A conflict free diamond is a diamond that was obtained via ethical means. Of course, the term “ethical” is going to mean different things to different people. In general, it means that the mining conditions meet certain standards and the diamond profits are not funneled into war. Sadly, this is a real issue that must be addressed as horrible abuses have occurred in regards to how diamonds have been obtained in the past.
So how does one go about finding a conflict-free diamond? It is certainly easier than it used to be. One option is Brilliant Earth. This company uses only Canadian conflict free diamonds in all of its jewelry. Of further interest to all those who are eco-minded, is the fact that Brilliant Earth makes all of its jewelry using renewed/recycled gold and platinum.
This is no doubt marvelous, as metal mining is a very destructive process that causes poisons, including mercury and cyanide, to be released into the environment. Thus, by using reclaimed metals it is possible to bypass this destructive step and not expend new energy in acquiring the precious metals needed for the jewelry.
However, this is a charged issue for some people who feel that by exclusively purchasing Canadian diamonds, a de facto boycott of African diamonds is occurring. This could negatively impact the people of Africa.
Rest assured, Amnesty International has a program called the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme that is designed to give consumers the confidence that their diamonds are conflict-free. As one can see this is a complex issue that is still being resolved, but awareness is always the first step. Today, with a little extra effort it is indeed possible to purchase a conflict free diamond. Hopefully soon some of these issues will be resolved.
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