Conflict Diamonds: What They Are and How to Avoid Them
One Carat Round Diamond Halo Set Engagement Ring
Do you ever stop to think about where the jewelry you buy comes from? Would the diamond held in the hand of a man proposing still be a sign of love and devotion if the true price paid for the diamond was known? If the jewel is a conflict diamond, the money which should have gone to miners and mine owners actually went to purchase weapons for war. There are alternatives to diamonds, but there are also ways to be sure the diamond in your ring has no blood on it.
What Defines and Conflict Diamond?
The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as those diamonds which are used to fund military action against local governments. Diamonds which originate from an areas controlled by rebellious forces are called conflict diamonds because the money made from them fuels further conflict. Usually, these rebels are fighting against established and internationally recognized governments.
What Can I Do?
As consumers of diamonds and jewels, we have great power. People often underestimate the power they have to influence global events. Currently, there is little certification for conflict free diamonds, although this is something the United Nations recommends and that other organizations, such as The Conflict-Free Diamond Council, hope to create.
One small thing you can do is to ask for conflict-free certification when you go to a jeweler. More than likely, they will not have any. What you accomplish is demand. If more and more people demand certification, jewelers will find a way to deliver. You can also ask if the jeweler knows where the diamonds are from or, better yet, knows the mine where the diamonds were harvested. Even knowing the country where the diamonds originated can make a huge difference in judgment of conflict diamonds. Diamonds from Canada, for example, are far less likely to contribute to conflict as compared to diamonds from Sierra Leone, where there is civil war.
All I Want is to Buy a Diamond.
Perhaps you don’t feel the need to be an activist. All you want is a beautiful diamond. You are in luck. While there are few certification programs out there, some do exist. The Government Certified Canadian Diamond (GCCD), for example, is endorsed by the Conflict-Free Diamond Council as a reliable certification of conflict-free diamonds. There are also organizations, like Brilliant Earth, who only sell ethically made jewelry. Raymond Lee Jewelers is also committed to providing conflict-free diamond jewelry. It is very easy to avoid purchasing a conflict diamond once you seek a jeweler dedicated to providing diamonds from ethical organizations exclusively. If you’d rather use a store than a website, ask where the diamonds are from and only accept those which were mined in countries that are not in war.
Are There Any Alternative to Diamonds?
via the Offbeat Bride
If you have had it with the whole diamond industry, there are actually some extremely viable alternatives. Moonstones, for example, can be cut like a diamond and look extreme similar to diamond rings. Moissanite is another alternative that is not only conflict-free but green. It’s made in labs so production of Moissanite does no damage to land and water like some mining practices do. Other jewels which can be used in place of a diamond are Titania, White Sapphires, White Topaz and Goshenite. There is debate about whether or not these are all great alternatives, so use your better judgment when looking at them.
Another option is to abandon the traditional look of the diamond all together. Even for engagement rings, this is not uncommon. Throw caution to the wind and go with a pretty blue sapphire engagement ring or any of the other many jewels out there.
Remember, just because it’s not a diamond does not mean it is ethical. If your reason for avoiding diamonds is to purchase something ethically made, make sure you look into how your jewel of choice is made. When purchasing an engagement ring, make sure to keep your bride to be in the loop. It may be that she prefers a specific alternative or that she insist on having a diamond. If you want to proposal to be a surprise, asks clever questions or get her friends to find out her opinion.
Author Bio: Tonya Vrba is a passionate writer. Her work has been published in newspapers and blogs. She writes frequently about health, careers, dating sites and books. Learn more about her work at her personal website