Reena Ahluwalia Postage Stamp

Belgian Postal Service celebrates diamonds with Reena Ahluwalia’s ‘Bel Canto’ postage stamp.

Belgian Postal Service issues 5€ postage stamps featuring diamonds and celebrating Antwerp as the world’s diamond capital

Diamonds and Jewellery featured on Postage Stamps from around the world

Belgian stamp memorializes Antwerp's diamond lore

AWDC helps celebrate Antwerp with a jewel of a stamp

Antwerp, Belgium, April 17, 2008 – The Belgian Postal Service has issued a new stamp featuring a diamond-jewelry necklace designed by North American jewellery artist Reena Ahluwalia, a finalist in the HRD Awards 2007 design competition.

The stamp is one of a five-stamp collection entitled "Antverpia 2010," with each stamp showcasing one aspect of life in Antwerp. The collection, which was issued to promote the European Philatelic Championship, a celebration of stamps that will take place in Antwerp in 2010, highlights the Flemish city's transport, history, harbor, fashion and, of course, diamonds.

Antwerp handles 80 percent of the rough diamonds traded worldwide and 50 percent of the polished diamonds.

The diamond necklace featured on the stamp features 101 carats of diamonds and was designed by Ahluwalia in collaboration with Antwerp-based Diarough (diamond sponsor) and Shrenuj and Co. (jewel sponsor). With only a handful of postage stamps in the world featuring diamonds, and even rarer featuring a diamond jewellery piece; this postage stamp is a rare honour for a diamond jewellery piece and a jewellery artist’s work.

The piece, which appears almost as a dazzling item of armor, was entered into last year's HRD Awards competition organized by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). The competition was centered around the theme "A Night at the Opera," with Ahluwalia's necklace, titled "Bel Canto," paying homage to the legendary diva Maria Callas.

About the AWDC

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) is the official representative of the Belgian diamond sector, and in this capacity is charged with managing the relationship between the diamond sector and government, and promoting the interests of the Belgian diamond industry worldwide.