Gorgeous Rings with Conflict Free Diamonds

Did you know that diamonds are actually regulated? Diamonds have been a very controversial stone since mining them began. They have financed wars, subjected children to child labor, and mined under very poor working conditions for some of the miners. Conflict free diamonds mean those that were properly mined and transported to your jewelry maker.

Back in 2002, the United Nations crafted regulations to help protect the diamond industry. They named it The Kimberley Process. This certification was crafted to prove that diamonds purchased are mined under ethical conditions, transported ethically, and not used to fund civil wars. The mines are required to adhere to strict standards for miners and cause no harm to the environment.

Ask to see the Kimberley Process Certificate before buying. Any diamond that a jeweler sells that meets the requirements of The Kimberley Process comes with a certificate. When you are jewelry shopping, ask to see the certificate before making a purchase. If you don’t see the certificate, you have no way of knowing if this diamond was mined or transported ethically.

Ask where the diamonds came from. If you have a good quality jeweler, they can tell you where their diamonds come from, who mines them, and how they are transported. They may verbally even tell you that they are conflict free diamonds, but that doesn’t prove anything. Make sure they have something called a, System of Warranties Statement that is proof of the diamonds history.

Go to a specialty retailer. There are specific retailers that specialize in only conflict free diamonds. We will provide a list with links below. These jewelers buy only ethical diamonds and many make donations to help heal communities that diamond mining and transport has harmed.

Know the policies of the country of origin. Canada has very strict regulations on diamond mining and transport and they have a very good diamond reputation. Other places with strict diamond regulations are; Australia, Russia, and some countries in Africa. Just avoid diamonds from the Ivory Coast. The Ivory Coast is a large place of unethical diamond mining and trade.

You should not be charged extra. A diamond that is certified by The Kimberley Process shouldn’t cost more. Do not allow a jeweler to tell you that the diamond is pricey because it is certified. On the flipside, be wary of cheaper diamonds claiming to be certified. You may be getting a very “low-grade” stone and may not be a good bargain.

Most of your reputable jewelers large and small specialize in "conflict free diamonds." As said above, always ask your jeweler to see The Kimberley Process Certification. These major retailers specialize in only selling ethical diamonds and can be found online, just click each link:

Tiffany & Co.

Brilliant Earth

Blue Nile

Zales

Hearts on Fire

Ben Bridge

Overstock.com

Botswana Diamonds

Botswana diamonds are in the “very good” range of diamonds and slightly more expensive than Canadian diamonds. Most of the diamonds are mined in this country and shipped to South Africa for processing. Some of these gems are found in Canada and processed in Botswana. All mines are checked and inspected thoroughly for environmental friendliness and superior mining conditions. The government of this country puts diamond money back into the community for medical care, housing, and education.

Russian Diamonds

Russian diamonds have excellent clarity. They are competitive in price to the African conflict free diamonds. Diamonds in Russia come from the Yakutia region near Siberia. Diamond mining is one of the largest job industries in this community. The government goes above and beyond to make sure diamonds mined are ethical and human rights are protected.

Russian miners are paid a very high salary, have excellent living conditions, and afforded retirement. Without diamond mining, these communities could not survive. Mining helps to fund health care, public utilities, and entertainment in the area.

Lab Diamonds

For a truly ethical diamond, you could always choose a lab diamond. These are created in a laboratory. The lab can recreate natural conditions that create a diamond through technology. They are indistinguishable from natural diamonds and are made up of the same chemical structure.

Diamonds created in a lab use diamond “seeds” from natural carbon. The technicians subject them to pressure and heat to exactly reproduce natural diamond growth. Lab diamonds come colorless or even some of the colors that are a rare find naturally. They are also affordable.

**Note: Brazil has a large diamond mining industry. There is also controversy with Brazil’s diamond industry as they are known for a large “blood diamond” trade. There are also diamonds being sold under The Kimberley Process, when they are actually “blood diamonds.”

India also has a large diamond industry. While they do have many sources of conflict free diamonds, they also have a large “blood diamond” trade. Just be cautious with diamonds from Brazil and India.