Rough Diamonds

4000 years ago in the mines of India the first diamonds displayed their brilliance to the world. Diamonds that first come out of the mines and make to the trading tables are often is uncut and unpolished these diamonds are considered to be diamonds in the rough.

modern mining uncovering these rough diamonds. 80 percent of the world’s rough diamond supply thereafter came from South Africa, Russia, Botswana, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Angola, Australia, Zaire, and Canada. Most of which is under the control of De Beers.

There are fewer than 200 or so companies or people authorized to buy these rough diamonds from De Beers. These people are called “sightholders”. As of recently the climb of rough diamond sales has increased and although most of the diamonds in the market by De Beers and other Diamond Mining Companies of the world including Ekati Diamond Mines of Canada are distributing diamonds through their channels so do illegal diamonds make it into the market.



These diamonds are often mined out of South Africa and harvest wars within their regions. Governments and local authorities in the region are working hard to prevent “blood diamonds” from slipping into the distribution channels.