There are several measures to ensure that your diamonds were ethically obtained without sacrificing quality when choosing a ring that aligns with your values. Customers and the sector have become much more knowledgeable about ‘conflict diamonds’ in recent times. With all that in mind, it’s still crucial to know what a “conflict diamond” is and how to avoid purchasing one.
What are conflict diamonds, and how do you know if you have one?
“Diamonds that come from areas held by groups or forces opposing to legal and globally known governments, and are being used to fund military activity in resistance to those countries,” according to the United Nations.
The employment of child labor, local conflicts, war crimes, and overall harsh workplace circumstances are all linked to the supply of such gems. Conflict diamonds account for around 4% of the global supply in the 1990s. Since the establishment of the Kimberley Process Certification System in 2003, less than 1% of the world’s diamonds have been conflict-free, allowing for the introduction of obstacles to such stones.
How can you know if a diamond was mined ethically?
For a gemstone to be called ethically sourced, it must meet stringent labor and environmental requirements. Employment conditions must be safe and pay must be fair. Child work should be avoided at all costs. Mining corporations must follow strict guidelines in order to protect local habitats. Namibia, Botswana, Russia, South Africa, and Canada are now the safest countries to buy conflict-free diamonds from.
Is the Quality of Ethically Produced Diamonds the Same?
Ethically mined diamonds adhere to the strictest labor and environmental laws. They’re also of very high quality. That said, it’s vital to remember that each diamond’s quality is determined by a variety of factors such as cutting, purity, color, and carat weight. Diamonds weighing more than 0.30 carats must be evaluated by a third-party gem lab.
Is it Simple to Find Ethically Mined Diamonds?
Today, stores provide a wide range of ethically produced diamonds from trusted sources. The majority of online businesses have a large selection of high-quality Canadian products. Diamonds from South Africa, Namibia, Russia, and Botswana in popular sizes and shapes. These countries have verifiable diamond mines that follow responsible environmental and labor policies.
Consumers should be able to see an explicit formal policy on responsible sourcing from diamond dealers. Being able to recognize where their diamonds are produced should be included in the corporate policies. Any lack of knowledge on any of these issues should raise warning flags. If you are looking for ethical diamonds Melbourne has some of the best in the market.
How can you tell if a diamond complies with the strictest ethical guidelines?
The most commonly accepted way of controlling the diamond industry is the Kimberley Process Accreditation. Clients must shop at stores that are transparent about their distribution networks and diamond origins. They should also be willing to provide such a written assurance on environmental and labor standards at the mines from which they source.
A large majority of conflict-free diamonds really aren’t responsibly sourced. Furthermore, global diamond certifying procedures are susceptible to forgery. Consumers must require a combination of the Kimberley Process Accreditation and System of Warranties for the diamond they are purchasing because there is no global government for trustworthy verification of a diamond’s moral origins.
