The Diamond Trading Company on Tuesday joined with sightholders to celebrate the opening of Forevermark Antwerp at a reception in De Foyer, Antwerp. This new facility began marking diamonds two months ahead of schedule in November 2006 and is the DTC’s first marking facility outside the U.K. It was created in order to satisfy the growing demand resulting from the launch of the Forevermark program in Hong Kong, Japan, China, and India.

The Antwerp opening is part of the DTC’s commitment to making the Forevermark facility as accessible as possible for sightholders in the countries in which they operate. The Antwerp facility currently employs 14 people and has 30 percent more capacity than the existing U.K. unit.

The Forevermark is a special symbol and identification number unique to each diamond, providing an assurance to consumers that their diamond meets the highest standards of the DTC. Each diamond with the Forevermark carries a promise that the diamond is genuine, natural, untreated, and has been cared for from the mine to its owner. Every diamond is also accompanied by a certificate of authenticity reassuring consumers that their stone was mined, cut and polished in an ethically, socially and environmentally responsible way.

Diamonds which are 0.30 carats and above are eligible for the Forevermark and every stone is carefully examined by a diamond expert before being inscribed with the Forevermark using highly advanced DTC technology. The actual size of the mark is 1/20th of a micron deep (1/500th the thickness of a human hair) and can be seen with the Forevermark viewer.

The Forevermark was launched in Hong Kong in September 2004. Its growth in 2006 is 56 percent in volume and 71 percent in value compared with 2005. To date, a total of 75,000-plus stones have been marked.

JCK