Bart Loots and Melissa, founders of LOU JEWELS, in Antwerp

The Loots family: five generations of Antwerp diamond dealers

ByAdmin1

Some jewellery houses start with an idea. LOU JEWELS started with a family. For five generations, the Loots family has worked with diamonds in Antwerp, a city that has been synonymous with fine cutting for centuries. This is the story of how that know-how found its way into the pieces we now share in Portugal.

Five generations in the diamond trade

In the Loots family, diamonds are passed down from one generation to the next. Bart Loots followed naturally in the footsteps of those before him. He is the fifth generation of the family in the diamond industry.

This kind of heritage is not something you learn on a course. You learn to look at a stone, to see what it could become and to respect the time each stage demands. It is knowledge handed down at the workbench, year after year.

A family of diamond cutters

Bart is the son of Dirk Loots and the grandson of Henri Daussi Loots, born in Antwerp in 1932. Henri learnt to cut diamonds from his father, Jozef Loots, who had in turn learnt the craft from his own father.

Henri became an internationally respected diamond cutter, specialising in large and valuable stones. He developed his own polishing wheel, with which he cut one of the first heart-shaped diamonds, and several of his creations are now on display in museums. He passed his knowledge on to his sons, Jef and Dirk, and it is this line that leads to Bart.

Twenty years from rough diamond to polished stone

Before founding LOU JEWELS, Bart spent twenty years in charge of the entire production process. It began with selecting and buying rough diamonds and ended with a perfectly cut stone.

That means knowing a diamond from the inside. Choosing the right stone, judging how it should be cut and anticipating how it will catch the light. That experience is behind every piece the brand makes today.

Bart and Melissa: a different path

With LOU JEWELS, Bart chose a different path, together with Melissa, his wife and right hand. Together they design and make quality jewellery at accessible prices. The idea is simple: unique jewellery should be within everyone’s reach.

Their roles complement each other. Bart turns years of knowledge and endless creativity into pieces to wear every day or keep for a lifetime. Melissa looks after the online shop and social media, and guides customers through their choices with personal advice.

What this means for every piece

The whole LOU JEWELS collection is designed with the greatest care, with particular attention to the balance between quality and price. In practice, this comes down to a few clear principles:

  • High-quality, conflict-free diamonds, chosen by people who have always known the trade.
  • Cut by master cutters, using traditional techniques that bring out the full brilliance of each stone.
  • Natural and lab-grown diamonds, both 100% diamond. Read more in our article Natural or lab-grown diamond: which should you choose?
  • Bespoke design: create a new piece, use your own stones or rework an old one.

In Antwerp’s diamond district

LOU JEWELS welcomes clients in Antwerp’s diamond district, in Belgium, in a warm, relaxed space where you can view the collection at your own pace. Visits are by appointment only. If you are in Portugal, appointments are arranged through Daniel, the Portuguese-speaking contact for LOU JEWELS.

You don’t need to travel to discover the pieces. All purchases are made directly with LOU JEWELS in Belgium, and Daniel can help in Portuguese, English, Flemish or French, from your first question to your final choice.

In short

  • The Loots family has worked with diamonds in Antwerp for five generations; Bart is the grandson of diamond cutter Henri Daussi Loots.
  • Bart Loots spent twenty years leading the whole process, from rough diamond to polished stone.
  • Bart and Melissa founded LOU JEWELS to make quality jewellery accessible to everyone.
  • The brand works with natural and lab-grown, conflict-free diamonds and makes bespoke pieces.
  • The space, in Antwerp’s diamond district, is by appointment only, arranged through Daniel.

Get in touch

Would you like to see the pieces or book a visit in Antwerp? Message Daniel on WhatsApp (+351 962 939 931). See our pieces and latest arrivals on Instagram and Facebook.