Sightholders are customers of the DTC, De Beers’ marketing arm. Out of thousands of businesses that deal in diamond trading, the DTC chooses several dozen diamantaires who regularly receive an allotment of rough diamonds called “Sight.” This allocation is granted according to variables such as the customer’s need for certain diamonds, his grading and market fluctuations. In this framework, sightholders visit the company’s offices in London ten times annually in order to examine the merchandise. The term “sightholder” is derived from the client’s viewing of the rough diamonds.
When establishing its list of sightholders, the DTC conducts an in-depth examination of the candidates’ economic strength, marketing capabilities and technical skills.
The standards are considered high, so the chosen sightholder acquires a distinguished status among diamantaires worldwide. Up to 2003 there were 135 sightholders worldwide, but in 2004 De Beers decided to restructure its ties with its customers and reduce their numbers. In 2008, 79 companies were named sightholders by DTC London, South Africa and the company’s branches in Namibia and Botswana. This contract will remain valid until 2011, when the DTC will be entitled to reexamine and change the list as it sees fit.
