Hb Antwerp
HB Antwerp is a privately held Belgian technology company founded in 2020 that operates a vertically integrated mineral infrastructure for natural diamonds — sourcing rough from mining partners, transforming it in-house with proprietary automation, and selling exclusively to luxury brands through blockchain-verified provenance and digital twin records.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersAntwerp, Belgium
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hb Antwerp does
HB Antwerp is a privately held Belgian company founded in 2020 that builds technology-driven mineral infrastructure for the natural diamond industry. Its core proposition is a vertically integrated closed-loop ecosystem that sources rough diamonds from mining partners, transforms them in-house using proprietary automation and measurement technologies, and sells exclusively to selected luxury brands. The platform combines the HB Capsule IoT device, Microsoft-powered Bitcoin blockchain traceability, and Digital Twin technology to record immutable provenance and detailed stone-level data from mine to retail. Internally developed equipment — including the patented Droid polishing robot (20-30x faster than traditional methods), HyperLoupe, SignifEye, Reflex, Morgana, Avalon, EOS Fancy, and M-Screen Ultra — plus the in-house Navigator polishing software and HB Blueprint R&D unit form the technical backbone.
The business operates a B2B sales model with three revenue streams: transaction-fee diamond transformation services for luxury brands (anchored by Louis Vuitton, with Tiffany & Co. as a named client), long-term supply agreements with miners (most notably a ten-year exclusive deal with Lucara Diamond Corp covering all +10.8 carat rough from the Karowe mine), and emerging technology/traceability services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; HB takes a fee plus manufacturing cost from polished sales, with true-ups against estimated polished outcomes. Operations are headquartered at the Antwerp Diamond Bourse with a second facility in Gaborone, Botswana (HB Botswana, opened March 2023), backed by a Government of Botswana partnership and a 137 million Pula investment. The company is self-funded with no bank financing or disclosed institutional investors, and has been recognized on Fortune's 2024 Change the World list (#12) and awarded the 2025 iF Design Award for the HB Capsule.
Hb Antwerp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hb Antwerp
- Legal name
- HB Antwerp
- Website
- https://hbantwerp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- HB Antwerp is a privately held Belgian technology company founded in 2020 that operates a vertically integrated mineral infrastructure for natural diamonds — sourcing rough from mining partners, transforming it in-house with proprietary automation, and selling exclusively to luxury brands through blockchain-verified provenance and digital twin records.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hb Antwerp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Diamond Manufacturing & Traceability Services
- NAICS
- Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Diamond Cutting & Polishing (Manufacturing) (CRAKAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rough Diamond Trading & Brokerage (CRAKAJAC), Polished Diamond Trading & Brokerage (CRAKAJAD)
Keywords
Where Hb Antwerp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Antwerp
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hb Antwerp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Diamond Transformation Services: HB Antwerp transforms rough diamonds into polished diamonds for luxury brands and miners. The company conducts the entire manufacturing process in-house, from rough to polished diamond.
- Supply Agreement with Miners: Purchase of rough diamonds from mining partners (e.g., Lucara) with pricing based on estimated polished outcome, with true-up paid on actual achieved polished sales. HB takes a fee and manufacturing cost from the polished sales revenue.
- Technology Services: Providing blockchain-based traceability services and digital twin technology to track diamonds through the supply chain.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hb Antwerp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HB Antwerp is a vertically integrated diamond Mineral Infrastructure company that sources, transforms, and distributes natural diamonds. The company purchases rough diamonds from mining partners (notably Lucara), cuts and polishes them in-house using proprietary automated equipment and software, and sells the polished diamonds to selected luxury brands and high-end retailers. Its offering is anchored by blockchain-based end-to-end traceability technology that records each diamond's journey from mine to consumer.
Product overview
HB Antwerp operates as a vertically integrated Mineral Infrastructure company offering a unified ecosystem for diamond transformation from mine to market. The core platform combines proprietary technologies including the HB Capsule (IoT device with blockchain), Digital Twin system, and Signum matching platform, supported by the HB Blueprint R&D division. The product portfolio includes proprietary automated equipment (Droid polishing robot, M-Screen Ultra screening device), precision measurement tools (Reflex, Morgana, Avalon, OptiGon), scanning systems (HyperLoupe, SignifEye, EOS Fancy), and The Navigator polishing software. Training and education services are delivered through HB Academy, while Signum extends the brand into the metaverse with NFT offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HB Capsule Proprietary IoT device paired with Microsoft-powered blockchain technology that travels with each diamond, tracking every stage from mine birth to end consumer sale, using HB Ledger for accountability and data security.
