After completing a master’s degree in physics at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, Ans Anthonis joined the Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) in 2002 as a research assistant, working on the detection of synthetic and treated diamonds
Two years later, she was promoted to Applied Research Manager, taking up the responsibility le for the quality control of the HRD’s gemmological laboratory for the detection of synthetic and treated diamonds and for the development of new research techniques.
In 2007, the HRD was restructured and split up in two different enterprises. The first is the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), a private foundation that represents the collective interests of the Belgian diamond industry, domestically and abroad. It also promotes Antwerp as the global capital of the diamond industry.
The second enterprise is HRD Antwerp NV, a completely independent subsidiary of AWDC. HRD Antwerp NV is a commercial organization with several divisions: the Diamond Lab; Research; Education; Equipment; and the HRD Graduates Club and
In 2013, Ms. Anthonis was promoted to Chief Diamond Lab and Research Officer of HRD Antwerp NV. She continues to be responsible for all the grading labs of HRD and the research team.
