Jewelers from Czech and Belgium have also brought their best works to the Shanghai World Expo.
Preciosa, one of the world's leading manufacturers of crystal beads and pendants, recently held a presentation in the Czech Pavilion. Dating back to 1376, Preciosa is known as the producer of the world's first Maria Theresa chandelier.
Martin Dvorak and Zuzana Sihanova, champions of the Czech Republic in standard dances for 2010, performed a dazzling show in glittering costumes decorated with Preciosa stones. Their performance was followed by a mini fashion show displaying the brand's latest cut-crystal jewelry collection.
The Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) held the Antwerp Diamond Day in the Belgium Pavilion yesterday. It was the first theme event of the four-day Antwerp Week, which ends on Thursday.
Antwerp is known as the heart of the world's diamond industry and AWDC contains 1,500 diamond companies and four diamond bourses. To celebrate, the renowned ECC diamond racket trophy, featuring 1,600 diamonds of 150 carats, was flown in Shanghai to be displayed at the Diamond Exhibition Corner in the Belgium Pavilion, together with 10 antique jewelry pieces from the Diamond Museum of Antwerp, as well as selected winning works of the HRD Awards 2009.
The exhibition also features "Lesotho Promise," the 15th-largest stone ever found (603 carats), which was once auctioned in Antwerp for US$12.4 million.
"Diamonds Love Antwerp," an agreement signed between AWDC and Shanghai Diamond Exchange at the event, aims to promote Antwerp diamonds in China and help develop China's diamond industry in a healthy, sustainable way.