Brand Story

"Hey, Chinese Boy, You’re Here!" – A Changing Landscape

The view from Chu Xiao’s Antwerp office hadn’t changed in nearly a century—until he arrived three years prior. The office, once owned by a Jewish trader, had since passed into the hands of a young Chinese man.

Each morning, traditionally dressed Orthodox Jewish traders fill the street, joined by brisk Indian traders speaking accented English and carrying black briefcases. The unassuming paper envelopes they carry—often pink or white—may look like candy wrappers, but contain dazzling diamonds worth tens of thousands of dollars.

“Surprised that such precious stones are wrapped so carelessly?” Chu laughed. “You’re holding $100,000 in your hand.”

On Antwerp’s diamond street, trust is everything. Deals worth millions are often sealed with just a handshake or a few minutes of conversation. A signed note can unlock diamonds of immense value.

According to AWDC, 130 million carats of diamonds are mined annually, with 84% of rough and nearly half of polished diamonds flowing through Antwerp. The city’s deputy mayor notes that diamonds are among Belgium’s top export products, accounting for 5% of total exports and 15% of exports outside the EU.

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Diamond Market and Chinese Consumers

Despite a global slowdown, AWDC’s chairman Ari Epstein stated that China’s rapidly expanding middle class has turned the country into the largest export market for Belgian diamonds. By 2023, China is expected to account for around 30% of the global diamond market.

Jeweler Edgar from Dayekh, who has 12 years of experience, shared a story about crafting a 4-carat diamond ring for a 24-year-old Chinese woman from London who had contacted them via messaging app before flying to Antwerp to make the purchase.

Antwerp Deputy Mayor Ludo Van Campenhout revealed that there are about 1,800 diamond businesses in the city, and between 2007 and 2012, China’s diamond imports from Antwerp grew by 73%.

“From stranger to familiar face, when Chu Xiao steps out of the diamond exchange today, people greet him with: ‘Hey, Chinese boy, you’re here!’”

Yes, China has arrived in the diamond capital.

— Adapted from China Daily’s article "Unveiling Antwerp – The Diamond Capital" (2013-09-09)

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The Story of LUMIA – About the Founder

Chu Xiao was born in Beijing in 1980. He holds a master’s degree in Gemology from China University of Geosciences and is a certified diamond grader with both the UK’s Gem-A and Belgium’s HRD.

Before starting his own company in Belgium in 2010, he worked at the National Gemstone Testing Center of China and was China Market Director for the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD).

One of his most memorable experiences was in 2009, when he was selected for a national quality inspection mission by the government, traveling across the country to inspect jewelry manufacturers—an experience that reinforced his belief in quality and professionalism.

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Challenges and Anecdotes in Belgium

After quitting his job in China in 2010, Chu Xiao came to Antwerp with a bold dream: to build his own company at the source of the diamond trade. Looking back, the journey from arrival to founding Belgem in 2011 was the hardest period of his life.

He recalls an interesting experience when a Belgian girl fluent in Chinese visited his office with her mother, bringing two heirloom diamond rings. One featured a 3.5-carat diamond in a simple gold setting, while the other was a 2-carat white gold ring with a luxurious antique design. Both used old rose cuts and were estimated to be 150 years old.

Though he doesn’t purchase jewelry himself, he recommended they treat the white gold ring as an antique and recut the larger diamond into a modern brilliant cut to maximize its market value. He supervised the cutting process himself, preserving the stone's weight above 3 carats and achieving a certification of “EX-EX-VG”—a near-perfect grade.

“A once lifeless diamond now shines brilliantly, and I—a young man from Beijing—formed a lasting bond with two Belgian women.”

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Why Do People Wear Diamonds Today?

Diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable natural resources, making them excellent for wealth preservation. The word "diamond" originates from the Greek "adamas," meaning "indestructible."

In Europe, diamonds were once exclusive to male royalty and clergy, symbolizing absolute power and invincibility. That changed in the 16th century when the Duke of Burgundy gave a diamond to his beloved, breaking the tradition and starting the trend of gifting diamonds to express eternal love.

Today, diamonds represent enduring love and are often chosen for engagement rings—a tradition rooted in their noble origins.

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LUMIA Diamonds – Your Trusted Gateway to Antwerp’s Diamond World
With over 1,800 diamond firms, Antwerp is the global hub of diamond trading. Belgem, the only Chinese-founded member of the Antwerp Diamond Exchange, offers Chinese clients a direct and trustworthy channel to this world.
By choosing a member company, you benefit from the exchange’s strict regulation and professional standards—ensuring quality, credibility, and safety in every transaction.

LUMIA is here to guide you with expertise and integrity through the fascinating world of diamonds.