Conflict-Free Gemstones

We must thank great movies like Blood Diamond, starring big actors like Leonardo Di Caprio, for bringing great awareness to the issue of conflict diamonds and the Kimberley Process to the general public. The heart of the issue of conflict gems includes child labour, unsafe working conditions, or other human rights violations and the funding of civil wars.

How can we ensure we aren’t buying conflict gems?

Schemes have been developed to reduce the trade of conflict diamonds, but there are fewer restrictions on other coloured gemstones. Because of the great awareness and push for conflict-free diamonds, many retailers and sources have implemented protocols to ensure diamonds are traceable and conflict free. There are some diamonds with serial inscriptions that can be traced to where they were mined, as well as provide details on the rough diamond weight and final polished carat weight. Diamonds that can be traced fully are conflict free. ForeverMark and CanadaMark are examples of brands that contain serial inscriptions to trace their diamonds. The inscriptions are often so small that they are unnoticeable, but often the retailer will also provide you with a certificate or tell you the serial number that you can look up with the retailer.

What is the Kimberley Process?

Several countries have signed onto the Kimberley Process scheme, which requires all members to comply with minimum requirements for import and export controls, to undertake transparent practices, and to trade only with other members that also satisfy the fundamentals of the agreement. It is an attempt to reduce the trade of conflict diamonds. You should ask for a Kimberley Process certificate to avoid buying a conflict diamond and funding trade practices that support civil wars and child labour. The Kimberley Process is not foolproof, as there have been instances of certificate forgery, but asking for a certificate reduces the chance that you will buy a conflict diamond. In the US, it is mandatory to have Kimberley Process certification.

“Made in Canada”/ “Canadian Diamond”

Canadian diamonds have been gaining popularity over the past decade. Diamonds with the CanadaMark, as mentioned above, are conflict free. There are stringent regulations in Canada on mining diamonds. A diamond that is mined in Canada can be said to be “Made in Canada” or a “Canadian Diamond,” although it could be cut in Canada or elsewhere. However, if a diamond is mined elsewhere and brought to Canada to be cut and polished, it cannot be advertised as “Made in Canada” or as a “Canadian Diamond.”

Other Gems?

Only diamonds are bound by the Kimberly Process, so if you design jewelry or enjoy purchasing a variety of gemstones, you may want to ask your retailer or source what practices are put in place to ensure that the gemstones are conflict-free, and if they can trace where the gemstones were mined. Although other gemstones are less likely to be used for funding civil wars, because some coloured gemstones are so there often aren’t enough to fund a war, and gemstones that aren’t as rare aren’t worth as much as diamonds. However, conflict gemstones (that aren’t diamonds) aren’t unheard of. An example would be the emerald conflict wars going on in Colombia.

Many jewelry businesses hold memberships with organizations such as the Responsible Jewelry Council, which is an organization that has expanded to include coloured gemstones and expand the commitment in responsible sourcing. Nothing is foolproof, but you can try to reduce your chances of buying a conflict gemstone. Perhaps in the future there will be worldwide commitments among governments and regulations to reduce the possibility of trading conflict coloured gemstones.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. I am not responsible for any damages resulted from using information in this article. Please consult a lawyer for advice on your unique circumstances.

Sources & Additional Resources:

Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct, Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct – Code De Conduite Sur Les Diamants Canadiens, http://www.canadiandiamondcodeofconduct.ca/EN_consumer_information.htm. 

Consumer Alert 2019, http://www.canadiandiamondcodeofconduct.ca/pdf/Consumer Alert 2019.pdf. 

Government Regulation of Diamond Trade in Canada, AGD Diamonds Rough and Polished, https://www.rough-polished.com/en/expertise/12134.html. 

Jones, Carl. “Are Diamonds DMIA, 31 Oct. 2016, http://www.dmia.net/diamond-rings-traceable/. 

Jones, Carl. “Which Diamonds Are Conflict-Free?” Which Diamonds Are Conflict-Free?, DMIA, 4 Oct. 2016, http://www.dmia.net/diamonds-conflict-free/. 

“The Forevermark Journey.” The Forevermark Journey, De Beers Group, https://www.forevermark.com/en-us/our-diamonds/the-forevermark-journey/. 

“Violence, Conflict Remains in Colombia’s Bloody Emerald War.” CCTV America, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5vd8DZMrrU. 

What Is the Kimberly Process, The Kimberly Process, https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/what-kp. 

CanadaMark. “Your Diamond” https://www.canadamark.com/journey/