The "Diamond Cartel" primarily refers to the historic monopoly maintained by , which controlled up to 90% of the world’s diamond supply for over a century. This guide outlines how they operated, their marketing genius, and why their absolute control eventually faded. 1. The Strategy: Artificial Scarcity
: During economic downturns, like the Great Depression, the cartel would withhold supply and stockpile diamonds to keep prices from falling. Diamond Cartel
The cartel's primary goal was to ensure diamonds remained expensive despite being relatively abundant in nature. The "Diamond Cartel" primarily refers to the historic
: "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" If a buyer refused a box or tried
: 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