who controls the diamond industry?
143463
Debeers, the South African company, founded by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer back in the 19th Century.  His son (grandson?) Harry took over and , I think, still controls it.  I think Oppenheimer also runs Anglo-American, the greatest power in gold-mining, also, of course, South African.
566168
diamond can only be cut by another diamond.
923739
They are artificially held up in price by DeBeers and associated firms, there are actually huge amounts of diamonds being held back from the market to maintain the price levels.  The diamond cartel also funds massive ad campaigns to create a market.  The truly valuable gems are large, uncrazed emeralds, spinels, peridots, and sapphires...especially star sapphires (red sapphires are called rubies).  Large, well cut aquamarines are good value as well.\n\nAvoid opals and pearls....opals craze very easily if not in the proper humidity, and pearls can wear through the nacre after just a few years of being worn and rubbing against clothe.
1045333
Gemologist identifies and grades diamonds and gemstones
1009924
I think you mean Angola, because UNITA was using the diamonds and the government was using oil to fund the civil war. Now that it is over, though, it seems no one has any money now, it is all just being syphoned out of the country.
14127
yes. worked down there and found a two karat  and got it for 500 dollars. the catch is it is considered blood diamonds. due to the way they get the diamonds. and cant get it insured.
1068413
Diamonds form the diamond-water paradox\n\nWe pay a very high price for diamonds, which do not give us much utility, but we pay a low price for water which has high utility\n\ncoming to your question, The elasticity of demand for diamonds is high because a change in the price level, or the income of the consumer leads to a vast change in the demand for diamonds.\n\nAlso, as they contribute to snobbish appeal, the higher the income of a person, more diamonds he wishes to buy, just to show off his wealth.
1168378
Hardest substance is Diamond.
655958
The average diamond is approximately 3 billion years old. Some newer some older. Thats about 2/3 the age of the planet.\nDiamonds are not created in the earths crust, but rather deep in the earths mantle at about 1800 degrees F. The diamonds are brought to the surface by volcanic activity.
125500
Archer Daniels Midland -- they have a virtual lock on the Federal subsidies and the refining infrastructure.  Don't particularly like the company, but that wasn't your question.
873268
VERY CAREFULLY UNLESS YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN THE DIAMOND TRADE
123252
The African diamond economy is controlled by DeBeers. The largest diamond mine in the world is located in Africa. African gold is of average or below average grade, usually a deep yellow color. Most of the african gold reserves have been exhausted through centuries of mining. Now, miners are turning to things like uranium, which is plentiful in Africa.
138241
Cullinan I - also known as The Star of Africa was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, owner of the mining company, and currently claims the title of largest cut diamond in the world. Of all the worlds largest diamonds Cullinan I is the largest. It was cut by Asscher in Amsterdam, weighs 530.20 carats, and has 74 facets. The Cullinan now resides in the Tower of London and is set in the sceptre of King Edward VII.
154854
its a f-----ing diamond or a crystal.
666494
first of all do you know anything about diamonds?Do you know how to grade a diamond??Can you tell a real one from a fake??Do you have people or a place to sell your diamonds???There is a lot to know before you put your money or even your trust into a venture you are thinking about.
954484
Gold is actually a consumable / commodity.\n\n75% of the gold produced is used in jewellery the rest is for industril application (Circuit board etc)\n\nThe recent price hikes have been fuelled by demand for jewellery in the far East mainly India and china, People there now have money to spend and in some cultures it is a traditional wedding gift...... Any way the demand for gold in this part of the world has greatly increased hence the s"supply and demand" scenario. \n\nQuite often the gold used in industrial processes is recycled, but jewellery isn´t, It only retains its sentimental Value and quite often people are buried with it or pass it on to there heirs. So if you bought a €1000,00 bracelet today, you would probably only be able to sell it at scrap prices, as no one wants to buy second jewellery. \n\nBut anyway,  WHAT about De beers:   Diamonds are the most common natural resource on Earth.  Yet Why are dimanonds so expensive, Well, De beers, has a monopoly on the diamond trade, if they do not control a diamond mine, they agree to buy all the diamonds, so as to restrict market supply, if all the diamond mines currently in operation were to sell openly, the price of diamonds would crash, probably making them no more expensive than the piece of quartz in your €5,00 argos watch. Hence they have to restrict the supply of diamonds to the market and actually do have incredible stock piles of the stuff, but what is interesting is the fact that the monopolies commision has not seen fit to investigate the diamond trade............. Hope this makes sense,................ and doesn´t sound too much like a conspiracy theory......\n\nremember,,,,  Paranoia is having all the facts.
724003
It is believed that the Kohinoor carries with it a curse and only when in the possession of a woman will the curse not work. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or had other misfortunes befall them. The British are wary of this curse and so far, only Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth have adorned the gem as sovereigns. Since Queen Victoria the diamond has always gone to the wife of the male heir to the throne.\n\n*edit* Damn! Answerer number 1 got to you first.