Young Antwerp Manufacturers Forge Ties

This month sees the second annual Antwerp Diamond Sailing Race, a sailing competition at that Belgian port city designed to publicize the diamond industry. But the most interesting part of this event may be the company organizing it—mainly because it's not a company. It's better defined as a corporation, or perhaps an "alliance."

The Young Antwerp Manufacturers consists of three companies that joined forces with the idea that bigger is better.

"For young people, it's not easy to survive without a big company behind you," says the group's Jan Drybooms. "We figured if we put our heads together, it's much easier."

At the recent Hong Kong International Jewelry Fair, for example, the group had its own booth, with all three members sharing expenses.

It helps that they all work within different niches: One does fancies, another rounds, and the third works with stones larger than one carat.

For more information, visit www.yamdiamonds.com.