per seal.

In order to make use of this service, please contact the Management of Diamond Office in advance. Contact details are available on www.diamondoffice.be. Additional information on this new service can be requested via diof@awdc.be.

Diamond office start met herverzegeling van goederen Op verzoek van de sector start DO met een nieuwe service: herverzegeling van goederen Op basis van het Koninklijk Besluit van 30 april 2004, controleren erkende deskundigen van Diamond Office fysiek alle diamanten die België binnen komen en buiten gaan: ze vergelijken de gegevens van de diamanten op gebied van waarde, gewicht en goederencode met de gegevens die vermeld zijn op de documenten ter staving van de aangifte. Om deze inspectie uit te kunnen voeren, worden alle aangeboden pakken open gemaakt en worden ook loten geopend. Hierdoor kan de initiële herkomst van de goederen in bepaalde gevallen niet meer worden gegarandeerd.

Op verzoek van de sector, start AWDC Diamond Office vanaf 1 mei 2014 met een nieuwe service: het herverzegelen van loten of zendingen. Op voorafgaand uitdrukkelijk verzoek van de importeur of exporteur kan een lot of een zending opnieuw worden verzegeld na de inspectie. Diamond Office stelt hiervoor speciale verzegeling ter beschikking en houdt ook alle gegevens van de verzegelde goederen bij wanneer een verklaring naar derden opgemaakt moet worden. Voor deze service zal Diamond Office een kost van €25 per gebruikte verzegeling aanrekenen.

Gelieve op voorhand contact op te nemen met het management van Diamond Office als u van deze service gebruik wenst te maken. Contactgegevens kan u terugvinden op www.diamondoffice.be. Bijkomende informatie over deze nieuwe service is verkrijgbaar via diof@awdc.be

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The Diamond Museum Brugge The Diamond Museum Brugge celebrates throughout 2014 its 15th anniversary with several fascinating exhibitions. The most important is the retrospective exhibition ‘30 years of innovation and creativity, HRD Awards 1984-2014’ in collaboration with the Diamond High Council in Antwerp.

Belgian and international designers show their best pieces of more than one generation.

The entire 1st floor of the Diamond Museum Brugge gets new and exceptional exhibitions, which are centred around the jeweller craftsmanship, where Bruges had a prominent position over the centuries.

Also as concerns diamond manufacturing technique, Belgium and Flanders always was at the forefront, and the latest processing techniques will be displayed in cooperation with WTOCD. In July, a worldwide sensation, a 2m large unique diamond clock will be unveiled at the museum.

A detailed overview of all exhibitions: Temporary Exhibition April - October : 30 years of innovation and creativity in contemporary diamond jewellery : HRD AWARDS 1984-2014 A marvellous retrospective We are proud to exhibit the exclusive winning designs of 30 Diamond High Council awards. The exhibition shows the evolution over time of jewellery design of more than a generation.

April - October 2014.

Permanent exhibitions : “In the workshop of the jeweller” Bruges - jeweller city through the ages.

Bruges was once not only important as the birthplace of diamond polishing, but was also the city where the jewellery craft flourished over centuries. We present an authentic Flemish jeweller workshop from the 1960ies.

You will experience how the jeweller works the gold and sets the brilliants.

‘Visit the jewellery shop of Alexandre-Holvoet’ A rare, very elegant and well preserved ancient jewellery shop of jeweller Holvoet (Old Grain Market, Brussels) of the 1960s was carefully preserved by the jewellers widow from Bruges since its closure in 1995. The store is now reborn in the Diamond Museum Brugge, where some of the most beautiful ornamental pieces of Holvoet jewellery are shown.

Top diamond polishing technology “Made in Belgium” Over the last 20 years the technology has developed considerably, and laser scanning and -sawing, as well as video imaging technology has been developed. Analysis and manufacturing equipment based on these technologies have been developed

by WTOCD in Lier, Belgium.

We illustrate these techniques on a large 603 carat diamond, the Lesotho Promise, of the purest D - colour, and which was found in the highest diamond mine in the world (3.100m above sea level), Letseng in Lesotho.

“Diamond Lab II test your own diamond !”

The visitors to the Diamond Museum Brugge has already over the last 5 years been able to test the properties of diamond in our Diamond Lab. We are now launching a new version, Diamond Lab II ...

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The World Diamond Pipeline Sales of jewellery all over the world amounts to more than 50 billion Euro per year, and the sector employs worldwide more than 2 million people.

We show each stage in the value chain, and how - step by step - value is added, from mine to sorting, polishing, setting, jewellery design, jewellery manufacturing, and until the sale in the shop.

The diamond clock ...

Presentation of a huge diamond clock that measures the time with hundreds of carats of diamonds, a first in the world ...

Inauguration July 2014.

ZEKER VERZEKERD

Jeweller designer & docent Veerle Van Wilder and Jennie Baeten, Senior PR Officer HRD

GROEPS- & BEDRIJFSVERZEKERINGEN CONTACT:

ann.theunis @ finserve.be

Wim Velghe, Bea Schmidts, Mrs. & Mr. Turkan John Rosenhoj

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Hrd Antwerp launches two new grading levels for fancy color diamonds HRD Antwerp NV laboratory, has extended its color grading levels for fancy diamonds to include two new prefixes, “Vivid” and “Deep.”

