De Beers has significantly reduced its global sightholder base, informing more than 20 of its existing 69 clients that they will not continue under the new contract period beginning July 1, according to industry sources. The updated list is expected to include roughly 45 sightholders, although the exact number may vary depending on companies operating through multiple divisions.

The scale of this reduction has exceeded market expectations, even as De Beers had previously indicated plans to consolidate its client network. Notably, traditional diamond trading centers such as New York and Israel now reportedly have only a limited number of remaining sightholders, highlighting a shift in the industry’s geographic dynamics.

Industry analyst Edahn Golan also noted the addition of a new sightholder from India, signaling a potential rebalancing toward emerging markets.

While De Beers has not officially disclosed the final list, it has confirmed that its sightholder directory will be updated once the new contracts come into effect. The move reflects a sharp contrast to the company’s peak in the 1970s, when it maintained over 350 sightholders worldwide.