| Recently I was asked a very important question: | | | | What should you expect from your jewelry retailer? |
| "How can I make sure that a diamond is conflict | | | | Every diamond retailer should have an official written |
| free?" That got me thinking, and I wanted to share | | | | policy on conflict diamonds, and you should be able to |
| with you the concept and history of conflict | | | | view it easily. If they don't have a written policy, and |
| diamonds, also called "blood diamonds", and what has | | | | the staff isn't aware of the company policy or |
| been done to certify conflict free diamonds. | | | | government regulations forbidding the sale of conflict |
| Conflict diamonds are defined by the United Nations | | | | diamonds, find another retailer! |
| as diamonds "that originate from areas controlled by | | | | Your retailer should provide uninterrupted tracking |
| forces or factions opposed to legitimate and | | | | and certification of country and mine of origin and |
| internationally recognized governments, and are used | | | | certification of cutting and polishing facilities. There |
| to fund military action in opposition to those | | | | should be a written guarantee that all diamonds they |
| governments, or in contravention of the decisions of | | | | sell are truly conflict free, along with certification by |
| the UN Security Council." | | | | an independent agency. |
| In addition, they must be mined in an environmentally | | | | Here are some questions to ask your retailer: |
| responsible fashion. Profits must not be used to fund | | | | 1. What are your conflict diamond policies? There |
| wars and they must be mined under ethical | | | | should be a written policy available with clear |
| conditions. | | | | definitions of conflict free. |
| Conflict free diamonds address more than the UN | | | | 2. Where is your policy stated or published? Is it on a |
| definition, and are free of all violence and human | | | | web site, or in a printed brochure? |
| rights abuses, as well as child labor or environmental | | | | 3. How do you define conflict free? The policy should |
| destruction. They are individually tracked to ensure | | | | provide Kimberley Process compliance, and avoid |
| that ethical practices are used in mining, cutting and | | | | furthering violence, child labor or harm to the |
| polishing. | | | | environment. The origins of the Kimberley Process |
| Conflict free diamonds are high quality natural | | | | were dramatized in the 2006 motion picture "Blood |
| diamonds, and they should be examined according to | | | | Diamond", which helped to publicize the abuses in the |
| the 4 Cs: cut, clarity, color and carat weight, as you | | | | African diamond trade. |
| would any diamond. The fifth C, certification, should | | | | 4. Do you provide official certification of conflict free |
| always accompany your diamond purchase. | | | | status? |
| What is the best way for the buyer to know | | | | 5. Where do your diamonds originate from? Is there |
| whether the diamonds they are considering are | | | | information about the conditions where they are |
| conflict free? | | | | mined, cut and polished? |
| 1. Diamonds that originate in Canada: The origins of | | | | 6. Are your diamonds fully tracked and monitored? Is |
| Canadian diamonds are verified though an | | | | there an independent certification of the origin and |
| independent body, and a certification guarantees | | | | transport? |
| conflict free status. | | | | Becoming educated about conflict free diamonds and |
| 2. Diamonds from Namibia: Ethical origin diamonds are | | | | holding diamond retailers to conflict free standards is |
| mined, cut and polished in Namibia. Certification | | | | the best way for the consumer to fight the "blood |
| processes are still being developed, but diamonds sold | | | | diamond" industry and help ensure that the jewelry |
| by reputable dealers are carefully traced to ensure | | | | industry adheres to international environmental and |
| responsible environmental and labor practices. | | | | human rights standards. |