Carat+ Postpones 2019 Show

RAPAPORT... Carat+ has called off its upcoming fair indefinitely, citingwaning interest in the Antwerp diamond show from exhibitors and visitors, itsaid Friday. "We were looking forward to the third edition of the event,"Carat+ directors Filip Van Laere and Dirk Blommaert said in a joint statementFriday. "However, being confronted with declining commitment of buyers andsellers as exhibitor or visitor, we concluded that it would be difficult toachieve the high-quality standards we impose on ourselves, while meeting theexpectations of our visitors and exhibitors for an event like Carat+." While the show debuted in 2017 with over 2,900 visitors, thatfigure declined to about 2,400 this year. The 2019 event was set totake place from February 10 to 12. Its organizers will now work with theindustry to refine and improve the fair's format to attract a higher level ofinterest, they said. Image: Carat+ visitors' guides. (Carat+)