Born in 1974 in Antwerp, Aakash Shah was immersed in the world of diamonds long before he ever held a loupe. “As a household, we always spoke about diamonds,” he recalls. “It was always diamond topics at the dinner table. Like a sponge, I was taking it all in.” This was no coincidence: his family’s legacy in the industry stretches back decades. His uncle was one of the very first Indians to settle in Belgium in the early 1960s, eventually marrying a Belgian lady and integrating deeply into local life in Kalmthout. Aakash’s father followed soon after, and by the early seventies, the family had laid permanent roots in the province of Antwerp.
From a young age, Aakash was introduced to the craft. He learned basic sorting skills during school holidays, guided by his uncle. That early exposure set the tone for what would become a lifelong passion. His uncle eventually introduced him to a diamond factory in Kessel, where Aakash completed his apprenticeship and stayed on as a trusted right hand. It was there he encountered the second great mentor of his life, Herman Heylen, an expert in brillianteering, who refined not just stones but also Aakash’s understanding of triple excellent and hearts & arrows. Their relationship grew beyond professional respect into a true family bond, with Herman even making regular visits to India. Each step along the way, Aakash was building not just experience but also a multi-cultural, multi-generational perspective on the trade.
“I don’t think I can ever give back what my mentors gave me, they have truly been my Well-Wishers”
Later, in Antwerp, Aakash joined a major sightholder company where he met his third mentor, Ronald Van der Veken. “That’s where I learned about company ethics and about large-scale manufacturing. They had units all over the world.” Under Ronald’s guidance, Aakash flourished. “I was given huge freedom to work, along with responsibilities. It really started blooming into something beautiful. I don’t think I can ever give back what my mentors gave me, they have truly been my Well-Wishers”.
This foundation of trust and technical expertise eventually led Aakash to become an independent consultant. Today, he offers insights on estimations and strategies to KP Sanghvi & Sons, a firm with a rich, 60-year history. “It became family again,” Aakash says fondly. “There’s a strong sense of cultural ethics. They do charity work, support women in being part of the workforce, and offer equal opportunities. These are values I deeply believe in. The global workforce comprises 35% women, and in the polishing factory in Botswana this figure is even 55% .” The dedication of KP Sanghvi & Sons to driving change is clearly reflected in its numerous initiatives. Among other initiatives, they have an annual budget to support a 185-acre sanctuary for 6,000+ rescued cattle with a veterinary hospital and planted 300,000+ trees to combat climate change.
On LinkedIn, Aakash’ new visual identity, Mystic Blue, caught my attention. “I wanted to create an identity not directly linked with diamonds,” he explains. “Diamonds are mystical, and blue is the most defined colour in the chart. It rings a bell for me. I wanted something that could be global.” Together with his wife and a technical partner, he is laying the groundwork for an innovative venture in the luxury space, one that won’t conflict with his current work but will open new doors.
Despite his forward focus, Aakash remains deeply invested in the fate of Antwerp as a global diamond hub. “Antwerp is close to my heart,” he says. “But the sector is going through a volatile phase. It’s painful to see. We’re still in for a bit of a bumpy ride.” He believes in the recent global marketing push but feels it needs sharper direction. “We keep promoting within the industry. But we should be targeting the consumer, not just the people in those three streets in the diamond district. We need both educational and emotional messaging. From the point of extraction to the diamond on someone’s finger, there’s an emotional journey. And we also need to share the practical realities: diamonds do good. The consumer should know that.”
Antwerp’s strengths, Aakash says, are still unmatched. “The know-how is difficult to beat. The think tanks are still here. And geographically, Belgium is in the centre of Europe. The biggest luxury brands in France, Italy, Switzerland, they all focus on precision and perfection and this what Antwerp can offer, we are barely a stone’s throw away.”
