The CEO talks
Love never gets old!
HRD Antwerp has started an exclusive collaboration with one of the most successful platforms for selling pre-loved jewellery: 58 Facettes. This partnership does not only entail the certification of pre-owned jewellery but also the right to represent 58 Facettes through our offices and drop-off points. Retailers and individuals can drop off their pre-loved jewellery at HRD Antwerp, and we take care of the rest.
Ellen Joncheere – CEO of HRD Antwerp: “As I mentioned a few months ago, HRD Antwerp is rethinking its mission in the diamond and jewellery industry. We felt that we can do more than certify diamonds and jewellery. This is the first step in becoming a 360-degree jewellery service provider. As a lab, we have the unique position to support retailers with new services. With pre-loved jewellery becoming a mature market, we want to give our retailer network (Points of Trust) a head start.”
Retailers can function as drop-off points for pre-loved jewellery, and individuals can go directly to HRD Antwerp offices.
Ellen Joncheere: “Trust is everything in the world today. Authenticity matters, and customers want more and more transparency in the selling and buying process. As in many industries, the selling process has become more digital, and suddenly, somebody in a small town in Belgium has access to buyers worldwide. We jumped on that market because we know that these vintage pieces often don’t have any up-to-date certificates. This can influence the price dramatically for the seller. To maximize their return, we can update their certificate. It will make the piece sell quicker and at a higher value.”
Customers can even find out the selling price upfront. Using the 58F pricing tool, they can go to our website, answer the questions in the tool, and within 10 minutes, have an estimated selling price for their jewellery.
Ellen Joncheere:”With the help of artificial intelligence, 58 Facettes can determine the price of a piece of jewellery. Thanks to their data, they can calculate the ideal price to sell. Of course, before they start selling, we make sure that the stones, materials, and jewellery are real. Unfortunately, it happens that people get fooled. But this way, customers have full transparency on the process.”
In the past year, 58 Facettes had a track record of selling 3 out of 4 pieces in the long run.
Ellen Joncheere: “Selling can take up to a year. Sometimes, they also have to drop prices. Buyers need the same transparency and authenticity as sellers. So, they tend to go faster for certified pieces, of which they are guaranteed the value and authenticity of a piece. So, if you want to sell at the highest price and as quickly as possible, you should certify goods. That’s where we come in and help out.”
This collaboration with 58 Facettes is the next step in the future of HRD Antwerp. The love we share for jewellery is a shared responsibility. It’s not because something is old that it can’t be loved anymore. In fact, love never gets old!
Ellen Joncheere
CEO HRD Antwerp