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Conflict Diamonds
By Michelle Madden Smith
Throughout history, choosing the right diamond has been no easy task. Though it is a symbol of love and devotion to your partner, it is also a financial investment that carries significant socio-economic consequences. Buying a diamond requires that you spend some time educating yourself on the 4 Cs of cut, clarity, color and carat. Unfortunately, today we can add another “C” to that list – conflict.
Mining diamonds is dangerous business on many levels. But the product is so valuable that many turn their heads, refusing to accept or adhere to ethical standards. Environmentally, the diamond extraction process is extremely damaging to the land. Vegetation is stripped away, and soil leeching and water contamination become major issues. In Africa in particular, stagnant water pools help the proliferation of insects that transmit diseases.
Socially, the conditions are extremely hazardous for miners. Aside from the dangers inherent in any mining operation, in West African countries, particularly Sierra Leone, Angola, the Congo and other war-torn countries, the diamond mining business helps finance violent, anti-government rebel and terrorist groups who have taken over the management of the mines. They sell the stones to fund their causes and often violently enslave local populations.
Much attention has been brought to the “blood diamond” problem since the late 1990s and there has been a global call to action against these conflict-diamonds. As the purchaser of a diamond product, you are in a position of power. But how do you know if you are a choosing a diamond that is conflict-free? You need to know exactly where your diamond came from. Unfortu-nately, unearthing the truth can be as much of a challenge as unearthing a diamond.
Major diamond cartels, such as DeBeers, have created a procedure called the “Kimberly Process” to help track diamonds, producing a paper trail and certification. The Conflict Free Diamond Council has established guidelines for consumers for what constitutes a conflict-free diamond. Currently only the “Polar Bear” and “Polar Ice” brand diamonds from Canada’s Northwest Territories meet all of their standards – one of which is a laser-inscribed serial number deep inside the stone.
While shopping for the perfect stone, be sure to ask your jeweler to only show you conflict-free diamonds and to guarantee that the stones are truly conflict-free. Ask to see a copy of their policy on conflict diamonds. They should be able to show you a written guarantee from their suppliers that their diamonds are conflict-free.
Ultimately, finding a true conflict-free stone may be a challenge, but your love and your investment are worth it.
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