The City of Antwerp through the Photographic Lens of Brian Gavin…

Last week Brian Gavin spent 5 days at the diamond offices in Antwerp, Belgium, sorting through his new production of Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds. The new production was then shipped to the AGS laboratories to be graded and laser inscribed on the girdle with the Brian Gavin logo. These magnificent diamonds can be preordered by calling in on our toll free number 1-866-611-4465 or by e-mailing us at info@briangavindiamonds.com with your request.

Known for his love of photography, he slipped away for a few hours to capture the different sites of the City of Antwerp which we share with you here today…

**The Hand of Antwerp–Legend has it that a giant called Druon Antigon levied exorbitant tolls on every Scheldt boatman who passed his castle, and if anyone would not or could not pay up, the big man gleefully cut off the miscreant's hand and threw it into the river. Druon's comeuppance came from a Roman centurion named Silvius Brabo, who slew the giant and (as if that weren't enough) cut off his hand and threw it into the river, thus avenging the boatmen. The Flemish handwerpen (throwing of the hand) eventually became Antwerpen, the city's Flemish name (it's called Anvers in French).

Historians who deal only in dry facts tell a different story. They claim that sailors described the port city's location as aan-de-werfen (on the wharves). But to the people who live here, the severed, bleeding "Red Hand of Antwerp" is the symbol of their city. You find two statues in the town commemorating the Roman's act of revenge, and replicas of the giant's hand appear in everything from chocolate to brass.