Every year, our owner Jim Steen travels to Antwerp, Belgium - the diamond capital of the world, to acquire the most desirable of all gemstones, the "Diamond of Your Dreams" in any shape, size, or color. As your local member of the Independent Jeweler’s Organization, Jim travels to Antwerp twice each year to purchase diamonds directly from Antwerp’s leading diamond cutters. 
Image of Diamond cutter in Antwerp. Image provided by AVP Antwerpen 2021.
By buying directly from our cutting sources, Jim has the luxury of selecting from an enormous choice of the world’s most beautifully cut diamonds and we save heavy importer and distributor costs, allowing us to pass these great savings on to you! 
Jim and Sam Steen sorting through diamonds in Antwerp, Belgium 2021.
In Antwerp Jim personally sorts through hundreds of spectacular diamonds to locate the perfect diamond for you in the size, shape, color, and clarity you request at a price fit for your budget. We proudly comply with the Kimberley Process, which prevents conflict diamonds from entering the diamond trade, and by doing so, we can import conflict-free diamonds into the United States.
Only a small fraction of the number of diamonds Jim sorts through while in Antwerp to find the best times for customers like you.
For over 10 years Jim has gotten to know almost everything there is to know about Antwerp. Check out his top 10 Antwerp facts you may not already know, and don’t forget: you can request your own Antwerp diamond by giving us a call or text directly at 270-843-6103. Jim will be leaving in just a few short weeks for Antwerp and he would like to be your Personal Antwerp Diamond Broker.
Top Ten Things You May Not Know About Antwerp:
1. The Diamond District
Antwerp is known as the Diamond District and is also referred to as “the square mile.” This is a reference to the size of the Diamond District, which has the largest concentration of diamond-related activity in the world. About 80% of all the diamonds in the world are cut and traded in Antwerp. Now that’s a lot of sparkle in one place!
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
2. Het Steen
Het Steen, previously known as Antwerp Castle is the first medieval stone castle and fortress that controlled access to the Scheldt river and protected the old city of Antwerp from Vikings raids. Steen Castle, no relation to Jim Steen, as far as we know, is Antwerp's oldest building built between 1200 and 1225. The words "Het Steen," are dutch for “the stone."
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
3. Nello & Partache
There is quite a bit of public art scattered throughout Antwerp. One memorable piece is the “Nello & Partache” that can be found in Handschoemarket inspired by the novel “A Dog of Flanders.” It’s a moving Christmas tale about unconditional friendship in Hoboken and Antwerp. Nello, a poor orphan boy, befriends an abandoned cart dog, Patrasche, and every day they visit the Cathedral of Our Lady to admire the art of Peter Paul Rubens and experience a series of setbacks until their lives perished together from hardship.
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.4. Cathedral of Our Lady
The largest Gothic church, the Cathedral of Our Lady, in Antwerp, Belgium is one of Jim's favorite sites to visit aside from Steen castle. The Cathedral was erected in 1352 with its first phase of construction ending in 1521, it has never been ‘completed.’ The Gothic tower of Antwerp's Cathedral of Our Lady is the tallest church spire in the Low Countries reaching 123 meters (404 ft) into the sky. The cathedral also houses some major works of art including several significant works by the Baroque painter, Peter Paul Rubens.
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
5. Coffee in Antwerp
Jim likes to enjoy a little trayed quartet of coffee with an Antwerp hand biscuit after arriving in Antwerp to help him stay awake as he adjusts to the time change. Much like the United States, Antwerp, Belgium is a nation of caffeine lovers. With over 250,000 tons of coffee being stored in the port of Antwerp at any time, this port city has the largest coffee storage site in the world. 
Images from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
6. L'Ecoute
Speaking of hands, another stand-out public art piece sits on Antwerp’s popular shopping street entitled “L’Ecoute” (“Listen”) created in 1986 by French artist Henri de Miller, but only part of it. Originally the sculpture which included a massive head was in Paris, but now part of it lives in Belgium. The massive work included a human head lying on the ground with a cupped hand beside it. The city of Antwerp purchased only the hand in 1991 because as local Antwerp legend has it there was once a villainous giant named Druon Antigoon who demanded a toll to cross the Scheldt River and for those that could not pay he would cut off one of their hands. According to the story this carried on until Brabo, a young Roman soldier, defeated him by severing the giant’s hand and throwing it into the river. This episode is said to be the origin of the city’s name, which comes from "hand werpen," Dutch for “hand-throwing.” 
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
7. Frites
Savoring fries or Frites/Frietjes is essential in Belgium and one food that Jim looks forward to devouring with a side of mayo each time he visits Antwerp. These luxury hand-cut potatoes are served in Frites boutiques and yes, served traditionally with mayonnaise rather than ketchup. It’s been long disputed whether the origin of these deep-fried potatoes originated in Belgium or France. One Belgian journalist, Jo Gérard, claimed that a manuscript from 1781 recounts that potatoes were deep-fried before 1680 in the Meuse valley, in what was then the Spanish Netherlands, present-day Belgium.
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
8. Railway Cathedral
Antwerp Central station, nicknamed the Railway Cathedral, is the main railway station in Antwerp, Belgium another spectacular landmark Jim visits. Its grand architectural features of stone, glass, and metal make it one of the most beautiful high-speed rail stations in the world. Jim says he admires how Antwerp has preserved the station's grand architectural past and merged it with the technologies of our present day. 
Images from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
9. Port House
You can’t miss The Port Authority Building, or the Port House, in Antwerp as it is a very unique government building. The design includes a renovated fire station and a connecting contemporary structure resembling a hull of a sailing ship with a protruding bow and the surface of the facets of a diamond facing the Kattendijk dock. Designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid, this architectural jewel is also a reference to Antwerp's association with the diamond industry. The exterior of the "diamond" consists of transparent and opaque triangular facets which allowed the architects to control the amount of sunlight entering the building. 
Image from Google Creative Commons License 2022.
10. Belgium Chocolate
One special thing everyone at the store looks forward to when Jim arrives home is the Belgium Chocolate he brings along for everyone. It's true, no chocolate tastes as good as chocolate from Belgium. In 1912, praline was invented in Belgium and soon became known for making the best chocolates in the world. The Belgian chocolate industry is almost 400 years old. Belgium can produce up to 600,000 tons of chocolate a year. With around 2,000 chocolate companies and shops all over Belgium, the country remains one of the reigning producers and exporters of chocolate in the world. One thing to note is with your purchase of your dream diamond from Antwerp, Jim will include one of the most sought-after boxes of Belgium chocolate for you and your special someone to enjoy!
Côte d’Or Milk Chocolate Connoisseur Bar from Antwerp, Belgium
Jim is pleased to be returning to Antwerp in just a few short weeks because we have had so many pleased customers. Remember, the savings are great! Now is the time to make dreams or wishes come true. So don't delay, put in your request today! Request your Antwerp diamond in any size, shape, or color by giving us a call or text directly at 270-843-6103 or stop in our store located on the historic downtown Fountain Square in Bowling Green, KY.