HB Antwerp Buys Sightholder's Cutting Factory

RAPAPORT... HB Antwerp has acquired the manufacturing facility of AMC Diamonds, a Belgian large-stone specialist and De Beers sightholder, bringing with it 13 employees as well as the company's machinery and technology."With this acquisition, HB Antwerp confirms its ambition to bring the diamond-polishing process back to Antwerp in its entirety by combining the typical Antwerp savoir faire with the latest techniques in the field of laser technology, blockchain and [artificial intelligence]," a spokesperson for HB said.Two-thirds of HB's workforce now comprises technicians such as diamond polishers, software engineers and mechanical engineers, the company explained. It plans to carry out more recruitment in the coming months, HB added.HB, which diamantaire Oded Mansori cofounded, partnered with Louis Vuitton earlier this year to buy the 1,758-carat Sewel?? diamond from Lucara Diamond Corp. It also agreed to purchase all of Lucara's rough over 10.8 carats through the end of 2020.It since hired Boaz Lev from Malca-Amit as operations director and one of its managing partners, and hired former Antwerp World Diamond Centre spokesperson Margaux Donckier as director of communications and external affairs.Image: Rough diamond. (Shutterstock)