The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) is a London-based subsidiary of the De Beers Group, specializing in the sale and marketing of rough (uncut) diamonds. The company forms an essential part of De Beers' market control mechanism, maintaining an exclusive list of sightholders to which it sells all De Beers gem-grade diamonds coming to the market in a limited number of sales per year. Nicky Oppenheimer is chairman of DTC. Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7,421,328 and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. ... In business, a subsidiary is a company controlled by another, usually large—and often multinational—company or corporation. ... The De Beers Group is a Johannesburg- and London-based diamond mining and trading corporation. ... A scattering of round-brilliant cut diamonds shows off the many reflecting facets. ... A sightholder is a company on the Diamond Trading Companys (DTC) list of authorized bulk purchasers of rough diamonds. ... Nicky F. Oppenheimer is the son of Harry Oppenheimer and grandson of Ernest Oppenheimer, the first generation of the family to chair (from 1929) the De Beers diamond mining company in South Africa, founded by Cecil B. Rhodes in 1888. ...

DTC receives uncut diamonds from all of De Beers' mines around southern Africa, as well as some production from ALROSA in Russia. The diamonds are then sorted into over 16,000 categories, according to size, color, and quality. They are then combined into lots for sale to sightholders. Sightholders are invited to DTC's London offices several times per year and are given the opportunity to purchase lots of diamonds at prices set by DTC. According to a January 13, 2004 DTC media release ([1]), there are 84 sightholders, and three additional companies authorized to purchase diamonds from DTC for industrial use. In 2004, DTC's sales were $5.7 billion, an increase of 3.2% over the previous year. Categories: Africa geography stubs | Southern Africa ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

DTC also operates De Beers' famous diamond marketing campaigns to consumers.

References

• "The Diamond Trading Company - Fact Sheet". Hoover's. Retrieved December 1, 2005.
• "De Beers - Diamond Trading Company" (official website). De Beers. Retrieved December 1, 2005.
• "Diamond Trading Company Confirms Sightholder List". January 13, 2004 official press release.