True Conflict-Free Diamonds

True Conflict-Free Diamonds

September 14th, 2007 @ 2:40 pm by Mrs. Tomato

I’ll admit it: I never watched Leonardo diCaprio’s movie Blood Diamond. Many of my friends said the movie made them so depressed they no longer wanted to wear their engagement ring, and, well…I like my ring. If I stopped wearing it, I’m not sure Mr.Tomato would be thrilled to find it sitting in my jewelry box for the rest of our marriage.

I will say though, that before Mr.Tomato purchased my ring he asked the Bulgari salesman if it was “conflict-free.” The response was that though they try, it’s very hard to track the diamond from the moment it’s mined to the moment it arrives in the store. However, they only use reputable dealers who supposedly avoid such means. So the truth is, tracking the origins of a diamond is questionable at best.

That said, I know there are some people who are truly concerned about this issue, and refuse to have a diamond ring because of it. For that audience, I found this site: http://brilliantearth.com/

These diamonds are mined in Canada, ensuring their customers that they are 100% conflict-free, and 5% of their profits are donated to the Diamonds for Africa Fund. In addition, their gold/platinum bands are made from renewed metal. The diamonds come in all shape and sizes (and prices) and the bands range from the classic to the more elaborate pave. Definitely worth a look.

Another alternative is to buy vintage diamonds or wear the diamond your mother/mother-in-law wore. That’s another sure way of preventing yet another conflict diamond being mined.

Do you know of any other resources for conflict-free diamonds?

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40 Responses to “True Conflict-Free Diamonds”

Guest

christina

although canadian diamonds are conflict-free, there are still serious environmental issues surrouding canadian diamonds. many of the diamond ores are found underneath glaciers, and sadly, the environment must be destroyed in order to yield those “conflict-free” diamonds. my challenge to all is, why do you need a diamond? i have a beautiful moissanite engagement ring and would never ever have accepted a diamond. ask your jeweler. you’d be surprised at how beautiful (more so than a diamond!) moissanite is.

9/14/07 @ 2:52 pm (reply)

Member

fubabee (message) 53 posts, Worker bee

I’ve done a lot of looking, and this site has an alternative to conflict diamonds as well:

http://www.greenkarat.com/

9/14/07 @ 2:55 pm (reply)

Guest

kgr

I have an Eightstar diamond, which uses only diamonds from Canada and then the diamonds are cut in Northern California. http://www.eightstar.com/

9/14/07 @ 2:56 pm (reply)

Guest

brenda

Thank you for this post, a lot of people focus on the diamond without a thought as to how it affects the rest of the world.

9/14/07 @ 2:58 pm (reply)

Guest

Ashley

My engagement ring is a canadian conflict-free diamond and it is fantasic…..although canadian diamonds are generally a little more pricey, they clarity of them as well as the certain sparkle is almost unbeatable.

9/14/07 @ 3:00 pm (reply)

Member

smartl (message) 543 posts, Busy bee

Thank you so much for sharing this site. They actually carry the exact style wedding ring I’ve been looking for too and have been having trouble finding So I could buy from them and get EXACTLY the style I want with a perfectly clear conscience.

9/14/07 @ 3:02 pm (reply)

Member

Maude (message) 326 posts, Helper bee

My fiance bought me a ring that I love from an antique store. Not only is it conflict free, but much cheaper than a traditional ring. I love the idea of reusing and not creating more waste (e.g. mining gold and diamonds) in the process of wedding planning.

9/14/07 @ 3:02 pm (reply)

Member

tyffaknee (message) 133 posts, Blushing bee

Thanks for your post, Mrs. Tomato.

9/14/07 @ 3:05 pm (reply)

Guest

Yach

My jeweler was able to take one look at my diamond and determine that it came from Israel. He said that some companies will put tiny tiny etchings at the bottom of a machine-cut diamond to indicate where the diamond came from.

9/14/07 @ 3:07 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Mrs. Bird of Paradise (message) 295 posts, Helper bee

Whiteflash, where our rings are from, has conflict free diamonds. more info here:
http://www.whiteflash.com/diamonds_info/t/faq.aspx?articleid=359&zoneid=6

9/14/07 @ 3:15 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Sel

Thanks for the post. I was very torn regarding this, and I researched it high and low. I was still upset at how although conflict-free Canadian diamonds still were destroying the environment and have even uprooted a local tribe.