Light: The color hue can be perceived through the crown side, and is clearly noticeable through the pavilion side. For example, fancy light blue natural color.

“The new prefixes were brought into life in order to provide an extended but more clear understanding to both the diamond professional as well as the end consumer concerning fancy colour diamonds” explains Ans Anthonis, Chief Diamond Lab & Research Officer at HRD Antwerp.

No Prefix: The color hue can be clearly perceived through the crown side and the pavilion side of the stone. For example, fancy blue natural color.

“The new Vivid and Deep Fancy colour grading standards have been developed to be scientifically correct and are, as with all our grading standards, based on a transparent and objective grading process. Concerning the appraisal of fancy colour stones, it’s important to underscore the final decision is always based on the judgment of several highly trained graders, as are all decisions made in the HRD Antwerp lab” she adds.

Intensity Grades According to the HRD Antwerp, its diamond color grading program now comprises the following intensity grades: Faint: The color hue cannot be perceived through the crown side of the stone, and is only faintly noticeable through the pavilion side. For example, faint pink natural color.

Intense: The color hue is very noticeable through the crown side. Saturated color with normal to high value. For example, fancy intense yellow natural color.

Vivid (New): The color hue is saturated with a very high clarity.

E.g.: Fancy vivid blue natural color.

Deep (New): The color hue is saturated, with a decreased clarity in comparison to Vivid. E.g.: Fancy deep blue natural color.

Dark: The color hue is highly saturated and very noticeable through the crown side. E.g.: Dark yellowish brown natural color.

According to the lab, the full color grade as displayed on the color certificate will be: Fancy/Not Fancy - Prefix Intensity Color hue - Color origin.

HRD Antwerp and Rapaport Group Announce Laboratory Take-In Service HRD Antwerp and the Rapaport Group are pleased to announce an agreement whereby Rapaport will be providing global access to HRD diamond grading laboratories in Antwerp and Mumbai.

The service will include everything necessary for clients to have their diamonds graded by HRD laboratories and will be initially provided to clients in New York, Ramat Gan, Mumbai, Surat, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

Serge Couvreur, CEO of HRD Antwerp: “This new cooperative venture with Rapaport will enable HRD Antwerp to significantly expand its global reach. Customers in major diamond centers will now have fast and easy access to international HRD Antwerp laboratories. We will now be expanding our campaign to develop new customers for our authentic European quality diamond grading reports.”

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Martin Rapaport Chairman of the Rapaport Group: “This agreement with HRD Antwerp will support the expansion of the U.S. diamond trade as diamond companies obtain easier access to important European and Arab markets through HRD Antwerp diamond grading reports. HRD Antwerp is expected to provide new opportunities for companies to expand the global market for high quality diamonds as HRD Antwerp diamond grading reports provide opportunities for differentiated product brands that increase consumer confidence among diamond buyers.”

For additional information please contact: HRD Antwerp: Dries Holvoet, +32-3-222-0611, dries.holvoet@hrdantwerp.be Rapaport: Sherri Hendricks, +1-702-893-9400, sherri@diamonds.net

HRD Antwerp opens second Indian office in Surat

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HRD Antwerp is steadily growing its presence on the Indian market by opening a second office in Surat in addition to their already existing Mumbai Diamond Lab. This expansion underscores HRD Antwerp’s commitment to fundamentally strengthening the ties between the world’s leading diamond trading center Antwerp, and the largest Indian diamond production hub Surat.

Serge Couvreur, CEO of HRD Antwerp states “Our new office in Surat features a complete showroom and diamond equipment shop and will focus on actively promoting our grading services, educational programs and the sales of high tech diamond equipment such as the Eos Fancy, Morgana and Avalon+. These innovative instruments have specifically been developed by HRD Antwerp and WTOCD and can be considered among the best diamond equipment available today”.

Local market needs have contributed to the decision to open a second HRD Antwerp facility in the very heart of India’s main diamond manufacturing hub. At the new Surat office, HRD Antwerp will demonstrate its cutting edge technology and provide aq drop off point for diamonds and gjewellery to be graded in its diamond lab in Mumbai. The Mumbai lab services include full HRD Antwerp Diamond Certificates, Diamond Identification Reports, preliminary examinations, follow-up examinations (updates and duplicates), sealing or re-sealing, transit and Jewellery Reports.

With this new Surat office, HRD Antwerp offers quality products and services that benefit the diamond industry.

HRD Antwerp Surat DE HANTSETTERS & VERHAERE NV 2F 12-14 Meera Nagar Near Blood Bank, A.K. Road Varachha - Surat 395006 E. : surat@hrdantwerp.be T. :+91 26 12 55 6660

Schupstraat 21, 2nd floor 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium info@dhv.be

Tel. : +32 (0)3 233 90 76 Fax : +32 (0)3 231 72 34 www.dhv.be

CRISDIAM International Diamond Manufacturers Hoveniersstraat 2 bus 240 B-2018 Antwerpen Belgium Tel. 03-233.65.59 - Fax: 03-234.28.51 www.crisdiam.com

INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS

IMPORTERS - EXPORTERS

Hoveniersstraat 53, box 127 • B-2018 Antwerpen-Belgium Phone : (03) 206 16 00 • Fax : (03) 206 16 01 www.rosyblue.com

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Het slijpen van cabochon (3) Dit slijpsel, alhoewel zeer oud in de geschiedenis van de edelstenenbewerking, is zeer gewild voor de niet-doorschijnende kleurstenen en mineralen zoals malachiet, lapis lazuli, rodochrosiet, rhodhonite, onyx, opaal, koraal, tijgeroog, agaat, jade, sodalite, enz. In het kort kan men zeggen dat alle polijstbare stenen in cabochon kunnen geslepen worden, o.a. ook de niet zoveel voorkomende pyriet, fossielen en andere.

Ook van doorzichtige stenen, vooral kleurstenen (halfedelstenen), zoals alle kwartsen (amethyst, rookkwarts, kwartsen met rutiel of met dendrieten enz.) kan men cabochon maken, alsook van aquamarijnen, citrien, granaten, en natuurlijk ook van robijnen, smaragden en saffieren die tot de edelstenen behoren, hiervoor neemt men meestal de minder zuivere kwaliteiten.

De cabochon brengt ook de “sterren” die voorkomen in o.a. de saffieren en robijnen tot hun volle waarde, deze soort van stenen zal men dan nooit facetteren.

Van een ruw doorschijnend kristal zal men meestal het zuiverste deel in volle facettering bewerken en de minst zuivere of doffe delen tot cabochon verwerken.

Ook zijn de stenen met dendrieten en rutielnaalden zeer geschikt om als cabochon geslepen te worden. Dit zijn heldere stenen waarin men goudkleurige naalden zal zien, zoals kleine landschappen of andere geheimzinnige vormen zal kunnen bewonderen.

De slijpvormen variëren tot in het oneindige.

Indien de grondstof duur is, zal men de vormen zo slijpen waarbij het meeste gewicht kan behouden worden. Voor de goedkopere grondstoffen daarentegen zal men de vormen slijpen naar behoefte of verlangen en vooral op de standaard maten voor de juwelen industrie. In beide gevallen zal men altijd trachten de mooiste kant als bovenkant te nemen, zowel voor het behoud van de kleur als voor de natuurlijke tekeningen die in de steen voorkomen. Het probleem wordt delicater bij het slijpen van de cabochon “katoog” en “ster” waar men de richting van de C-as moet bepalen vòòr het zagen of het slijpen.

In dit geval is men verplicht in die richting te werken. Dit geldt ook voor de opalen, maanstenen, tijgeroog, andere kwarts en alle geradieërde structuurstenen.

Het slijpmateriaal Dit bestaat uit verschillende slijpstenen, enkele polijstschijven en een motor (beschermd) en waterafkoeling. De toebehoren zijn houten of aluminium stiften, was (kit), verwarmingstoestel en alcohol.

De bewerking Eerst wordt de ruwe steen gereinigd met ‘methanol’. Dit is een belangrijke factor vermits de steen altijd vettig kan zijn door het vasthouden in de handen of door olie doordrongen om beter de kleur te bepalen, enz. Dit is ook een gouden regel die moet toegepast worden bij het facetteren. Het is altijd spijtig als men een steen bijna heeft afgewerkt, dat hij dan loskomt (dit verplicht het volledig herslijpen) vooral als het te wijten is aan een kleinigheid die kan vermeden worden. De volgende fase is het kitten. Voor de beginner is het aangeraden een niet te klein ruw stuk te nemen van ongeveer 2 à 3 cm diameter, dit is een goede maat om het vak te leren.

Bij voorkeur neemt men een kwarts, o.a. amethyst of rookkwarts, welke soorten ook het voordeel hebben niet te broos, noch te hard en goed polijstbaar te zijn.

Men slijpt eerst de onderkant van de cabochon en dit langs de zijkant van de slijpsteen en uit de hand, tussen duim en wijsvinger, zonder te hard aan te drukken. De polijststeen voor de voorbewerking is meestal in silicium carbide of een andere samenstelling van carburandum. De grofheid voor de voorvorm wordt Grein genoemd (grint in Engels en grain in Frans), deze zal 50-70 zijn met een maximum van 100.

Dan zal de vorm met een stift getekend worden op de steen, men kan de vorm afzagen of rechtstreek afslijpen. Er zijn aluminium plaatjes met de standaardmaten uitgesneden en in verschillende vormen (rond, ovaal, peer, enz).

Automatisch verstellen

22

Het verstellen De steen wordt op een stift versteld die kleiner is als de steen, in verwarmde lak zal men de steen verstellen. Dit gebeurt boven een vlam (gas of alcohol), men gebruikt ook elektrische verwarmingsplaten voor meerdere stenen. Na afkoeling is de steen vastgekleefd op de stift.

Het slijpen De slijper zal de stift tussen zijn vingers op een regelmatige wijze laten ronddraaien, met de hand zal hij dan een op en neergaande beweging maken om de gewenste vorm te bekomen.

Dit vraagt natuurlijk ervaring, men moet een mooie ovale of ronde vorm bekomen alsook een perfecte bolvorming krijgen.

Bij elke verkeerde handeling b.v. geen regelmatige beweging of te veel druk op de steen, zal men een slechte afwerking als resultaat hebben. De beste controle op de afwerking is er een buislamp te laten op schijnen, die moet perfect recht blijven in alle richtingen. Voor de vormgeving zal men diamantschijven (gesinterd) of carburandum schijven gebruiken. In Duitsland gebruiken de cabochonslijpers grote carburandum wielen van meer dan één meter doorsnede. Maar men kan ook kleinere schijven gebruiken. Een waterafkoeling is onmisbaar om het slijpen te bevorderen en verhitting te vermijden (dit zou de steen doen loskomen).

Het polijsten van de cabochon In geval men werkt met een verwisselbare schijf moet eerst de beschermingsplaat en het vergaarbakje grondig gereinigd worden om alle voorgaande weggevlogen deeltjes te verwijderen die op de polijstschijf zouden kunnen vallen en de steen krassen. Een edelstenenslijperij moet zo proper zijn als een labo.

Men neemt nu een polijstschijf.

Als men een pneumatische trommel gebruikt, wordt de schuurband verwijderd en vervangen door een vilt band of een band in katoen. Voor sommige stenen gebruikt men leder, hout (in mindere mate) koper, lood, zink, tin of plastic.

Nu zal men polijstpoeders moeten gebruiken welke verschillen volgens de soorten te polijsten stenen, voor kwarts gebruikt men bijv. ceriumoxide, maar er zijn talrijke verschillende soorten polijstpoeders typisch voor elk soort steen.

De snelheid zal moeten dalen tot 500 à 1000 toeren per minuut, de druppelsgewijze afkoeling zal iets minder dan voorheen zijn.

De bewerking gebeurt met dezelfde draaiende op en neergaande beweging, maar met dit verschil dat men het polijstpoeder met een kleine borstel zal moeten aanbrengen.

Het juiste polijstpoeder wordt gemengd in een kop met water en een kleine hoeveelheid biologisch wasmiddel of een waterverzachter. Deze bereiding wordt regelmatig op de polijstschijf aangebracht.

Het nakijken van de steen gebeurt bij een sterke lichtbron waarvan men de hoogglans kan bepalen. Om de steen goed te kunnen onderzoeken, moet hij eerst goed afgespoeld en afgedroogd worden; opgelet!! geen doek gebruiken die in contact geweest is met één van de vorige bewerkingen welke ook het risico van krassen op de steen inhoudt.

Als de steen werkelijk een cabochon is geworden in de volle zin, zal men hem van zijn houder verwijderen. Dit gebeurt door hem zachtjes te verwarmen en bijgevolg de kit te laten smelten.

Men kan ook de stift verwarmen onder een vlam van een alcoholbrander. Als de steen verwijderd is, zal men steen en stift proper maken in een bad methanol. De kleine deeltjes kit die afgebrokkeld zijn, kunnen herbruikt worden later door ze te laten smelten bij de volgende bewerking.

Andere vormen zoals kruisjes en sterren worden op de zijkant van de schijf bewerkt.

Voor de ster- of katoogstenen moet men hun optische as eerst bepalen wat al voor ruwe stenen een ervaring op zichzelf vergt.

Hier kan men echter enkele hulpmiddelen aanwenden, waaronder de polariscoop of een immersievochten dat een product van dezelfde refractie index is.

Men gebruikt voor de bepaling van de as ook een sterke fijne lichtbundel, de steen wordt dan met plasticine of mastiek op een plaatje bevestigd. Als men de ster bepaald heeft, kan men deze met inkt of verf aantekenen en hierdoor in het oog houden tijdens de bewerking.

Cabochon slijpen is een zeer aangename bewerking voor de beginner, hij zal met goedkope grondstoffen kunnen starten en naargelang zijn ervaring en vaardigheid naar duurdere stenen kunnen overgaan.

In de kleurstenenfabricatie gaat men half tot volledige automatische slijpmachines gebruiken vooral voor de goedkope stenen. Deze worden dan ook automatisch op de standaard maten geslepen. Maar er zijn nog talrijke slijperijen in de lageloonlanden waar nog met de hand geslepen wordt, o.a. Bangkok en vooral Jaipur.

Eddy Vleeschdrager

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Sociaal Nieuws VAKANTIE-, FEEST-, EN RUSTDAGEN 2015 - PC Diamant (PC 324) ZOMERVAKANTIE 2015 (= 15 vakantiedagen)

JOODSE FEESTDAGEN JAAR 2015 (5775-5776)

Vanaf maandag 3/08/2015 tot en met vrijdag 21/08/2015 Ook volgende regeling is mogelijk mits melding aan het Paritair Comité voor de Diamantnijverheid- en Handel vóór 31.12.2014 en uithanging in de werkplaats vóór 24.12.2014: vanaf maandag 27/07/2015 tot en met vrijdag 14/08/2015.

