If you choose to buy an earth-mined diamond, and you have full intentions of making a conflict-free purchase, here are some guidelines as well as questions to ask your jeweler:
Questions for your jeweler:
PLEASE don’t settle for the “Kimberly Process” answer – it does not certify that your diamond is conflict free!
- How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
- Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
- Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
- Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers stating that your diamonds are conflict-free?
Guidelines:
- Buy a diamond that hasn’t crossed national borders during processing. As a diamond travels from the mine, to be cut, then polished it often crosses national borders where illicit diamonds can make their way into the supply chain. Mined, cut, and polished all within the same borders is much easier to verify.
- Buy a diamond with a laser-engraved serial number. This ensures the diamond is tracked through every step of the supply chain and offers a verifiable record of being conflict free. A truly conscious vendor will have a complete system in place that would include auditing throughout the supply chain.
- Buy a diamond processed under ethical labor conditions. Does the country of origin have fair labor practices? This would include fair wages, safe working conditions and support of the local economy.
- Buy a diamond certified by its regional government.
- Buy a diamond that was mined under well-regulated environmental practices.
- Remember to purchase a setting that is made from recycled precious metals. Gold is as conflict as diamonds.
Suggestion:
- Have you thought about purchasing a second-hand (recycled) diamond? Yes, at one time a recycled diamond was a "conflict-diamond". However, purchasing a recycled diamond is preventing new natural resources from being extracted.
You might have seen a message like this when purchasing an earth mined diamond, but please do not be fooled. The Kimberley Process has failed us and there is no such thing as a "conflict free" diamond source.