Instead I decided to get a peridot cushion cut ring, which I love and get many compliments on. But I’m glad that people are being more aware about trying to get conflict free diamonds.

9/14/07 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

melissa

Thank you so much for posting this!
My fiance I are trying to avoid buying a conflict diamond thing at all cost. My engagement ring came from my grandmother. I had my heart set on this Tiffany’s wedding band:

http://www.tiffany.com/shopping/item.aspx?sku=GRP00900&cid=121324&mcat=148203&menu=0&page=4

but knew that I would never buy it….BUT….the site you posted has the exact ring!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

9/14/07 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

Thank you for the post!

I understand the appeal of diamonds and an heirloom/vintage one would be okay, but I would prefer a pearl for an engagement ring. Pearl? Because of the spiritual meaning for me, because I just like the way they look, and because I do not intend to wear my engagement ring after the wedding (except maybe on a special occasion).

I am all for people challenging what is standard. To me, the problem with getting a diamond (no matter where it comes from) is that is continues to push it as “the” standard, and indirectly supports the industry in that way. Largely, I see the industry as an unjust one. We all have to chose our battles, and this is one, small way I have decided to take a stand in the way I feel convicted.

9/14/07 @ 3:27 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

Kira

My diamond is my great-grandmother’s diamond, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I was concerned with the price and the ethical issues surrounding diamonds, so when my mom offered me my great-grandmother’s diamond, I knew I wouldn’t refuse.

Thanks for the post though! It looks like they have beautiful rings.

9/14/07 @ 3:42 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Rosie

Here are three brilliant British companies that are leading the way and selling conflict free diamonds and jewellery too - http://www.ingleandrhode.co.uk, http://www.credjewellery.com and http://www.fifibijoux.com

9/14/07 @ 4:13 pm (reply)

16.

Member

beekeebear (message) 32 posts, Newbee

Thanks for bringing this issue to light.

My boyfriend and I have discussed it and when we get engaged, he’ll be buying moissanite (for a LOT of reasons).

My sister and best friend both have gorgeous moissanite rings.

YAY for moissanite!

9/14/07 @ 4:14 pm (reply)

17.

Guest

Veronica

Like some others who have posted here, I have an antique ring, which has a sapphire stone. No additional mining (for gems or gold), no waste, etc — plus I haven’t seen anyone else wearing one like it!

9/14/07 @ 4:28 pm (reply)

18.

Guest

Rockbride

I hear Tiffany’s is conflict-free and therefore one of the reasons it is so expensive.

9/14/07 @ 5:46 pm (reply)

19.

Guest

karebearlbc

So interesting!
When my bf and I started looking for rings we had JUST seen Blood Diamond! It was very depressing. I asked every vendor the question of where it came from.
Finally we found one that was sure the diamond was not a “conflict” diamond. He said ever since the movie, many people have started worrying about this issue!
Great topic! Thanks for researching!

9/14/07 @ 5:49 pm (reply)

20.

Guest

wasabi

My fiance bought my ring from BrilliantEarth(BE), and there are other companies too, like Leber’s. I’d like to add they use renewed or recycled metals for their gold and platinum AND 5% of the sale goes towards helping African miners. While the Kimberly process is suppose to ensure your diamond is conflict free it is not a fool proof system by any means nor does it care about working conditions of African miners. that is why BE uses Canadian diamonds. BE was wonderful to deal with and i LOVE my ring. They found a ruby for my engagement ring from a mine in fair trade mine in Malawi, since most rubies come from Burma i was relieved.

9/14/07 @ 6:11 pm (reply)

21.

Bee

Mrs. Snow Pea (message) 473 posts, Helper bee

I don’t know much about the subject so I could be wrong, but diamonds from Israel (like mine) are not necessarily conflict free because ultimately the source is Africa.

Again, I can’t guarantee this but I really doubt Tiffany’s is conflict free. Surprisingly enough, Tiffany’s also outsources and you don’t know where those jewelers get their diamonds from. Crazy huh? 3x the price and such a popular name.

9/14/07 @ 6:11 pm (reply)

22.

Guest

Tiffany

I have a beautiful three stone moissanite ring and get sooo many compliments on it all the time. People are shocked to find out that they’re not diamonds. I have a few of my friends that have moissanite now too. (great for wanting to buy a big ring, but don’t want to go into too much debt to do it!) I’m an engineer that specializes in materials, so I know too much about diamonds and welcomed the chance to have a new technology breakthrough like the moissanite is.

