ABSTRACT
The previous chapter introduced a cross-cultural diamond trade network. The merchants who were active in this circuit had chosen to do business together and to that purpose they created privileged relationships with each other. They shared a certain intimacy in commerce and expected a certain level of loyalty from one another. High competition was one of the reasons why long-lasting informal structures were set up between traders, to avoid dealing with different faces for every transaction. It was Dormer who had tried to align himself ever more closely with Salvador in the hope that his commercial circle could gain from Salvador’s involvement in the Brazilian monopoly. They were aware of competitive organizations that were active in the diamond trade.
