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Conflict-Free Diamonds

What are conflict-diamonds?

Understanding conflict-free diamonds starts with knowing about 'conflict diamonds.'' The diamond industry has faced criticism because many diamonds are mined in countries experiencing violent conflicts. Often, rebel groups control these mines and use the money from diamond sales to support their fights against governments and harm civilians. Diamonds from these areas are known as conflict diamonds or blood diamonds.

For example, in Sierra Leone, rebel forces used diamonds to buy weapons and pay soldiers. In the 1990s, the diamond trade financed a civil war that killed 75,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Natural diamonds are also mined in countries with poor working conditions and low wages. According to an article from Time Magazine, "Hundreds of miners die every year in tunnel collapses that are seldom reported because they happen so often."

Of the $81.4 billion diamond industry, 65% originate from Africa. According to a U.N. report published by Reuters a few years ago, the total weight of conflict diamonds smuggled out of the Central African Republic, a heavily war-torn area, was 140,000 carats, a retail value of $24 million.

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What are conflict-free diamonds?

The diamond industry is trying to track diamonds along the supply chain from the mines to retail stores to prevent the sale of conflict gems. This process meets the standards outlined in the Kimberley Process (KP), a voluntary, international certification scheme that helps avoid the trade of conflict diamonds.

The KP requires participating countries to certify that the diamonds they export are conflict-free, based on the origin of the diamonds and the processes used to extract and trade them. This is a challenging undertaking as there is no way to guarantee that a natural diamond in a jewelry retail store is 100% conflict-free.

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The diamond industry is trying to track diamonds along the supply chain from the mines to retail stores to prevent the sale of conflict gems. This process meets the standards outlined in the Kimberley Process (KP), a voluntary, international certification scheme that helps avoid the trade of conflict diamonds.

The KP requires participating countries to certify that the diamonds they export are conflict-free, based on the origin of the diamonds and the processes used to extract and trade them. This is a challenging undertaking as there is no way to guarantee that a natural diamond in a jewelry retail store is 100% conflict-free.

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Do 100% conflict-free mined diamonds exist?

Many diamond mining companies state they avoid using conflict diamonds, yet verifying these claims is challenging. The difficulty in tracing a diamond's origin is compounded by the fact that they often undergo cutting and polishing in various countries, obscuring their true source and making it hard to verify their conflict-free status.

The article from the New York Times (cited above) also states, "In 2003, the diamond industry established the Kimberley Process, an international certification system designed to reassure consumers that the diamonds they bought were conflict-free. But more than 10 years later, while the process did reduce the number of conflict diamonds on the market, it remains riddled with loopholes, unable to stop many diamonds mined in war zones or under other egregious circumstances from being sold in international markets."

Annually, hundreds of thousands of rough diamonds mined in African countries are sent abroad for cutting, polishing, and then to laboratories for grading. Throughout this journey, a single diamond can change hands 20-30 times before arriving at a jewelry store. This complex process makes it very difficult to guarantee a diamond is entirely conflict-free.

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What are my options for buying a conflict-free diamond?

There's good news though: lab grown diamonds are always conflict-free! Because they're grown in a lab under controlled conditions, you can be certain they are never involved in conflict, violence or war. Choosing conflict-free or lab created diamonds offers several advantages over traditionally mined diamonds:

  • 100% Conflict-free
    Lab grown diamonds are guaranteed to be conflict-free, a reassurance that mined diamonds cannot always provide. Mined diamonds might come from areas plagued by war crimes, human trafficking or genocide, whereas lab grown diamonds are produced artificially, avoiding these ethical dilemmas.
  • More Affordable
    Lab grown diamonds tend to be more affordable than their mined counterparts due to lower production costs. They don't require expensive mining operations and labor. Additionally, they're created under controlled conditions, ensuring consistent quality with every diamond produced, a consistency that mined diamonds can't guarantee.
  • Ethically Sourced
    Choosing lab grown diamonds means supporting ethical and responsible sourcing that doesn't exploit labor or fund conflicts. They represent a moral and accessible alternative, aligning with the growing consumer desire for jewelry that looks beautiful and promotes positive social and environmental outcomes.
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

No, lab grown diamonds do not fade over time. They maintain their brilliance and color permanently, just like natural diamonds. Lab grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, so they have the same durability and longevity.

Advantages: More affordable, environmentally friendly, guaranteed conflict-free, identical quality to natural diamonds.

Disadvantages: Lower resale value, some traditional jewelers may not carry them, perceived as less prestigious by some buyers.

Yes, lab grown diamonds test as real diamonds because they are real diamonds. They have the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and physical properties as natural diamonds. Standard diamond testers cannot distinguish between lab grown and natural diamonds.

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