Conflict Diamonds

Website Links

Description

For my eldest daughter’s college graduation I had decided to buy her a simple white gold necklace with a diamond pendant attached, much like the one my mother had given me when I finished school. I was more than a bit concerned after reading about something called conflict diamonds, also called blood diamonds – in fact I was actually quite scared. When conflict diamonds are sold the money goes back into terrorist and rebel groups to help fund their illegal and damaging activities. After doing some more research on the subject I found out that almost no retailer is able to give you a 110% guarantee that what you are buying is definitely not a conflict diamond; something that also made me worry. Then I found out that there is a movement that advises everyone to demand proof for every diamond we buy; meaning that eventually it will become mandatory. Although I was tempted to give up on the idea entirely and stick with a nice safe gift certificate, I desperately wanted to continue a tradition I hoped my daughter would one day partake in herself; so I persisted. After visiting four or five different jewellery stores in my city I finally one where the retailer was, amazingly, able to give me some papers proving that the diamond used in my daughter’s pendant was not only not a conflict diamond, but also that it did not come from a country that produces conflict diamonds. My advice to anyone who wants to avoid buying a conflict diamond is to shop around until you find a retailer who can provide you with paperwork.

Products & services