Conflict-free diamonds are certified to not come from areas controlled by criminals, such as Sierra Leone, Angola, and Congo. The Kimberly Process attempts to ensure diamonds are conflict-free, but it is not mandatory in all countries. Retailers that only carry certified diamonds are more likely to buy legally obtained diamonds.
A conflict-free diamond is a certified diamond that assures the buyer that it does not come from areas where criminals control the diamond trade. Diamonds from areas such as Sierra Leone, Angola and Congo are often called conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. This is because diamonds obtained in these areas have often cost people their lives. People who legally trade in diamonds in these countries are at great risk of being murdered or terrorized by criminals who steal their diamonds and sell them. By purchasing a conflict-free diamond, the consumer can feel confident that they have not inadvertently contributed to the violence.
Concern over the loss of life surrounding these diamonds has led to interest in many Western countries in conflict-free procurement of diamonds. The problem is that it is usually impossible to identify differences between blood diamonds and non-conflict diamonds. This led to the Kimberly diamond certification process, where sellers and buyers agree to abide by certain rules when sourcing diamonds to ensure they are conflict-free. The Kimberly Process attempts to document all diamonds and their movements on the international market. This international process is not mandatory in all countries, but some diamond buyers have made agreements to only work with diamonds that are considered conflict-free.
Original shippers of conflict-free rough diamonds must provide information about how the diamonds were obtained and sufficient proof that they are indeed conflict-free to receive certification.
This doesn’t always mean that the person buys a diamond without conflict, but retailers that only carry diamonds certified by the Kimberly Process are more likely to buy legally obtained diamonds. The Kimberly Process cannot always capture illegally obtained diamonds.
People interested in buying a conflict-free diamond can work with retailers who buy only certified diamonds. At the moment, however, a conflict-free diamond cannot be guaranteed unless someone legally pulls it out of the ground and cuts it.
There are some characteristics of a non-conflict diamond that can help with identification. Australian diamonds, for example, are generally conflict-free and can have a slight pink tinge. Furthermore, certification helps to minimize the risk of purchasing a blood diamond.
Many believe that the way to stop the progress of conflict diamonds is to only buy diamonds from retailers who voluntarily purchase Kimberly Process certified diamonds. This will certainly help increase the chances of buying a conflict-free diamond, which was not obtained at the expense of other people’s lives.
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