- Digital Twin Detailed digital replica assigned to each diamond entering the Mineral Infrastructure, recording visuals, measurements, scans, and modifications to form a comprehensive digital counterpart.
- Signum Matching Platform Demand-driven matching program that connects miners with retailers based on exact rough requirements for polished needs, eliminating traditional supply-driven model and unwanted inventory.
- The Navigator Proprietary software revolutionizing the diamond polishing process by offering unparalleled accuracy and control in manufacturing operations.
- Droid Automated Polishing Robot Fully-automated diamond polishing robot integrated into HB Antwerp's supply chain, processing diamonds 10-30 times faster than traditional methods while working alongside expert artisans.
- HyperLoupe Proprietary technology enabling HB Antwerp's artisans to explore and analyze the inside of the world's largest diamonds with high accuracy, precision, and efficiency.
- SignifEye Stereo microscope for diamond grading and observation from rough to final polished stage, featuring dark field LED light, vacuum pump holder, Avalon light for facet quality visualization, and polarization option.
- M-Screen Ultra Superfast automated screening device for large amounts of melee diamonds, processing up to 15,000 diamonds per hour at 3 diamonds per second, using short-wave UV light to separate natural from lab-grown diamonds.
- EOS Fancy Only bruting machine capable of handling all convex fancy shapes, providing perfect girdle symmetry, no beard risk, and compatibility with planning files from all standard planning software.
- Reflex Cut Grading System Measurement system for grading complete cut (proportions, polish, symmetry) with inclination and index angle accuracies up to ±0.02°, generating complete 3D models including girdle.
- Morgana Family Alignment System Equipment alignment solution using parallel light beams and cameras for accurate measurements (±0.01°) to achieve perfectly cut Triple Excellent diamonds, includes OptiGon for facet angle measurement accurate to ±0.02°.
- Avalon Family Polish Inspection System Camera system and light-source technology for checking facet smoothness while diamond is still in tang, automatically evaluating polish grade for consistent quality improvement.
- HB Blueprint R&D Services In-house research and development entity continuously exploring new technological advancements for tracking, analyzing, sawing, cutting, laser engraving, and polishing diamonds.
- HB Academy Training Programs State-of-the-art training and knowledge center in Antwerp for diamond specialists and jewelers, offering technical courses for prospective polishers, customer-facing training for retailers, and corporate education programs.
- Signum NFT Brand Bespoke experiential brand and metaverse luxury brand bridging physical and digital diamond ownership through NFTs, launched as the first luxury brand born in the metaverse.
Quantifiable outcome
- Diamond income from Botswana collaboration increased by 40%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hb Antwerp
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hb Antwerp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability5 records
Feature13 records
Hb Antwerp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.
- MITminorEstablished partnership with MIT for research and development purposes.
- Government of BotswanacoreGroundbreaking partnership with Government of Botswana for establishment of HB Botswana facility. Represents transformative partnership for in-country diamond transformation and economic diversification.
- Lucara Diamond Corp. (Extended)coreExtended ten-year partnership after 24 months of successful initial cooperation. Continued exclusive supply of large diamonds from Karowe mine.
- MicrosoftstrategicMicrosoft-powered blockchain technology powering HB's traceability platform. Featured in Microsoft Changemakers film series.
- Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)minorLong-term MOU signed to foster next generation of talent in diamond industry through collaboration on education and training.
- WomHubminorPartnership with boutique pan-African incubator for female-led innovation in STEM to launch HB Innovation Lab in Botswana, cultivating sector-specific skills and attracting local talent.
- Sarine TechnologiesstrategicTechnology partnership integrating Sarine's Galaxy scanning, planning and AI-grading technologies into HB's proprietary ecosystem. Explores co-development of new technologies.
- Blockchain SolutionsstrategicCollaboration leveraging Bitcoin blockchain for immutable diamond traceability. Provides publicly verifiable diamond history information using open-source standards.
- ComatestrategicExclusive collaboration with Leuven-based design and engineering firm for AI and automation in diamond manufacturing. Strengthens HB's R&D department and launches IoT applications for revolutionizing stone journey.
- Lucara Diamond Corp.coreLong-term supply agreement for all +10.8 carat rough diamonds from Karowe mine in Botswana for 24 months. HB purchases diamonds based on estimated polished outcome with true-up on actual sales. This partnership accounts for approximately 70% of Lucara's annual revenues.
- Eco-AgeminorRetained sustainability and communications consultancy managing strategic partnerships and communications in Europe, North America and China.
