Up until a few months ago, I had never even heard of conflict free diamonds, and now it seems as though I’m hearing about them all the time. They were pretty widely publicized when Pete Wentz proposed to Ashlee Simpson with a conflict free diamond ring, and since then I’ve been hearing about them almost non-stop, either that or I’ve just had my head in the sand for that long. No telling. Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie Blood Diamond has really brought the matter to the attention of the public. In the past, most couples never worried where their diamond came from, but now that is no longer the case. Here are some frequently asked questions about conflict free diamonds in part of a new series I will be doing on couples wanting to have a “green” wedding.
What is a Conflict-Free Diamond?
In some areas of the world, diamond mining is used to finance rebel fighting in places like Sierra Leone, Angola and the Congo. There is an estimate out which states that these smuggled diamonds, also called conflict diamonds, represented as much as 10-15% of the global diamond trade about ten years ago. The idea of people dying over the diamond in your engagement ring is terrible, and many couples want to make sure that the diamond they purchase for their rings doesn’t have such a grim and terrible history. Many changes have been put in place to help couples ensure that their stones are conflict free.
How Can I Tell if the Diamond is Conflict Free?
In 2002, the UN adopted regulations for being able to tell a conflict from a conflict free diamond. The Kimberley Process Certification System outlines many regulations and requirements countries must follow to make sure diamonds are mined and shipped in the right way. When diamonds meet these requirements, they are shipped with a Kimberley Process certificate. So when you are shopping for diamonds the jeweler should be able to provide this certificate. You could also ask to see the diamond’s System of Warranties statement.
Are Canadian Diamonds the Safest Diamonds?
Many couples believe that if they purchase a diamond from Canada it is the only way to know for sure that their diamond is a conflict-free diamond. It’s true that Canada has a great reputation for diamonds that are mined in an environmentally friendly and are conflict free. But you shouldn’t consider Canada to be the only location to purchase conflict free diamonds from. There are many conflict free diamond producers in Australia, Russia and even some African countries. Just make sure you can see all the documentations, as described above.
Are Conflict Free Diamonds more Expensive?
No, the contributing factors to the value of a diamond does not include whether or not the diamond is conflict free or not. The carat, color, cut and clarity. For more information about how to value a diamond, check out my previous article, How to Choose a Great Diamond.
As I’ve stated above, there are several ways that you can make sure that the diamond you purchase is conflict free. It doesn’t cost very much, and you’ll be absolutely sure that the history of your diamond doesn’t include bloodshed and death. Who wants to be reminded about that with the celebration of a marriage?
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May 19th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
This is a good article highlighting a critical issue that hasn’t received enough attention. However, it is a fact that unless you purchase a lab-created gem stone, you cannot be guaranteed that your diamond is conflict-free. That is the harsh reality.
Lab-created stones are the only form of conflict-free diamonds and are exactly the same optically, chemically and physically as their mined counterparts. The difference is that they are truly gems that you can feel good about.
It is also a fact that the issues associated with the traditional diamond industry go way beyond conflict. The industry has a poor track record when it comes to labor rights, environmental practices and social implications.
Unfortunately, Blood Diamond didn’t touch upon these issues and they remain largely unpublicized.
If you are looking for an alternative to traditional fine jewelry, check out http://www.C5company.com
May 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Hey Bekah,
Thanks for the input!