From the miner to the marketer, diamonds pass through many hands in many countries before they adorn women and men around the world.
As in any industry, the spoils vary wildly among workers, landowners, companies and countries. Of course, who benefits and how will depend on one's perspective. Much has changed from the days in the late 19th century when De Beers controlled 90% of the diamond trade. The industry has seen many changes over the last decade, perhaps the most in its history, and tides continue to shift.
When it comes to who benefits from this glittering gem, there are many different scenarios along the diamond pipeline, but there are also patterns.
Who Benefits: A Snapshot by Numbers
- Real personal income in the Northwest Territories in 1996: $28,384
- Real personal income in 2002: $41,053
- Percentage of non-white ownership of mining companies operating in South Africa during the Apartheid years: 0
- Percentage of non-white ownership in 2007: 15
- Projected percentage by 2014: 26
- Ranking of Sierra Leone in the list of world's diamond producing countries (by value) in 2005: 9
- Ranking of Sierra Leone in the list of world's poorest countries (by GDP) in 2004: 6
- Number of secondary schools in Botswana, in 1966, the year in which diamonds were discovered: 3
- Minimum number of schools now established: 300
- Rank of Botswana in the list of top economies in Africa in 2006: 1
- Percentage of the population that lives on less than $1 a day: 33
Sources: 1. Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; 2. African Business; 3. Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment / United Nations Development Programme; 4. World Diamond Council, diamondfacts.org; 5. Botswana International Financial Services Centre / African Economic Outlook