- Louis VuittoncoreStrategic partnership for cutting and polishing exceptional large diamonds including the 1,758-carat Sewelô and 549-carat Sethunya for luxury jewelry collections. Customers participate in cutting decisions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hb Antwerp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rosy Blue: One of the world's largest diamond manufacturers with cutting and polishing operations across India, Belgium, and other hubs. Rosy Blue operates at similar scale to HB Antwerp in the manufacturing layer, with comparable luxury brand and retailer clients, but lacks HB's proprietary tech stack and blockchain traceability.
- Diacore: South African-headquartered diamond manufacturer specializing in large and exceptional stones, with cutting operations in multiple locations. Diacore is the closest direct peer to HB Antwerp in the large-stone specialist manufacturing category, serving luxury jewelers like Graff and De Beers.
- Diarough: Belgian-Indian diamond manufacturer with vertically integrated operations from rough sourcing through cutting, polishing, and jewelry manufacturing. Diarough is comparable to HB Antwerp as a vertically integrated mid-to-large player, though it operates in the melee and mid-stone segments rather than HB's large-stone specialty.
- Sarine Technologies: Israel-based diamond technology company providing scanning, planning, and AI-grading solutions across the global diamond pipeline. Despite being a current HB partner, Sarine is the most direct tech-enabled diamond manufacturing peer — offering Galaxy scanning, Advisor planning software, and grading systems to the same customer base of manufacturers, retailers, and labs.
Broad incumbents
- ALROSA: Russian state-controlled diamond miner producing ~30% of global rough diamonds by volume, with growing investment in traceability (ALROSA Provenance) and rough sorting technology. A broad incumbent with similar strategic objectives to HB Antwerp around transparency and source-country value capture.
- De Beers Group: World's largest diamond miner and longtime sightholder system operator, with vertical integration spanning mining, sorting, grading, and marketing. De Beers' Tracr blockchain traceability platform and Element Six synthetic diamond business make it a broad incumbent competing on the same provenance and sustainability axes as HB Antwerp.
Regional players
- Petra Diamonds: London-listed diamond miner with operations in South Africa and Tanzania, owner of the historic Cullinan mine (source of the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond). Comparable in producing large, exceptional stones — the same segment HB Antwerp specializes in transforming — though Petra operates upstream as a miner, not a transformer.
- Gem Diamonds: London-listed diamond miner focused on high-value large stones from the Letlhakane mine in Lesotho, with a history of producing exceptional diamonds. Comparable to Lucara as a peer-miner partner feeding the same large-stone pipeline HB Antwerp depends on; relevant for understanding alternative supply sources and competitive dynamics.
Others
- Lucara Diamond Corp: Canadian diamond miner operating the Karowe mine in Botswana — HB Antwerp's exclusive 10-year supply partner. Listed as OTHERS because Lucara is upstream (mining) rather than a competing transformer, but it is the single most important commercial counterparty to HB's business.
- Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group: Hong Kong-based vertically integrated jewelry retailer and manufacturer, one of the world's largest by retail footprint. While positioned downstream of HB Antwerp, Chow Tai Fook's vertical integration (own rough procurement, cutting factories in China, retail network) makes it a strategic comparable for the end-to-end mineral-to-jewelry value chain HB is building.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hb Antwerp social profiles
Digital presenceHb Antwerp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hb Antwerp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Hb Antwerp subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Hb Antwerp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hb Antwerp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hb Antwerp
What does Hb Antwerp do?
HB Antwerp is a vertically integrated diamond Mineral Infrastructure company that sources, transforms, and distributes natural diamonds. The company purchases rough diamonds from mining partners (notably Lucara), cuts and polishes them in-house using proprietary automated equipment and software, and sells the polished diamonds to selected luxury brands and high-end retailers. Its offering is anchored by blockchain-based end-to-end traceability technology that records each diamond's journey from mine to consumer.
Is Hb Antwerp a public or private company?
Hb Antwerp is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hb Antwerp founded?
Hb Antwerp was founded in 2020.
Where is Hb Antwerp based?
Hb Antwerp is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Hb Antwerp make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Diamond Transformation Services are the primary driver. The others are supply Agreement with Miners and technology Services.
Who are Hb Antwerp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rosy Blue, Diacore, Diarough and Sarine Technologies. Broad incumbents are ALROSA and De Beers Group. Regional players are Petra Diamonds and Gem Diamonds. Others are Lucara Diamond Corp and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group.
Does Hb Antwerp have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hb Antwerp.
What industry is Hb Antwerp in?
Hb Antwerp's product category is Diamond Manufacturing & Traceability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAJAA, Diamond Cutting & Polishing (Manufacturing), with a secondary code of CRAKAJAC, Rough Diamond Trading & Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 4251 and its SIC code is 5094.