HB Antwerp Opens Diamond Training Academy
The HB Academy will offer classes for prospective specialists and jewelry retailers, and continuing education for its own employees.

HB Academy, a state-of-the-art center based in Antwerp, will comprise three parts: training for prospective diamond specialists, courses for jewelry retailers, and an internal continuing education program for its own employees.
The academy will host a technical course three times a year for those interested in learning diamond polishing, starting this September.
After a “rigorous” selection process to assess technical skills and mathematical understanding, the academy will then choose eight prospective polishers to advance to a 12-week training course.
Those who complete that next step will be offered a job at HB Antwerp, where they will take additional courses to further master the craft under expert polishers.
Additionally, HB Academy will offer educational courses about the nuances of rough and polished diamonds catered to both boutique jewelers and major watch and jewelry brands.
The courses will be designed to help sales staff better understand their products and address customer questions.
“The combination of innovative technology, experienced craftsmanship, and transparency is the hallmark of HB Antwerp,” said Director of Corporate Affairs Margaux Donckier.
“HB Academy marks the first full-fledged, Antwerp-based training center for those in the diamond trade in decades. HB Antwerp is proud to contribute to the emergence of Antwerp as an international center for diamond knowledge and expertise.”
The academy and its program come as HB Antwerp continues to grow its operations.
The diamond company uses the latest planning and polishing technologies, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to take stones from rough to polished.
It signed on to analyze and cut the Sewelô diamond for Louis Vuitton last year and agreed to buy all Lucara Diamonds’ large stones (10.8 carats and up) through the end of 2020.
Concurrent with its news about the academy, HB Antwerp also announced a partnership with boutique incubator WomHub to recruit Botswanan engineering students for a training program.
The HB Innovation Lab is intended to support those pursuing STEM careers and provide local training and job opportunities, including a female-focused component for further gender parity in the diamond industry.
HB Antwerp said it intends to extend job offers to some participants upon completion of the program for positions at its diamond operations facility in Botswana.
The company is accepting applications through Aug. 2, with the program starting in September.
Those chosen for permanent positions will be onboarded at the start of 2022.
The Latest

He first took a job at then Philadelphia-based Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone in 1963 and retired in 1996.

The lifestyle platform will stock fine jewelry and watches from the retailers on its website and in store.

It cited two recent cases in California, plus incidents in Florida, Kansas, and Illinois.

Rare & Forever is helping to create an enjoyable diamond buying experience for the millions of newly-engaged couples.

The 10,000-square-foot location allows for expanded collections from design partners while continuing custom design and other services.


Svetlana Lazar’s “Wishing Well” collection utilizes an innovative component to mimic the movement of water beneath them.

Experience all the Italian Jewelry market has to offer in Las Vegas.

Watch the webinar in which National Jeweler’s editors talk about jewelry market week trends and their predictions for the rest of 2022.

All proceeds up to $25,000 will benefit the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth.

It’s a reminder that life is best lived with discretion.
The end-to-end software allows for real-time control over all sales, inventory, repairs, customer communications, and marketing.

Associate Editor Lenore Fedow shares her impressions of the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show and a few of her favorite finds.

Sales were up 36 percent year-over-year in June and are pacing 24 percent ahead of last year at this point.

Kate Della Monica, a senior specialist in the Jewelry and Watches department, will relocate to the Sunshine State.

LVMH’s investment arm has taken a stake in Lusix, a lab-grown diamond company based in Israel.

Sotheby’s New York put a colorless diamond and a fancy deep orange-brown diamond up for sale last week, with mixed results.

Profits will help them recoup financial losses.

Retail veteran Alexis Nasard will step in as CEO on July 4.

The organization also extended the terms of Vice President Feriel Zerouki and Treasurer Ronnie VanderLinden.

After suffering a professional setback, columnist Peter Smith reflects on our ability to bounce back even when the hits keep on coming.

Glatz owned and operated Glatz Jewelers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania for more than 40 years.

The organization will present three awards at its annual dinner, dance, and gala in October.

Former McKinsey partner Emily Yueh marks new president Evan Yurman’s first hire.

The New York jeweler also made the pop star’s wedding bands.

It’s predicted to sell for up to $484,000 during the Bonhams Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction on June 22.

The recipient will receive up to $17,500 toward a tech-focused certification or program of their choice.