Natural diamonds are still the most sought after gemstones in the jewelry industry. Aside from its longevity, thanks to its inherent hardness, most people consider the diamond to be the most beautiful among all gems. Its colorless brilliance and fire, even those which flash a bit of pink, blue or yellow hues, is a perfect complement to any ensemble.
Diamonds are also very expensive, and are generally much more expensive than other gems. If you own a few loose online diamonds, or even an engagement ring with a relatively large, high-quality center stone , you already have a small fortune. Unfortunately, because of their value, natural diamonds are also being used to fund armed conflict in some parts of the world, most notoriously in the African Region where most of the world’s diamonds come from. These illegal diamonds are called conflict diamonds or “blood diamonds”, for obvious reasons.
Diamonds are certainly objects of beauty, but it is never justifiable to purchase or wear anything that cost human lives. As of today, the only way to avoid purchasing such stones would be to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable jeweler. A reputable jeweler would readily give you information on where your chosen diamond came from, its paperwork and certification and even information about conflict diamonds and the Kimberly Process. The Kimberly Process, by the way, is a joint initiative between the UN and the gemstone industry in order to stop the trading of diamonds which have not been legally, ethically and environmentally mined.
As consumers, we should do our best to support this initiative. Some conflict diamonds are still able to make their way to the market and there are still a few unscrupulous businesses ready to sell them to unsuspecting customers. Do a bit of research before you choose a jeweler to buy from.
