Diamond Cartel May 2026

: De Beers formed the Central Selling Organization (CSO) to act as a single gateway. They bought rough stones from other miners to prevent them from hitting the open market and lowering prices.

Since diamonds have little practical "use-value" for consumers, De Beers had to create a psychological one. Why The Diamond Cartel Is So Long Lasting Economics Essay Diamond Cartel

: "Sightholders" (authorized buyers) were offered "boxes" of diamonds at a fixed price with no room for negotiation . If a buyer refused a box or tried to resell rough stones elsewhere, they were blacklisted from future sales. 2. Marketing: "A Diamond is Forever" : De Beers formed the Central Selling Organization