| Canadian diamonds provide a new alternative to | | | | - which gets you back into the sticky questionable |
| people who want to buy diamonds, but are not | | | | human rights territory. GNWT-certified diamonds |
| comfortable with buying pieces that are potentially | | | | guarantee the diamond in question was mined in |
| "conflict diamonds." A "conflict diamond," by the UN's | | | | Canada, and handled ethically (most likely in Canada |
| definition, is one mined by a non-legitimate | | | | the whole time) all throughout the process. |
| government force in order to fund a rebellion. | | | | The certificate bears the GNWT's polar bear insignia |
| Additionally, some people are still concerned about | | | | and includes a Gemprint of the diamond. A Gemprint |
| the legitimate governments that deal in diamond | | | | is just what it sounds like - it is a "fingerprint" of the |
| mining and production, because there is a lot of talk | | | | diamond: a digital scan of the landscape of the |
| about human rights violations in those circumstances | | | | diamond so you can be sure the diamond you've |
| as well. | | | | bought is actually the diamond that is certified. |
| While production and mining has become far safer | | | | To take the precautions one step further, each |
| and more politically-correct in the past few years, | | | | Canadian diamond that is mined, cut, and polished in |
| one way to be absolutely sure that no wrong has | | | | the Northwest Territories of Canada come |
| been done by producing the diamond you buy is to | | | | laser-imprinted with a unique serial number. The |
| seek out a Canadian one. Canadian diamonds account | | | | number can only be seen with a microscope, so no |
| for only 15% of all the diamonds in the marketplace, | | | | worries about staring into your pretty gem and |
| but they account for 80% of all Excellent and Ideal | | | | seeing somebody's serial number. The number is |
| cuts. | | | | etched into the girdle of the diamond (which is the |
| Other miners and producers have caught on to the | | | | "rim between the flatter top and the pointed |
| popularity of Canadian diamonds, and have tried to | | | | bottom") and is proof-positive that the diamond is |
| mislead consumers by marketing their gems (mined in | | | | legitimately a Canadian diamond. |
| places other than Canada) as Canadian diamonds, so | | | | Again, while diamond mining and production practices |
| there is a little confusion in the diamond marketplace | | | | have improved a great amount in past years, the |
| about how to recognize a Canadian diamond. There | | | | extra piece of mind obtained from buying a Canadian |
| are only two ways to be sure. | | | | diamond can make all the difference for someone |
| One way to be sure is the GNWT Certificate of | | | | who still has questions or concerns about typical |
| Authenticity. The GNWT (Government of the | | | | diamonds that are mined in the usual places and could |
| Northwest Territories) certification system tracks the | | | | potentially be in league with those who have |
| diamond all the way from extraction from the ground | | | | questionable business practices. Additionally, Canadian |
| to its velvet cushion at the jeweler's. This is | | | | diamonds are some of the cleanest, brightest, most |
| important, because some diamonds mined in Canada | | | | perfect diamonds on the market. Isn't your special |
| are still sent to Asia or Africa for cutting and polishing | | | | someone worth the extra effort? |