Julien Drybooms appointed IDC Chairman

The International Diamond Council (IDC) has elected Julien Drybooms as its new Chairman. Paul van der Steen, also of Antwerp, is the new Vice-Chair.

"I am very pleased to take on this important position." said Drybooms.  He expressed his gratitude to the IDC and its founding member organizations, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA).  He also thanked Harry Levy, the former IDC Chair. "Levy has headed the IDC for many years and gave the organization outstanding service. I am delighted that Harry has agreed to remain as an IDC Board member," Drybooms said.

The International Diamond Council traces its origins to the 18th World Diamond Congress of World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), which was held in Amsterdam in May 1975. There, a joint committee that was later named the International Diamond Council, was appointed with a mandate to establish industry-wide unity in the grading of polished diamonds.
IDC’s mission is to formulate set of internationally recognized standards for diamond grading and nomenclature that would be applicable in the same way all over the world; to normalize working methods for applying those standards; and to encourage internationally recognized institutes to apply those accepted standards and methods.

The current IDC board members are: Harry Levy, Stephane Fischler, Rajender Gehani, Dieter Hahn, Christine Heiderich, Peter Hofer, Alan Loewe, Jochen Muller, Udi Sheintal and Meir Wertheim.