(IDEX Online) - De Beers has launched an online platform to sell its rough diamonds.
It's offering its registered buyers a new opportunity in a market severely weakened by COVID-19.
De Beers' third Sight of the year , in March, was canceled and the fourth, in May, was virtually wiped out by travel restrictions.
The new "Buy platform" allows users to search and buy in four categories - very high-end; high-end; mid-market and low-end - at the price displayed online, at any time.
De Beers also operates online auctions, which were launched as an industry-first in 2008.
The De Beers Group's Auctions business, which runs both the auctions and the new Buy platform, sells 10 per cent of the company's rough diamond supply.
Alastair Bickerstaff, head of product development and sales, said: "We are especially pleased to introduce this additional flexibility for our registered buyers in light of the current COVID-19 situation.
"We are constantly seeking additional ways of meeting our customers' needs in a fast-moving world."
Buyers can search by keyword, filter by characteristic and store their favorite criteria.