Diamonds are one of the most popular jewelry choices for engagement rings. They symbolize love and commitment and make a woman feel beautiful when she sees herself wearing them. However, diamonds have also been associated with blood diamond trafficking in Africa, child labor in India, and environmental destruction from mining operations. The ethical dilemma is enough to make anyone’s head spin. In this blog post, we will discuss six things to consider before you buy a diamond so that you can purchase responsibly sourced stones without guilt or regret.
Know the Difference Between Conflict and Non-conflict Diamonds
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that come from areas controlled by rebel forces, warlord militias or dictatorial regimes. These governments use diamond revenues for their own personal gain at the expense of local populations. Non-conflict or “clean” diamonds are sourced from places where a democratically elected government controls the diamond-trading industry.
Ask Your Jeweler About the Kimberley Process
The international certification system for non-conflict diamonds is called the Kimberley Process. The process was created to guarantee that diamonds are not financing rebel armies or abusive governments by making it possible to track them from the source through each stage in their production and distribution until they reach consumers. This means that if a diamond is not certified, it might be financing rebel armies or abusive governments.
Research the Company that You are Buying From
The diamond industry is highly concentrated. Many companies go to great lengths to obscure their supply chain and make it difficult for consumers to know where they’re getting their stones from. It’s best not only to buy a stone that has been certified by an established international certification agency, but also purchase your diamond from a reputable company.
Buy from a Company that has Gone Through the Brilliant Earth Audit
These companies have been cleared by third-parties to comply with human rights and environmental standards. This means that their diamonds are conflict free, responsibly mined, ethically traded, and environmentally sustainable.
Buy from a Company that Guarantees their Diamonds
A reputable jeweler will guarantee the quality of your diamond and provide you with an unconditional, lifetime warranty. This means that if anything happens to the stone-including loss or theft-you can get it replaced free of charge.
Purchase Your Diamond from a Company with a Strong Return Policy
Diamonds are an expensive purchase. You want to be sure that you can get them replaced if anything goes wrong and the only way for this to happen is through a robust guarantee. A jeweler’s warranty should include at least one of these: lifetime, infinity or unconditional refund
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Buy Your Diamond from a Company with Ethical Practices
Many companies claim to be “responsible” but they do not have the transparency, accountability and traceability that you should demand when buying diamonds. It’s important to research these aspects before purchasing any jewelry.
It’s not enough to only buy responsibly sourced diamonds, it’s important to know where you are buying them from. The diamond industry is one of the most unregulated industries in the world and this means that irresponsible practices go unchecked. Follow these simple recommendations when shopping for a diamond so that you can be confident that your purchase won’t contribute to human rights abuses.
