Diamond engagement rings – how do I know they are conflict free?

A diamond engagement ring is the most popular type of engagement ring and has been for hundreds of years. Diamond engagement rings are timeless, elegant, and beautiful, all symbolizing love and devotion.

Because of their immense popularity, the diamond business is booming. Diamonds are extracted and traded from all corners of the globe, then imported through out the world. However, not all countries that provide diamonds are reputable or even legal. Conflict diamonds are diamonds that should be avoided.

What are conflict diamonds?

Conflict diamonds is a name given to diamonds that are mined illegally from war-torn countries. The money that is made by these diamonds, which are typically sold underground, is used to fund violent purposes. The vast amounts of money that are made from conflict diamonds typically are used to finance an insurgency, pay for the war efforts and supplies of invading armies, or support for warlords. The people of these war-torn countries have suffered brutal violence at the hands of insurgents and warlords who are funding their operations from mining diamonds illegally.

Before measures were taken to eliminate the import and export of conflict diamonds, they accounted for approximately 4% of the trade of diamonds throughout the world. The majority of these diamonds come from Africa, particularly Angola, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Congo. It was the brutal fighting in Sierra Leone in the late 1990’s that helped to increase the public’s awareness regarding conflict diamonds.

Since that time, a number of bans and systems have been put in to place to stop the illegal mining and selling of conflict diamonds. Now, they account for about 1% of all diamond trading. This is in part due to executive orders signed by Presidents Clinton and Bush banning importation of diamonds from certain African countries that were known for manufacturing blood diamonds.

How do I know my diamonds are conflict free?

If you are concerned about your diamonds and want to ensure that they are conflict free, there are a number of things you can do.

First of all, make sure your jeweler guarantees that your jewelry is conflict free. For example, if you are considering purchasing Celtic engagement rings, look at certifications and guarantees. Reputable jewelers guarantee their diamonds are conflict-free, and they do so by certifying their diamonds through the EGI, or European Gemological Institute.

Educating yourself on your diamond is important as well. Diamonds mined in countries such as Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia, South Africa and Tanzania are conflict-free. The funds used form revenue from diamonds in these countries goes to the betterment of the community and help pay for schools, hospitals, and other necessary things.

Knowing about conflict diamonds is the first step. Make sure you talk to your jeweler. He or she should be more than willing to provide documentation that the diamonds they purchase adhere to the stringent standards from the Kimberley Process and System of Warranties, which were implemented to cut down on the trade of conflict diamonds.
Now, conflict diamonds make up less than 1% of all diamonds that are traded today, mostly as a result of the growing awareness of the problem and the steps that have been successfully taken to eradicate it. However, even 1% of conflict diamonds is too many. The above are just some of the things you can do to ensure your diamonds are conflict free.

Tags: eltic engagement rings, conflict rings, conflict diamonds, choosing a diamond, diamonds to avoi | eltic engagement rings, conflict rings, conflict diamonds, choosing a diamond, diamonds to avoi

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