The Antwerp Diamond Exchange has announced that it will launch a three-day, invitation-only diamond fair in February. The invited parties include 43 leading Antwerp diamond companies and an exclusive group of diamond buyers from all over Europe.

The Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair will take place from Feb. 7-9, 2010, at the Antwerp Diamond Bourse. The diamond exchange’s trading floor will be temporarily converted into an exhibition hall.

Antwerp Diamond Bourse President Artur Beller noted: "Antwerp is the world's number one diamond trading hub for polished diamonds. More than 50% of the world's polished diamonds are traded here. No other center but Antwerp -and in particular the Antwerp Diamond Bourse - is able to bring under one roof a bigger and more varied selection of polished diamonds."

Beller said about 120 international diamond buyers have been invited to the exclusive fair, all of whom were chosen from a list of high-end European jewelry firms.