WINTERVAKANTIE 2015 (= 5 vakantiedagen) Vanaf maandag 28/12/2015 tot en met donderdag 31.12.2015 FEESTDAGEN 2015 Donderdag 1 januari Vrijdag 2 januari

Maandag 6 april Vrijdag 1 mei Donderdag 14 mei Maandag 25 mei Maandag 29 juni

Dinsdag 21 juli Zondag 1 november

Woensdag 11 november Vrijdag 25 december

Nieuwjaar Vervangdag voor zondag 1/11/2015 2de Paasdag Feest van de Arbeid O.H. Hemelvaartdag 2de Pinksterdag Petrus & Paulus (vervangdag voor 15/08/2015) Nationale Feestdag Allerheiligen wordt vervangen door vrijdag 2/01/2015 Wapenstilstand Kerstmis

RUSTDAGEN 2015 1 rustdag is vrij te nemen (een snipperdag) Van dinsdag 7/04/2015 tot en met vrijdag 10/04/2015 5de rustdag te nemen op maandag 20/07/2015 -

-

-

-

-

diamantbewerkers die recht hebben op 5 rustdagen: 7, 8, 9, 10 april + 20 juli 2015 diamantbewerkers die recht hebben op 4 rustdagen: 7, 8, 9, 10 april 2015 diamantbewerkers die recht hebben op 3 rustdagen: 7, 8, 9 april 2015 diamantbewerkers die recht hebben op 2 rustdagen: 7, 8 april 2015 diamantbewerkers die recht hebben op 1 rustdag: 7 april 2015

24

Toe Bisjevat Ta’anit Ester Poerim Sederavond Pesach

Jom Hasjoa Lag Ba’omer Jom Jeroesjalaiem Jom Ha-atsmaoet Jom Sjavoeot

Shiv’a Asar b’Tammuz Tisja Beav Rosj Hasjana

Kol Nidrei Jom Kipoer Soekot met Sjemini Atseret Simchat Thora Chanoeka met Asara b’Tevet

woensdag woensdag donderdag vrijdag zaterdag vrijdag donderdag donderdag zondag zaterdag zondag maandag zondag zondag maandag dinsdag dinsdag woensdag maandag zondag maandag dinsdag maandag maandag dinsdag

4 februari 4 maart 5 maart 3 april 4 april tot en met 10 april 16 april 7 mei 17 mei 23 mei 24 mei 25 mei 5 juli 26 juli 14 september 15 september 22 september 23 september 28 september tot en 4 oktober 5 oktober 6 oktober 7 december tot en 14 december 22 december

INDISCHE FEESTDAGEN Republic Day Maha Shivratri Holi Mahavir Jayanthi Good Friday May Day Buddha Purnima Independence Day Krishna Janmastami Ganesh Chaturthi Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi Vijaya Dashami Diwali Guru Nanak Jayanthi Christmas

Maandag Dinsdag Vrijdag Donderdag Vrijdag Vrijdag Maandag Zaterdag Zaterdag Donderdag Vrijdag Donderdag Woensdag Woensdag Vrijdag

26 januari 17 februari 6 maart 2 april 3 april 1 mei 4 mei 15 augustus 5 september 17 september 2 oktober 22 oktober 11 november 25 november 25 december

Sociaal Plan I. In voege 1/1/2007 ➞ protocol van akkoord dd 29/6/2006 (Handel – Nijverheid – Vakbonden - Regering) ➞ opschorting voor 3 jaar van de 1/3% op invoer van ruw; verlengbaar zolang het sociaal plan in voege is ➞ vrijstelling van betaling: elke onderneming tot € 5 miljoen omzet/jaar ➞ financiële buffer van € 800.000 ➞ rekening met de DE-MINIMISREGEL (Europa)= uitkeringen maximaal € 150.000 /3 jaar ➞ restitutie werkgevers die diamantarbeiders tewerkstellen aan het eigenlijk bewerken van diamant in een erkende werkplaats (PC 324) ➞ toezicht Regeringscommissaris en Revisor ➞ beheer: Bijzonder Beheerscomité 2 ICD

Overzicht 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

% 0,027 0,015/0,005 0,005 0,005/0,010 0,012 0,008 0,006

Inkomsten € 4,8 mln 1,6 0,6 1,2 2,9 1,8 1,4

Uitgaven € 2,2mln 2,2 1,8 1,8 1,8 1,9 1,6

De inkomsten en de uitgaven houden elkaar in evenwicht (cfr. protocol)

II. Juridische betwisting door een aantal diamanthandelaars - Arbeidsrechtbank: vonnis 19/3/10: vordering is ongegrond - Arbeidshof: tussenvonnis 29/9/11: stelt 2 prejudiciële vragen aan het Grondwettelijk Hof - Grondwettelijk Hof: arrest 25/10/12: vindt de 2 bezwaren ongegrond, zijnde de opgelegde compensatiebijdragen zijn geen belastingen; en niet strijdig met de grondwet - Arbeidshof: conclusie in hoger beroep 3/9/13: definitief en onherroepelijk afstand van het geding. De rechtplegingsvergoeding is integraal verschuldigd door de appellanten.

