The Diamond Trading Company is holding briefings on the sightholder application process in cutting centers including Antwerp, Belgium; Hong Kong; Johannesburg, South Africa; Mumbai, India; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Toronto.

New York is not on the list—a sign that, despite far more frequent trips, DTC executives are still skittish about doing business in the United States.

Some questioned the need for these seminars, since it’s assumed that the number of sightholders will likely decrease as a result of declining DTC sales from Russia.

But DTC managing director Varda Shine said in a statement, “We are looking for partners that can demonstrate they are world-class businesses and can perform to the highest standards of ethical business practice.”