- Joined
- Sep 2, 2002
- Messages
- 2,859
Hi all,
I feel the need to inform you about a new era in the diamond world. During the last months, De Beers'' has conducted a length exercise reviewing the pros and cons of their existing customers and checking new applicants to obtain sightholder-status.
Lately, it also became clear that the stock of De Beers'' has decreased seriously over the last years, and that they cannot fulfill or guarantee the demands of their customers in certain areas of rough.
Last week, existing customers received notification whether they remained sightholder or not, and applicants were informed whether they are sightholders from July onwards.
The new list of sightholders is not officially released, but in such a small community, it is clear who are the winners and who are the losers.
The surprise in Antwerp is mostly in the list of companies who have lost their sight. A high number of them are very dedicated companies, with a good marketing program, some of them even with innovating cuts. In the past, these very companies were lauded for their cutting-expertise, and it is clear that they combine excellence in both cutting as in marketing.
This is why it is surprising that these companies lost their sightholder-status, and many Antwerp diamond-people are clearly disappointed about this.
It is too soon to say which effect this will have in the retail-market, but this change has the magnitude of an earthquake, and it will for sure have effects.
I will try to keep you informed about this.
Live long,
Paul
I feel the need to inform you about a new era in the diamond world. During the last months, De Beers'' has conducted a length exercise reviewing the pros and cons of their existing customers and checking new applicants to obtain sightholder-status.
Lately, it also became clear that the stock of De Beers'' has decreased seriously over the last years, and that they cannot fulfill or guarantee the demands of their customers in certain areas of rough.
Last week, existing customers received notification whether they remained sightholder or not, and applicants were informed whether they are sightholders from July onwards.
The new list of sightholders is not officially released, but in such a small community, it is clear who are the winners and who are the losers.
The surprise in Antwerp is mostly in the list of companies who have lost their sight. A high number of them are very dedicated companies, with a good marketing program, some of them even with innovating cuts. In the past, these very companies were lauded for their cutting-expertise, and it is clear that they combine excellence in both cutting as in marketing.
This is why it is surprising that these companies lost their sightholder-status, and many Antwerp diamond-people are clearly disappointed about this.
It is too soon to say which effect this will have in the retail-market, but this change has the magnitude of an earthquake, and it will for sure have effects.
I will try to keep you informed about this.
Live long,
Paul