April 2003 Diamonds/News De Beers' 2002 Sales Rise DTC plans to promote right hand rings heavily Sales for De Beers’ Diamond Trading Co. reached $5.15 billion in 2002, up 15.7% from 2001. Global diamond jewelry sales held up, with preliminary figures indicating about a 3% gain over the previous year. DTC says reports from the trade suggest jewelry sales outperformed general retail sales, and diamond jewelry outperformed the general jewelry category over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season in the U.S. DTC attributes the strong showing to the increase in quality ad spending by the diamond trade, the development of multiple brands and innovative marketing. Right-Hand Ring Push DTC also confirmed it will launch a marketing initiative promoting right-hand rings, says Sally Morrison, director of the Diamond Information Center in New York City. She says DTC is contacting key members of the trade, some of whom tell Professional Jeweler they welcome the effort as a way to drive sales, just as earlier DTC promotions sparked sales of three-stone jewelry Right-hand rings will get a push from De Beers’ DTC in 2003: This photo from Harper’s Bazaar shows four examples, from top: a pink marquise diamond ring from Graff, a starburst-cut yellow diamond ring from Bulgari, an oval diamond ring from the Vivid Collection and a marquise diamond ring from Cartier.