Steunmaatregelen voor wetenschappelijk onderzoek Om het wetenschappelijk onderzoek in België te bevorderen bestaan er enkele gunstige fiscale maatregelen. Zo zijn de lonen van onderzoekers deels vrijgesteld van bedrijfsvoorheffing, m.a.w. 80% van de BV moet niet doorgestort worden aan de Schatkist. Deze vrijstelling BV kan toegepast worden door universiteiten, hogescholen en wetenschappelijke instellingen.

Ook ‘Young Innovative Companies (YIC’s) en privéondernemingen die aan onderzoek en ontwikkeling doen, komen hiervoor in aanmerking.

Voortaan geldt er een aanmeldingsplicht voor nieuwe projecten en programma’s. De overheid heeft nieuwe definities van onderzoeks- en/of ontwikkelingsprojecten of -programma’s expliciet in het wetboek inkomstenbelastingen opgenomen.

Concreet moeten bedrijven hun nieuwe onderzoeks- of ontwikkelingsprogramma’s en projecten aanmelden op de website van de POD Wetenschapsbeleid (BELSPO). Op die manier moeten ondernemingen kunnen aantonen dat hun O&O-activiteiten fundamenteel of industrieel onderzoek inhouden, of dat er sprake is van experimentele ontwikkeling. Er wordt hierbij een onderscheid gemaakt tussen bedrijven die structureel onderzoek en ontwikkeling doen en bedrijven die punctueel werk verrichten, en een onderscheid tussen onderzoeksprojecten en onderzoeksprogramma’s. Die laatsten worden beschouwd als continue onderzoeksactiviteiten die niet zijn afgelijnd tot 1 bepaald project.

Voor onderzoeksprojecten moet bij de aanvang van elk project een dossier worden opgemaakt en voorgelegd aan de Programmatorische Overheidsdienst Wetenschapsbeleid (PODW). Onderzoeksprogramma’s moeten slechts eenmalig gemeld worden.

Wanneer het PODW de aanvraag goedkeurt, moet er enkel nog jaarlijks een lijst worden overgemaakt van de onderzoekers die werkzaam zijn binnen het onderzoeksprogramma.

III. Evaluatie Het sociaal plan wordt stopgezet als de totale loonmassa van de diamantnijverheid met meer dan 50% zou dalen t.o.v. referentiejaar 2006 (cfr protocol).

Loonmassa 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

€ 18,3 mln 17,1 17,2 14,5 14,7 15,5 15,9 16,1

Willy Henneuse Chantal Floorizone

Uit sympathie 25

Personalia The World Diamond Council members elect new Board of Directors The WDC Board comprises 20 members, equally distributed among five diamond industry sectors, and reflects the geographical diversity of the supply chain: EXTRACTION (MINING) OF DIAMONDS • Andrey Polyakov, ALROSA Group • Andrew Bone, De Beers Group • James R.W. Pounds, Dominion Diamonds Corporation • Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Rio Tinto Diamonds NV RETAIL SALE OF DIAMONDS OR DIAMOND JEWELRY • Kent Wong, Chow Tai Fook • Roberto Coin, Roberto Coin SpA • Mark Jenkins, Signet Jewelers Limited • Ronnie VanderLinden, U.S. Coalition WHOLESALE TRADING OF DIAMONDS • Stephane Fischler, Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) • Anoop Mehta, Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) • Shmuel Schnitzer, Israel Diamond Exchange Ltd. (IsDE) • Ernie Blom, World Federation of Diamond Bourse (WFDB) permanent member MANUFACTURING OF DIAMONDS • Mervin Lifshitz, Botswana Diamond Manufacturers Association (BDMA) • Vipul Shah, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion CouncilIndia (GJEPC) • Avi Paz, Israel Diamond Institute (IDI) • Elliot Tannenbaum, Leo Schachter Diamonds AT LARGE • Gaetano Cavalieri, The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) - permanent member • Maxim Shkadov, International Diamond Manufacturers Assoc. (IDMA) - permanent member • Nigel Paxman, Malca-Amit Group of Companies • Edward Asscher, Royal Asscher Diamond Company Ltd.

New top at the World Diamond Council The Board of Directors of the WDC has elected a new President, a new Vice President and a new Treasurer. Mr. Edward Asscher became the new President, Mr Andrew Bone (De Beers Group) Vice President and Mr Ronnie VanderLinden (President of DMIA and Secretary General of IDMA) Treasurer. Being the fifth generation managing the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, Edward Asscher has excellent relations with both diamond

26

manufacturing and trade. He is well known in Antwerp and is or was active in many professional organisations such as the IDC, IDMA, the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers etc. Next to his 44 years in the diamond industry, he represented the Liberal Party for 4 years in the Netherlands senate. Mr. Asscher said he will continue the work of his predecessors but also that he will give a new stimulus to the recently changed KP. He considers it most important that consumers can keep their trust in natural diamond, free of conflict or abuses. The basis of the KP and the WDC is to defend the integrity of the diamond product. He feels it as a great responsibility.

