HRD Certified Diamonds — Buy from Antwerp
Every diamond we sell can be HRD certified — the grading laboratory born and headquartered in Antwerp's diamond district, 400 metres from our office on Pelikaanstraat 62. As the only major grading lab with deep Belgian roots, HRD is the natural choice for buyers who want Antwerp expertise built into every certificate.
About HRD
What is HRD Antwerp — and Why Does It Matter?
HRD Antwerp — officially the Hoge Raad voor Diamant, or Diamond High Council — was founded in 1973 as Antwerp's own answer to the growing global need for independent diamond certification. Unlike GIA, which is based in the United States, HRD was created in the heart of the world's most important diamond district. Its headquarters remain at Hoveniersstraat 22, Antwerp — the same street that has been the centre of the global diamond trade for five centuries.
From its founding, HRD's mission has been to protect both buyers and the integrity of the trade through rigorous, impartial grading. It grades diamonds according to the International Diamond Council (IDC) standards — the same framework used by all major labs — with one important distinction: where GIA and IGI use "Internally Flawless" (IF) as their highest clarity grade, HRD uses "Loupe Clean" (LC). This reflects HRD's strict insistence that a diamond must be visually clean under a 10× loupe.
As a member of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, Diamantwerp works alongside HRD as part of the same regulated ecosystem. When you buy an HRD certified diamond from us, the certificate was issued metres away from where the diamond itself was traded.
HRD Antwerp — Key Facts
Founded
Organisation
Standards
Report Check
HRD was created in Antwerp in 1973 — the only major grading lab whose headquarters, history, and identity are inseparable from the diamond district itself.
HRD uses "Loupe Clean" (LC) as its highest clarity grade, where GIA uses "Internally Flawless" (IF). A stricter, more practical standard — visibility under a 10× loupe, not just theoretical perfection.
HRD offers active tamper-proof diamond sealing — linking the physical stone permanently to its certificate. GIA suspended its sealing service in 2024. HRD remains the gold standard for sealed diamonds.
Lab Comparison
GIA vs HRD vs IGI — How Do They Compare?
All three laboratories use the same 4C framework and produce internationally accepted certificates. The differences lie in grading strictness, geographic focus, pricing, and the unique features each lab brings. HRD's defining advantages are its Antwerp heritage and its tamper-proof sealing service.
| Criteria | GIA | HRD Antwerp | IGI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1931, USA | 1973, Antwerp ✦ | 1975, Antwerp |
| Type | Non-profit | Private | Private |
| Grading strictness | Most strict | Strict | Slightly more lenient |
| Global recognition | Highest worldwide | High (esp. Europe) | High, growing |
| Antwerp connection | Lab in Antwerp | HQ in Antwerp ✦ | Founded in Antwerp |
| Highest clarity grade | Internally Flawless (IF) | Loupe Clean (LC) | Internally Flawless (IF) |
| Diamond sealing | ✗ Suspended (2024) | ✓ Active — tamper-proof | ✓ Available |
| Free online verification | ✓ gia.edu | ✓ hrdantwerp.com | ✓ igiworldwide.com |
| Typical premium vs IGI | +5–15% | +3–10% | Baseline |
| Best for | Maximum trust, resale, international | European buyers, Antwerp provenance, sealed diamonds | Value buyers, lab-grown |
✦ HRD Antwerp is headquartered at Hoveniersstraat 22 — 400m from Diamantwerp's office on Pelikaanstraat 62. No other grading lab has this level of Antwerp proximity. More about GIA →
Read our full GIA vs HRD vs IGI comparison guide →Education
How to Read Your HRD Certified Diamonds Report?
Every HRD grading report follows the same structure. Here's what each field means — and what to look for when you receive yours.
Sample HRD Certified Diamonds Grading Report — Diamantwerp
What the HRD Report Contains
An HRD grading report is the most trusted document in the European diamond trade. Issued after examination by multiple independent gemologists at HRD's Antwerp laboratory, it objectively describes every quality characteristic of the stone — with no commercial interest in the outcome.
