A spectacular fashion show focussing on diamond accessories displayed by the models was held in Shanghai  recently. The occasion? “The Belgian city of Antwerp and the Chinese city of Shanghai celebrated the 30th anniversary of their sisterhood...”

The event  was organised by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).  Antwerp diamond traders travelled to Shanghai to take the opportunity to network with their Chinese counterparts.

Antwerp fashion designers Ann Demeulemeester, Haider Ackermann and Jean-Paul Lespagnard displayed select pieces from their collections. The sparkling diamond jewellery came courtesy an Antwerp company, Casa Gi. The entire evening was sponsored by Silk Road Diamonds.

"China is the fastest growing market for diamonds," said Margaux Donckier,  the spokeswoman for the AWDC. "A good relationship with the Shanghai Diamond Exchange is therefore of great importance for the Antwerp diamond sector."

Last year, Antwerp exported 1.8 million carats of polished diamond to China and Hong Kong, with a value of $3.7 billion. “This success can be explained by young Chinese couples, who think that a diamond ring is a condition for a good marriage,” said a press note of AWDC. “The growing popularity of diamonds is also contributing to  the growth of the Chinese jewellery market.  According to experts, the Chinese jewellery market will be worth more than $100 billion by 2015, which would bring China to the same level as the U.S. by 2020”.

During the visit, the AWDC signed several agreements with the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, aiming to further improve cooperation between the two trading in the years to come.