Why is Antwerp leading the next wave of global jewelry design? The answer lies in its legacy. Once the center of the diamond trade, this Belgian city is now home to a bold new generation of designers reshaping what fine jewelry can be. With access to rare materials, deep cultural heritage, and a refusal to follow convention, Antwerp’s young talents are proving that luxury today is about substance, not spectacle.
Antwerp has long existed just outside the spotlight, quietly setting global standards. Its Royal Academy of Fine Arts helped launch the Antwerp Six, a group of designers who changed fashion forever. That legacy of disruption lives on, especially in jewelry. Here, access to metalsmithing and gemology runs through families and friendships. Knowledge isn’t gatekept—it’s passed on freely, refined over time, and shared across generations.
Antwerp’s diamond story began in the 15th century. The city’s port became a gateway for rough stones, and over time, it grew into the diamond capital of the world. Today, over 84 percent of all rough diamonds still pass through Antwerp, offering local designers unmatched access to quality stones and global standards. For them, this history isn’t just background—it’s a foundation.
The New Faces of Jewelry
Annemiek Franssens
For Annemiek Franssens, jewelry is personal. Each piece is handmade in Antwerp and grounded in emotional meaning, not trend cycles. Her designs reflect a slow luxury mindset—thoughtful, lasting, and intimate. “It’s a little piece of myself,” she says. The result? Pieces that feel both timeless and deeply human.
Fragille
Royal Academy graduate Gille Peeters doesn’t believe fine jewelry has to be delicate. Her brand, Fragille, explores contradiction—bold forms in soft finishes, wearable pieces with sculptural impact. Every piece is made by hand, speaking to an audience that defies labels. Fragille isn’t about polish, it’s about power.
Wouters & Hendrix
Katrin Wouters and Karen Hendrix have shaped Antwerp’s creative landscape since the 1980s. Known for surreal, instinctive designs, they work directly in metal without sketches—an approach that keeps their work fresh, tactile, and rule-breaking. Their team of in-house goldsmiths ensures quality, but it’s their perspective that makes them iconic: always original, never predictable.
Antwerp’s new jewelry scene isn’t following trends—it’s creating its own rules. Grounded in heritage but shaped by innovation, these designers are proving that fine jewelry today is about intention, craftsmanship, and character. Partner with I Luv Moda to connect your brand with the rising voices redefining luxury, one piece at a time.
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info@iluvmoda.com
