Buying diamonds from ethical sources??

[jewelz617]

(posted before in the wrong section, my apologies)
I am married, but my husband and I are currently planning to FINALLY purchase our wedding bands and an engagement ring for me. However I don''t want a "blood diamond" or any diamond mined in unethical practices or by children. Anyone else have similar concerns about this? Any tips on which businesses practice ethical diamond sales?

 

[nkarma]

Brilliant Earth, at brilliantearth.com sells conflict free diamonds. I have been to their showroom in SF and their customer service was awesome as well as their company mission. They said they do most of their business online so check them out.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/6/2009 4:09:08 PM
Author:jewelz617
(posted before in the wrong section, my apologies)
I am married, but my husband and I are currently planning to FINALLY purchase our wedding bands and an engagement ring for me. However I don''t want a ''blood diamond'' or any diamond mined in unethical practices or by children. Anyone else have similar concerns about this? Any tips on which businesses practice ethical diamond sales?

Hi jewelz

The vendors here do not deal in conflict diamonds and will be happy to prove this to you on request. You will find this article helpful also.

http://journal.pricescope.com/Articles/39/1/How-to-avoid-Conflict-Diamonds.aspx

 

[John P]

I’ve posted some of this information before and it seems appropriate for this thread.

In North America you can buy with high confidence.

The Kimberley Process has dramatically reduced the scope of the issue since the 1990s. Many estimates put rough touched by conflict at less than 1 percent today. But the global diamond industry is vast. Greed is not exclusive to Africa, and rogue elements trade rough of dubious origin where they can. Kimberley Process fraud is sometimes uncovered and there have been expulsions from KPCS participation as close to the US as Venezuala in 2008 (story). Border controls are tighter in North America, especially post 9/11, but some possibility of corruption in the system exists, even in Canada where “conflict-free” is a national marketing slogan (CDCC). The good news is that Kimberley and Global Witness have estimated that 99.8% of the world’s diamonds are conflict free. Still, unless you walked the diamond yourself from mine to sorting to trading house to cutting factory to parcel buyer to retail outlet, nothing can be 100 percent certain.

Responsible manufacturers and retailers do their utmost to protect clients and themselves. We purchase our own rough at tender in accordance with strict regulations and select our partners with great care. Every diamond brought in is accompanied by written conflict-free guarantees and certification from people committed to the process; in trading centers like Antwerp this includes government regulations which are far stricter than Kimberley. We know the leaders of our primary trading houses and their commitment to the process of certification. We have joined hands and do everything in our power to guarantee our diamonds’ conflict-free provenance, just as our downstream retailers and their conscientious peers do.

What can consumers do to avoid “conflict diamonds?” Lorelei linked Neil Beaty's article with intelligent consumer options. I would add the suggestion to be proactive. As a shopper you can test a retailer’s awareness and commitment to the issue. These four questions are suggested by NGOs Amnesty International and Global Witness:

1. How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
2. Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
3. Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
4. Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers stating that your diamonds are conflict-free?

Remember that "conflict-free" just scratches the surface of the issue though. The industry works hard to ensure conflict-free provenance for the end-user and for many consumers that is enough. The only drawback is that it overlooks the real issue which is those who still suffer where resources are rich and people are poor - not only over diamonds but rubies, oil, gold, coltan and, historically, rubber, cocoa, even coffee.

The globe is becoming smaller with the age of mass-media and the internet. We often see things happening around the world from us now in real-time, not just magazine photos. Hopefully as this increases so will our collective increase our awareness and sensitivity.

 

[serenitydiamonds]

There are several vendors that specialize in ethical sources, and if you are very concerned you can ask for Diamonds from Canada as those won''t be involved in conflicts of any kind. Highly ethical vendors will also verify that even their African Diamonds are from highly ethical sources and can tell you exactly where the diamond was mined and cut.

The Kimberly Process (although it''s a bit weak at times) helps to limit the flow of unethical diamonds in to the general populace. However, the safest bet are those mined from Canada.

--Joshua

 

[LGK]

Antiques are conflict free.

 

[glitterata]

Date: 11/6/2009 6:50:37 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
Antiques are conflict free.

Hear, hear.

 

[Regular Guy]

Date: 11/6/2009 5:53:51 PM
Author: John Pollard
Remember that 'conflict-free' just scratches the surface of the issue though. ...

Yes. An emerging idea is fair trade diamonds. If you search the threads here, you can read about them.

Rappaport is long associated with it...and his site, which has been static for awhile, now includes a nice little video, which repeats...they have no product, yet.

So, when this thread came up, I was prompted again to look around, further.

And, I think they're here.

I give you, from the Jewelery Store that no one's heard of, in Maine, with listed diamonds that uniformly seem to be pretty badly cut...but...which may well be the front end of some elusive Fair Trade diamonds, from Botswana..

here...

http://www.daysjewelers.com/jump.do?itemID=5&itemType=LANDING&page=botswana_diamonds

(edited to add)...OK...a bit less obscure, also at Mayors (?) in the Southeast / Florida, and Birks in Canada...but I don't see descriptions for the diamonds there.

Maybe others have feedback?

Likely, they are all challenged for cut quality, but this seems very new...