- Around the world, 24 tonnes of rough diamonds are teased from the earth every year.
- 70 billion dollars worth of diamond jewellery is sold each year.
- Percentage of world's diamond supply controlled by De Beers in 1889: 90
- Percentage in 2005: 49
- Maximum percentage of the world's $10 billion annual rough diamond production which fell into the category of "blood diamonds" in the late 1990s: 15
- Maximum percentage in 2006: 1
- Approximate age of a natural diamond, once it's mined: 1 to 3 billion years
- Approximate age of a gem-quality "cultured diamond" once it emerges from its growth chamber in a Florida laboratory: 4 days
Sources: 1 National Geographic Magazine; 2 International Diamond Exchange website; 3 De Beers / Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism, and Investment; 4 Diamond Development Initiative/Partnership Africa Canada and Diamondfacts.org; 5 Smithsonian Magazine; 6 Gemesis Corporation
Selling the Dream
- Rank of Wal-Mart in the list of largest jewelry retailers in the US: 1
- Percentage of US engagements sealed with a diamond ring in 2006: 85
- Percentage of Chinese brides who received a diamond wedding ring in 2005: 80%
- Percentage of brides who received one 10 years ago: 10
- Year in which "A diamond is forever" slogan was coined by the N.W. Ayer & Son advertising agency for De Beers: 1947
- Rank of "A diamond is forever" in the list of top 10 slogans of the 20th Century: 1
- Amount of global diamond jewelry sales in 2005: US$64.5 billion
- Amount spent on advertising and marketing programs by the diamond industry in 2005: US$ 680 million
Sources: 1 JCK Magazine, Reed Business Information; 2 International Diamond Exchange website; 3 Diamond Trading Company; 4 De Beers press release; 5 Advertising Age Magazine; 6 Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment