Buy a diamond from Sightholder/Diamantarie??

[adorezy]

I had a nice reading today on the supply chain in diamond industry today. So, mining companies (e.g. De Beers) mine and distribute the rough diamonds, and companies like 'Sightholders' (this is the term used by De Beers, which refer to the companies who can buy rough diamonds from De Beers directly) buy the rough diamonds and cut and polish them into the diamonds we see on the market. And then diamonds are traded on Diamond Bourses, and wholesales/retailers can also buy small amount of diamonds from 'Sightholders'. We, consumers, are actually at the end of the supply chain, and paying the highest price.

This makes me think: can we buy our dream diamond from 'Sightholders', i.e. the company who cut and polish rough diamonds? The mark-up in diamond trading, and in fact the whole jewelry industry, is HUUUUUUGE. However, the article did say the diamond supply chain is 'very strictly controlled' - that might be why consumers cannot buy diamond from Sightholders directly?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I can promise you that all of us here would be doing that if it were possible!

 

[Karl_K]

Actually some siteholders do have direct to consumer operations/subsidiaries.
You don't save any money, they just make a higher % of the profit.