SBD sincerely congratulates the 3 new officers, wishing them a very active and succesfull strategy for answering the many challenges of our diamond industry.

Raad van bestuur van de Federatie der Belgische Diamantbeurzen vzw ANTWERPSCHE DIAMANTKRING CVBA F. INZLICHT M. SCHONFELD

D. WAHL

BEURS VOOR DIAMANTHANDEL CVBA M. PRUWER J. ROTH

B. WEINBERG

DIAMANTCLUB VAN ANTWERPEN CVBA W. ROTTI Ph. BARSAMIAN

D. FRAENKEL

VRIJE DIAMANTHANDEL NV J. DRIJBOOMS S. ROTSZTAJN

P. STERNBERG

Voorzitter : Ondervoorzitter : Schatbewaarder : Algemeen Secretaris : Tweede Secretaris :

Dhr. W. Rotti Dhr. M. Pruwer Dhr. B. Weinberg Dhr. P. Sternberg Dhr. M. Schonfeld

Rijksverlofkas voor de Diamantnijverheid Op 1 juli 2014 is de 65-jarige directeur van de Rijksverlofkas voor de Diamantnijverheid (RVD) Walter Huysmans op pensioen gesteld na een loopbaan van 44 jaar op de RVD en 27 jaar als directeur van deze bijzondere vakantiekas. Gedurende deze periode werden heel veel zaken die van belang zijn voor onze diamantnijverheid operationeel gemaakt.

Hij wordt intern opgevolgd door dhr. Gert Eysackers.

SBD houdt eraan dhr. Huysmans te danken voor de loyale, discrete en punctuele uitvoering van zijn werk. En hoopt om met dhr. Eysackers dezelfde integere samenwerking te mogen verder zetten.

New Board of Directors Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC)

Union Bank of India opens a branch in Antwerp’s Diamond Industry

Fischler Stephane

Manufacturers

UNION BANK OF INDIA, the 6th largest Bank in India in the Public sector is opening its 3rd overseas branch in Antwerp.

Inzlicht Freddy Korn Jacques Polakiewicz Thierry

Bourses

The Antwerp Branch will undertake trade finance, remittances and syndicated loans that will greatly facilitate the trade between the countries particularly from India and assist the Indian corporates in their overseas ventures. The Branch proposes to assist global corporates and to selectively undertake the local diamond business fully complying with local regulations. While it is stated that Antwerp Branch will have a well-diversified portfolio. The exposure to the Diamond sector will be to the extent of 20% of the total Business.

Kedia Santosh Mehta Samir Mehta Kaushik Patel Ramesh Shailesh Javeri Weisz Jacques Vandenbempt Koen

Trade

Independent Director

Stephane Fischler reelected as President AWDC During its first meeting the New Board of Directors of AWDC reelected Mr. Stephane Fischler as President The Board of Directors also appointed Mr. Kaushik Mehta as Vice-President, representing the trade, and Mr. Freddy Inzlicht as Vice-President representing the Bourses.

Mr. Fischler was born in Antwerp in 1958. Being the thirdgeneration diamantaire who started working at Fischler Diamonds in 1979 and currently partner in the company, Mr. Fischler has an in-depth experience in the diamond industry and a long record of public service. Over the years Mr. Fischler has held many executive positions in various industry bodies as IDMA, IDC, DDI, WDC, HRD, WTOCD (scientific diamond research centre) and SBD. The election of Mr. Fischler to President of AWDC is of the utmost importance for the Belgian diamond sector of which in all his executive positions he has been a strong defender according to the most stringent rules.

He is highly respected in and well known for his dedication towards the Antwerp diamond community and beyond. To quote him in a previous interview: “Antwerp has a unique peoples infrastructure and a unique pool of talents. Together, we must strengthen and promote our common and rich history for the benefit of all. I firmly believe we need to focus on further anchoring our industry in our local society; share the value of our entrepreneurship and global networks with Antwerp, Flanders and our country.”

The Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Arun Tiwari speaking on the occasion of the inauguration at the Branch said “India Continues to be a great growth story. With the renewed emphasis coming from the recent changes in the political and economic circles, India can definitely emerge as one of the fast growing nations in the next decade. Union bank will ensure that both Indian and other corporates growth are well facilitated by banking services and competitive funds raised from overseas centres under our MTN programmes.

Union Bank of India Rijfstraat 2-4, 2018 Antwerpen Email : ce.awp@unionbankofindia.com

Foto: left: Mr. Manjeev Singh Puri, ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU; Mr Arun Tiwari, Chairman and managing Director, Union bank of India; Ms. Renu Sharma Dy. Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, on the right side : Mr B S Venkatesha, Chief Executive Union bank of India Belgium; Mr. Maheshwaran General Manager IBD, Union bank of India head office.

