Khaberni - The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), through its official website, announced that it had presented a luxurious gift to President Donald Trump, consisting of a gold ring studded with 321 natural diamonds.
This gift was given in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence, and the ring was delivered through the US Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White.
The center explained that this precious piece was crafted from pure gold and studded with 321 natural diamonds, in addition to 75 other gemstones.
The center explained the reason for this gesture, emphasizing that the United States has been a major trading partner for Antwerp for many generations, and that a large portion of the natural diamonds sold there eventually ends up with buyers in America. Therefore, the ring was meant to express the old and close economic ties between the two parties.
The center specially emphasized the exclusive use of natural diamonds in the making of the ring; AWDC mentioned that although it is impossible to distinguish between natural stones and those manufactured in laboratories without special equipment, they differ completely in terms of origin, rarity, and symbolic value.
This issue is very sensitive for Antwerp; historically, the local diamond sector – linked for centuries with the Jewish community in Antwerp – specifically specializes in natural stones. However, in recent years, the sector has faced severe pressures due to fierce competition with less expensive synthetic diamonds, which have become widely prevalent in the American market.
The situation worsened due to restrictions imposed by the European Union; since 2024, a ban on the trade of Russian diamonds has been in effect. This has led to the bankruptcy of many companies in Antwerp, as well as a decline in the total volume of diamond trade from about 10 billion to 6 billion euros, according to data from the period between 2023 and 2025.
Experts indicate that the diamond sanctions imposed by the European Union have actually benefited producers of synthetic diamonds in the United States.
