According to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the strong activity reflects the city’s enduring importance for both producers and traders. Antwerp’s concentration of goods and buyers creates competitive bidding conditions that many mining companies still prefer for marketing their rough production.
Logistics and infrastructure also play a role. Bonas, the auction house hosting the sales, operates 32 viewing rooms in its Antwerp facility — more than anywhere else globally. This scale allows it to run multiple tenders at once, supported by tight security, extensive weigh-checking procedures, and independent oversight.
In total, around 900 parcels of rough diamonds are being offered this month, with an estimated 850,000 carats (roughly 170 kilograms) expected to generate close to $90 million in sales. The stones originate from mines in Botswana, Canada, Lesotho, Brazil, Tanzania, Namibia, and Angola.
Industry representatives say improved visa access for overseas buyers has also contributed to attendance, particularly from India. Timing is another factor, as diamonds purchased now can still be cut, polished, and delivered to jewellery retailers in time for the holiday season in the United States and other markets.
Rough diamond tenders are central to the global trade, allowing producers to sell directly to manufacturers through competitive sealed bidding. Antwerp, with its long-established ecosystem of buyers, traders, and support services, remains the only hub able to stage multiple large-scale auctions of this kind within a short period.