Blood Tainted Diamonds: Three Ways to Avoid Them
Conscientious customers nowadays typically inquire about the source of the diamonds they intend to purchase. "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:
- 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 provincial government of Canada 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 a customer is not buying a blood diamond is to choose 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. Without a reliable grade certificate from an established gem lab, the price of an individual synthetic might not correspond well with its actual 4Cs. The biggest drawback of synthetics is their lack of uniqueness — they come in batches, and individual gems in every batch are practically identical microscopically.
Kimberly Process Certificates
Other than buying natural diamonds mined and processed in Canada and Australia, the third option for potential buyers is to look for a Kimberly Process Certificate. However, the Kimberly Process is a voluntary system that some of its originators have yet to fully accept. Partnership Africa Canada's Diamonds and Human Security Annual Review states that the KPCS lacks the teeth to enforce its prescriptions, as legislation in participating countries is inadequate or poorly implemented, and smuggling and non-compliance are not effectively punished. Although the Kimberly Process has received criticism, it is still the only existing system for screening rough diamonds not 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.
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