Buy rough diamonds direct from producers.

Why buy rough directly

The margin captured between rough and polished is the core economics of the diamond manufacturing business. A rough parcel purchased at market and polished in-house typically yields a polished value 40–60% higher than the rough purchase price — this is the manufacturer's margin that Antwerp dealers, aggregators, and brokers currently capture. Buying direct from producers means bypassing that intermediary layer entirely.

For Indian manufacturers based in Surat and Mumbai — who collectively process approximately 90% of the world's polished diamonds by volume — access to direct-from-origin rough is the primary lever on profitability. The traditional route runs through Antwerp, where producers sell to major dealers who then sell to Indian manufacturers at a margin. Each step in that chain costs the manufacturer money. Direct procurement, with proper KP documentation and escrow protection, removes most of that cost.

Antwerp dealers and Dubai trading houses also benefit from direct sourcing at scale — particularly for high-volume run-of-mine parcels from newer African producers who have not yet established Antwerp relationships. OnePiece acts as the introduction and facilitation layer: we verify the seller, the KP documentation, and the valuation, then structure the transaction with escrow and bonded delivery so the buyer has full protection.

What we source

Our primary sourcing relationships are with African producers across the major diamond-producing nations. Botswana is the world's largest rough diamond producer by value — home to the Jwaneng and Orapa mines, among the most productive in the world. Angola's Catoca and Lulo mines produce gem-quality material of high distinction. Namibia's marine diamond deposits produce exceptional gem-quality stones with favourable size distribution. Sierra Leone has historically produced some of the world's most remarkable individual gems. Lesotho's Liqhobong mine produces large, high-quality stones.

Russian ALROSA-origin material — which historically represents approximately 30% of global rough production by value — is available through independent verification channels. Canadian traceable diamonds are available for buyers requiring conflict-free provenance with full traceability to the mine.

All parcels we facilitate are KP-certified and independently valued. We do not facilitate transactions for material without proper documentation — the institutional buyer network we serve requires full compliance, and we enforce it on both sides of every transaction.

The rough buying process

The process begins with an introduction via WhatsApp. We ask buyers to specify their requirements: size distribution preference (small melee, mid-range, large stones), quality range (gem, near-gem, industrial), approximate carat weight required per parcel, price range, and preferred origin. This specification matching allows us to present only relevant opportunities rather than undifferentiated flow.

Once a matching parcel is identified, we share the documentation package: KP certificate, independent valuation, size distribution breakdown, origin documentation, and any existing grading information. The buyer reviews and either accepts, counters, or declines. On agreement, escrow is established — typically a bank escrow account in a neutral jurisdiction, funded by the buyer before the parcel is released by the seller. Delivery is via bonded courier (Brinks or equivalent), insured from source to destination. On receipt confirmation by the buyer, escrow funds are released to the seller.