De Beers is the name of the enterprise which dominates diamond production and the diamond trade worldwide. De Beers commands approximately 65 percent of the market. The firm was founded in 1880 by Cecil Rhodes, a Briton who had purchased prospecting interests in South Africa. Ernst Oppenheimer purchased De Beers in 1929. His descendants continue to sit on the board of directors of this South African diamond concern. Their primary striving is to prevent extreme variations in diamond prices by controlling the market.

The quality of a diamond is appraised according to four criteria, the so-called "4 Cs." These criteria are: color, clarity (purity), cut (polish), and carat (the weight of the stone expressed in carats).This mineral is also known as the "king" or "queen" of gems. For millennia, the diamond has epitomized hardness, immortality, and beauty. Our modern word "diamond" derives from the Ancient Greek word "adamas," which means "invincible." Indeed, this precious stone is the hardest of all minerals. It ranks highest ("10") on the Mohs' scale of hardness. Diamonds are made entirely of pure carbon. Diamonds are currently mined above all in South Africa, South America, Russia, China, Australia, and most recently also in Canada, where diamonds can be found in many different colors. The raw stones are most frequently cut in the brilliant cut.

The Dresden, often also known as the "Green Dresden," ranks among the world's most famous diamonds. Its fame derives from its unique combination of size and beauty. The stone weighs a stately 41 carats, and its appeal is above all due to its unusual color: a deep and perfectly clear green. The Dresden is cut in a teardrop shape. This diamond probably comes from India, but its early history is unknown. It is believed to have been purchased by Friedrich Augustin II, Elector of Saxony, for 400,000 thalers in 1742. He kept the diamond in his treasure chamber, the legendary "Green Vault" in Dresden, where the stone (which now belongs to the Dresden State Art Collection) is still kept today.