Richemont, Signet in Talks to Join De Beers Bid Consortium

The possible addition of two of the largest downstream diamond buyers to a consortium led by a former De Beers chief suggests the industry's retail and luxury end may be positioning to influence supply at the source. That would mark a notable shift from the traditional separation between miners and the brands that sell to consumers. Whether the talks conclude is the open question, and whether such a vertically integrated group would face scrutiny is worth watching.