Report Number — Unique identifier, laser-inscribed on the girdle. Verify free at hrdantwerp.com.
Colour Grade — D to Z scale. D–F colourless, G–J near-colourless. G–H recommended for best value. Colour guide →
Clarity Grade — Loupe Clean (LC) to P3. VS2 and SI1 are eye-clean at most carat weights. Clarity guide →
Cut Grade — Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Always choose Excellent — cut is the biggest driver of sparkle. Cut guide →
Fluorescence — Graded under long-wave UV. HRD also notes short-wave fluorescence on colour reports — a level of detail not all labs provide.
HRD Cut Grading System — Updated 2022
HRD Antwerp's comprehensive cut grading system for round brilliant diamonds
In 2022, HRD Antwerp published an updated cut grading brochure establishing its comprehensive assessment criteria for round brilliant diamonds. HRD evaluates cut across three components: Proportions, Finish (Polish + Symmetry), and Optical properties — combining all three into a single overall cut grade.
At Diamantwerp, we recommend Excellent or Very Good HRD cut grades for maximum sparkle and long-term value. Learn more about diamond cut →
HRD Diamond Sealing — The Physical Proof of Authenticity
Once graded, your diamond is placed in a tamper-evident blister pack alongside its certificate. The seal is physically bonded — if opened or tampered with, it shows immediately and cannot be restored. The report number is laser-marked on the pack, permanently linking the physical stone to its certificate.
This eliminates any possibility of diamond substitution after certification. The stone you see on the report is guaranteed to be the stone inside the seal.
Browse HRD Diamonds
HRD Certified Diamonds — Live Inventory
All diamonds below carry a HRD grading report. Prices are live from the diamond market - updated daily & filtered by carat, colour, clarity & budget to find your diamond
Other Labs
Also Available — GIA & IGI Certified Diamonds
Diamantwerp works exclusively with GIA, HRD Antwerp, and IGI — the world's three most respected independent diamond grading laboratories. Each has its own strengths.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — HRD Certified Diamonds
What does HRD certified mean for a diamond?
An HRD certified diamond has been independently graded by HRD Antwerp — the Hoge Raad voor Diamant — at its laboratory on Hoveniersstraat 22 in Antwerp's diamond district. HRD assesses the diamond's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight using IDC-compliant standards. HRD is one of the world's three most respected grading laboratories alongside GIA and IGI.
Is HRD as reliable as GIA for diamond certification?
HRD Antwerp applies strict, internationally recognised grading standards and is widely regarded as equally reliable to GIA for the European market. Both labs use the 4C framework. The main difference is that GIA has broader global recognition — particularly in the United States and Asia — while HRD carries stronger authority in Belgium, the Netherlands, and continental Europe.
Are HRD certified diamonds more expensive than GIA?
HRD certified diamonds are typically priced between GIA and IGI — usually 3–10% above equivalent IGI-certified stones, and 5–15% below equivalent GIA stones. This makes HRD an excellent middle ground: strict, respected European grading at a more accessible price point than GIA. At Diamantwerp, all three labs are available.
How do I verify an HRD diamond certificate?
Every HRD grading report has a unique report number. You can verify any HRD report for free at hrdantwerp.com — simply enter the report number to confirm the grades and check the certificate is genuine. For sealed HRD diamonds, the report number is also laser-marked on the tamper-evident blister pack.
Can I buy HRD certified diamonds directly from Antwerp?
Yes — Diamantwerp is based at Pelikaanstraat 62 in Antwerp's diamond district, 400 metres from HRD's laboratory on Hoveniersstraat 22. We offer HRD certified loose diamonds directly to private buyers and jewellers worldwide. By sourcing directly from the Antwerp market, you access the same HRD certified stones sold by high-street jewellers at up to 70% below their retail prices.
