As the rough diamond distribution arm of the De Beers family of companies, the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) sorts, values and sells around half of the world’s rough diamonds.
Varda Shine, Managing Director
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Its clients, known as ‘Sightholders', are among the world’s leading diamantaires, and are carefully chosen for their ability to add value to the diamonds sold by the Diamond Trading Company, or the DTC.
Based mainly in the traditional cutting centres of Antwerp, Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Johannesburg and New York, as well as in Botswana, Namibia, Russia, China and Thailand, these Sightholders attend the DTC’s Sights, or sales weeks, which occur ten times a year. Through its sales process, the DTC is able to offer its clients a consistent supply of diamonds in a range of assortments.
The DTC is the world’s leading developer and producer of diamond technology and operates a dedicated Research and Development facility in the United Kingdom.
The work of the DTC’s Research Centre supports the consistency of DTC rough diamond assortments for its clients, and the sustainability of downstream industries in the DTC’s producer country partners.
The Diamond Trading Company has a combination of wholly-owned and joint venture operations in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the UK.
The diamonds sold by the DTC are sourced from De Beers mining operations in South Africa and from mines run in partnership with the governments of Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania. The DTC also purchases diamonds from Russia.
Highly skilled technicians sort these diamonds into approximately 12,000 different categories based on size, shape, quality and colour, ensuring consistency and accuracy in supply for Sightholders.
The DTC’s diamond distribution channel creates unrivalled access to the diamond pipeline for producers and is a key generator of sustainable revenues.
In addition, the Diamond Trading Company engages in a range of activities that aim to improve local capabilities in line with the economic objectives of its producer partners.
These activities are helping to support the establishment of a sustainable, integrated diamond industry within producer countries and to further the wider economic goals of governments.
Activities include skills development, promotion of producer countries abroad and assistance with diversification initiatives beyond diamonds.