SBD sincerely congratulates her vice president Stephane Fischler with this important executive position.

SBD houdt haar jaarlijkse Statutaire Ledenvergadering op donderdag 17 juli 2014 om 17 uur.

Alle leden van SBD zijn van harte welkom.

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Personalia Nieuw bestuur Diamantclub van Antwerpen Raad van Bestuur Willy Rotti Philippe Barsamian Thierry Polakiewicz Willy Henneuse

Voorzitter Ondervoorzitter Afgevaardigd Bestuurder Afgevaardigd Bestuurder

Leden René Benyacar Sylvio Cohen Y Escaloni Daniel Fraenkel Emmanuel Frish Mukesh Shah

Koen Smets Jean.Jacques Steigrad Michaël Suchowolski Rony Unterman Rahul Zaveri

*** Overlijden We vernemen het overlijden van mevrouw Denise Tricot, moeder van mevrouw Chantal Florizoone, echtgenote van bestuurslid Willy Henneuse.

SBD biedt de familie de uitdrukking van haar diep medeleven aan en wenst haar veel sterkte in deze moeilijke periode.

*** Announcement of death With regret SBD learned the death of Mr. Navinchandra Dahyalal Mody, representative of Bonas-Couzyn. Mr. Mody was an esteemed member of SBD since 1982 and ‘Navin’ will be surely missed. The Syndicate of the Belgian Diamond Industry extend to the members of the family her deepest condolences.

*** Chaim Even-Zohar Honorary Life members of Diamond Dealers Club SA Renowned diamond industry journalist Chaim Even-Zohar has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Diamond Dealers Club of South Africa (DDC) for his lifetime dedication and contribution to the diamond industry, “as a highly appreciated analyst and watchdog.”

Chaim Even-Zohar is the Managing Director of Tacy Ltd, a consulting company to the diamond industry and a generator of information and news via a regular newsletter published and distributed across the globe to diamond industry members.

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SBD was vertegenwoordigd Maart 2014 4/3 11/3

13/3

18/3 20/3 21/3

- RVB Rijksverlofkas voor de Diamantnijverheid - VBO Centrale Werkgroep - Fonds-VDAB inzake knelpuntberoepen - Plenaire zitting Paritair Comité voor de Diamantnijverheid en -handel - Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid - Organisatiecomité wereldcongres 2014 - Vormingsfonds - RVD - Onderhoud met de Minister van Werk - Bureel SBD - RVB HRD Antwerp NV - Examencommissie Diamantexpert van CRB

April 2014 1/4

8/4

10/4

14/4-18/4 22/4 24/4 25/4

28/4 29/4 30/4

- Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid - RVD - RVB AWDC - RVD - Intern Compensatiefonds voor de Diamantsector - ADV-verlof PC324 - RVD - Inauguratie nieuwe voorzitster VBO - Opening tentoonstelling en uitbreiding diamantmuseum Brugge - IWT-WTOCD - RVD - RVB AWDC

Mei 2014 5/5 6/5

8/5 13/5

15/5 19/5

20/5 22/5 26/5 27/5

- Diamantdebat AWDC/UNIZO - VBO Centrale Werkgroep - Vormingsfonds - RVD - Bureel SBD - VZW Briljant - RVD - Organisatiecomité Wereldcongres - Vergadering Laureaten van de Arbeid - RVD - Fonds voor de Diamantnijverheid - Algemeen Bestuur SBD - Leerlingencommissie PC 324 - VBO-CSA - Examencommissie Diamantexpert van CRB - RVD

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Simply Sparkling

Advanced Technological Diamond Manufacturing Schupstraat 9/11 l 2018 Antwerp tel: +32 3 206 50 80 l fax: +32 3 206 50 89

DE HANTSETTERS & VERHAERE

NV

CRISDIAM International Diamond Manufacturers

Schupstraat 21, 2nd floor 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium info@dhv.be

Tel. : +32 (0)3 233 90 76 Fax : +32 (0)3 231 72 34 www.dhv.be

INTERNATIONAL DIAMOND MANUFACTURERS

Hoveniersstraat 2 bus 240 B-2018 Antwerpen Belgium Tel. 03-233.65.59 - Fax: 03-234.28.51 www.crisdiam.com IMPORTERS - EXPORTERS

THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AND PIONEERING RESEARCH, DIAMCAD HAS OBTAINED A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE MARKET OF HIGH VALUE GEM STONES. OUR TEAM OF HIGHLY SKILLED AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS BRING THEIR WIDE EXPERIENCE WHEN HANDLING A STONE WITH THE PARTICULAR ATTENTION AND SPECIAL APPROACH IT DESERVES. AS A RESULT OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL MIXTURE OF TECHNOLOGY, INSIGHT AND CRAFTSMANSHIP, DIAMCAD HAS ACQUIRED A PROMINENT REPUTATION.

DIAMCAD NV - SCHUPSTRAAT 17, 2018 ANTWERPEN - BELGIUM T. +32 (3) 206 92 70 - F. +32 (3) 206 92 71 - INFO@DIAMCAD.BE - WWW.DIAMCAD.BE