Conscientious customers nowadays typically inquire about the source of the diamonds they intend or are considering purchasing. "Blood diamonds" have been so named because armed factions in some politically unstable African states routinely coerce local populations to work the diamond mines under extreme working conditions and for very little pay.

    Concerned consumers generally have three options for avoiding blood diamonds. These are:

  • Buying from retailers that deal solely with diamonds mined from Canada or Australia.
  • Buying a synthetic diamond.
  • Buying diamonds certified by the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).

    • Conflict-free diamonds

    Diamond mining in Canada and Australia is conflict-free and compliant with all relevant regulations and best practices recommendations. For example, the Northwest Territories of Canada's provincial government issues certificates of authenticity for diamonds mined within its territory and then polished into gems at centers and labs within the province. These diamonds always stay in the Canadian Northwest, so they do not risk mixing with diamonds from other sources before cutting, faceting, and polishing.

    Synthetic diamonds

    Another way to ensure that a customer is not buying a blood diamond is by choosing a manufactured diamond. Synthetic diamonds are an alternative for those looking for value at a lower price. But most synthetics are limited to shades of yellow, and many big gem labs have refused to grade them. With a reliable grade certificate from an established gem lab, the price of an individual synthetic might correspond well with its actual 4Cs. The biggest drawback of synthetics is, of course, their lack of uniqueness. They come in batches, and individual gems in every batch are practically identical microscopically. The ownership of expensive synthetics can be challenging to establish, and some companies have thus resorted to techniques such as laser etching to "individualize" each gem.

    Kimberly Process Certificates

    Other than buying natural diamonds mined and processed in Canada and Australia, the third and least reliable way for potential buyers to ensure that they purchase a non-conflict diamond is to look for a Kimberly Process Certificate. However, The Kimberly Process is a voluntary system that some of its originators have yet to accept. Partnership Africa Canada's 2009 Diamonds and Human Security Annual Review states that the KPCS doesn't have the teeth to enforce its prescription since legislation in participating countries is inadequate or poorly executed, monitoring and statistical information on trades are spotty, and smuggling and non-compliance are not being effectively punished. Although the Kimberly Process has received much criticism as of late, it is still the only existing system for screening rough diamonds that have yet to be sourced from Canada or Australia. And since Africa is the source of approximately 65% of the world's supply of rough diamonds, the Kimberly Process Certificate is still better than no certificate at all.