Alibaba Strikes Deal with Belgian Trade

RAPAPORT... Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will collaborate with theAntwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) to bring Belgian diamonds to Chineseconsumers. Through the partnership, Shape of Antwerp diamonds will besold exclusively on the Chinese retailer's Tmall online marketplace. "Chinese consumers love Antwerp diamonds, and China is thesecond-largest market in the world for polished diamonds," the AWDC saidTuesday. After selecting a stone, consumers can have the diamond setinto a design of their choice, the AWDC explained. Diamond lab HRD Antwerp will certify all stones in the Shapeof Antwerp collection, and will also laser-engrave a tamper-proof QR code ontothe girdle of each diamond before it is set. Consumers can scan the QR code tofollow their diamond's journey from Antwerp to China using the platform'sblockchain technology."We want consumers to enjoy their stunning new diamondsinstead of worrying about the quality," said HRD Antwerp CEO Michel Janssens."By certifying every stone, HRD Antwerp guarantees the stone's natural originsas well as the quality of its 4Cs, so consumers receive exactly what they areexpecting." Last month, Alibaba also signed an agreement with Richemont,which will make the Swiss luxury retailer's Net-a-Porter and Mr Porterplatforms available through Tmall. The Chinese e-commerce group also announcedan expanded collaboration with the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) to sell itsloose stones on Alibaba's Ali Auction site. Alibaba and the AWDC signed the deal earlier this week atthe first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Image: Alibaba and AWDC signing agreement at CIIE in Shanghai. (AWDC)