[image src="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/week_4/052909-061207018096-300.jpg" caption="A woman tries on a diamond ring." align="right"]
When my husband and I looked at diamond engagement rings 15 years ago, jewelers told us to keep in mind the four “Cs” – cut, color, clarity and carat weight – when choosing stones. At that time, no one mentioned a fifth “C” – conflict. If someone had, I wouldn’t be wondering now if our jewelry purchase helped fund human rights abuses or a coup effort somewhere in the world.
Conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, come from areas controlled by rebel movements or their allies and are used to finance military actions against legitimate governments. According to analysts, money from the sale of blood diamonds helped fuel Sierra Leone’s civil war, which killed or maimed thousands. Physically, there is no difference between a conflict diamond and a regular one; the issue is the diamond’s provenance.
In 2000, several countries meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, proposed a certification process to monitor and control the trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process, formally launched in 2002, seeks to stop the flow of conflict diamonds to international markets while simultaneously protecting the legitimate diamond industry. Through the Clean Diamond Trade Act of 2003 (PDF, 44 KB), the United States now prohibits the U.S. import or export of rough diamonds that have not been certified as “clean” through the Kimberley Process.
Although the Kimberley Process came into being too late to help my husband and me 15 years ago, I think it is now a useful tool to help protect people from unwittingly contributing to war and violence. But when will there be a similar certification process for other gemstones? And what about protections for gold and silver?
well, have to go with this future
I am in total agreement although it makes you think about how much harder it is to do the right thing these days when people can unwittingly be used to aid and abet such horrific crimes against humanity. I’m glad that steps are being taken to curb such issues and look forward to creation of more of such laws and certifications.
democracy is just a cool thing every body needs. not withstanding the fact that a lot of people turn it int strict autocracy. whether or not democracy is in its srict fullness, all we need is a free and fair governance to help us survive. Noble Cyril nobleprudy@yahoo.com
Dear Toke Olagbaju,
Thank you for your comment. I have been thinking about these types of import laws and certifications in other areas, such as clothes and wood products. But that’s a topic for another blog entry!
Hi Peggy thank you so much for nice topic. Yes, everybody needs democracy.
Hi Peggy, I am waiting to read for your new and nice topic. Thanks. ssfarzanarooma.blogspot.com
Although it is impossible to root out all of the bad guys in the conflict diamonds regions, The Kimberly Process and the Clean Diamond Trade Act were certainly a very effective effort. The vast majority of diamonds sold today are indeed conflict free diamonds. A major step in the right direction. As a Diamond Engagement Rings manufacturer, I can honestly say that I have no interest in purchasing conflict diamonds or being associated with them in any way, and neither do my customers. I applaud all efforts to target other gemstones and the precious metals industry for the same type of scrutiny.
I had not thought about this issue as related to gold, silver and other gemstones until I read your article. Thanks!
My wife and I both had to deal with this issue when we were shopping for an engagement ring. Our solution may not be for everyone, but we are both thrilled.
I went to a pawn shop, and had the ring appraised (with a down payment and some collateral so I could leave the building).
The setting was new, but the diamond was antique, and was cut by hand sometime around the 1880s. A diamond is forever. It predated these conflicts.
Perhaps there are more like this out there for those willing to hunt for them.
(We are still newlyweds, so sorry if I sound happy! Our wedding was on a beautiful April day, she in a simple sundress from a friend’s store, me in a tux, and both of us barefoot…. and no blood on our consciences.)
Kimberly process is certainly a very excellent step in the right direction, but i would call it more as a start for the long road ahead.
We are in diamond jewelry industry, making Engagement Rings and Bridal Sets in US. Like most of the other diamond manufacturers, most of our diamonds are imported from countries like India, which is a major source of polished diamonds.
While we purchase diamonds only from big diamond dealers, who certify to us that they follow kimberly process, there are many grey areas open where rough diamonds which are imported into the country bypass the kimberly certification process and enter the diamond market.
Like all problems, there is no overnight solution to with issue which has plagued the jewelry industry. But like your post said, 15 years ago, we would not sitting and talking about this issue. The more the end customers are aware of diamond and its origins, the strong and more reliable the entire process would be.
Dear Jim,
Thank you very much for writing! It’s great to hear from someone in the jewelry industry about this issue and what effect the Kimberley Process and various laws are having.
It was my pleasure. Thanks for your article. Keep up the good work!
That IS a creative solution! Thanks for sharing. And congratulations to you both.
Thanks for sharing!