9/14/07 @ 6:17 pm (reply)

23.

Guest

Beth

A second thumbs up for Brilliant Earth, which is where my fiance got my diamond. It’s a great company to deal with!

9/14/07 @ 6:55 pm (reply)

24.

Guest

I was also concerned about this, and I found Apollo Diamond:

http://www.apollodiamond.com/

These are the man-made diamonds that made DeBeers start laser-engraving their mined diamonds…because there is no other way to differentiate between these man-made ones and mined ones. Not only conflict free, but also no environmental issues with stripmining!

As it turned out, I ended up using my grandmother’s diamond, but I plan to get any other diamond jewelery with Apollo diamonds.

As it turns out, the jeweler I used to set my diamond is now one of the few sellers of Apollo diamonds: (scroll down)

http://www.bostonianjewelers.com/bjm_diamonds.htm

A great couple own the store - and the wife/designer is fabulous.

9/14/07 @ 8:38 pm (reply)

25.

Bee

Mrs. Radish (message) 388 posts, Helper bee

We’re all about recycling so my diamond is an antique old miner’s cut stone in a setting that Mr. Radish designed for me made from recycled metal. That way there are definitely no environmental/human rights conflicts and that is very important to us.

As others have said above, Canadian diamonds aren’t totally guilt-free. Mining is just about always bad for the environment and the impact on Canadian tribes isn’t always positive. But they are better than African diamonds at least.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401481.html

9/14/07 @ 10:58 pm (reply)

26.

Guest

meggymac

I have a beautiful engagement ring from Brilliant Earth and am so happy with it. They are a great company and I hope that more companies start to follow their trend. Atleast with recycling golds and other precious metals.
Too many people are wasteful and dont think about all of the wonderful resources they could use around them.

9/14/07 @ 11:51 pm (reply)

27.

Guest

Ron McCullagh

Hi Mrs Tomato,

I’m a journalist and worked as technical consultant, along with my colleague Sorious Samura, on Blood Diamond. All the people involved in this film were concerned that the film would not turn diamond buyers away from all African diamonds, just conflict diamonds. Yes, Canadian diamonds are conflict free and are easier to source, but if all buyers take this root then tens of thousands of Africans dependent on the diamond industry will suffer. So may I suggest that you shop around all the various outlets and find a jeweller who really has done their homework. They do exist.

9/15/07 @ 6:39 am (reply)

28.

Guest

Jasmine

My diamond also came from a Canadian mine. The store we use is a local one that has wonderful ratings every year in our area and they only import from Canada. My diamond has a polar bear on it as its mark from the Canadian mine. I honestly never really considered the importance of where my diamond came but I have come to appreciate it more now after seeing what happens in the conflict areas now,

9/15/07 @ 9:33 am (reply)

29.

Member

cubangirl (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

I third (fourth, fifth) the moissanite ring– I have a three stone ring that I gets tons of compliments on. It has almost the same hardness as a diamond (9.5 vs. 10) and is more brilliant. Also, being a geology geek, I love the idea that it comes from a meteor.

As for the African diamond trade, I wonder if it’s possible to buy from a smaller company with better labor practices?

9/15/07 @ 12:50 pm (reply)

30.

Guest

glittergrl

This is a great topic.

I am newly engaged as well and have always wanted either vintage or a chocolate diamond. But after much discussion about the ethics of buying a diamond and watching a DISTURBING documentary on the History Channel about Blood Diamonds, we decided to look into alternative stones.

I am curious what the difference is between an Apollo Diamond and a moissanite diamond?

Does anyone know?

9/15/07 @ 5:44 pm (reply)

31.

Guest

luckyme

I was researching Canadian diamonds before deciding on my own engagement ring. The fact is, many of the same companies that own the Canadian mines also have operations in Africa. Therefore, even if you buy a so-called conflict-free Canadian diamond, you could be inadvertently funding unethical practices in other mines owned by the same companies. Just something to think about…

9/16/07 @ 10:48 am (reply)

32.

Member

Weazie (message) 79 posts, Worker bee

glittergrl: I don’t know much about Apollo Diamond, but from what I gather on their website, they are man-made diamonds. Moissanite is not a diamond, it’s a man-made stone similar in strength and sparkle to a diamond.

From http://www.moissaniteisforever.com, where my fiance got my beautiful engagement ring:

Moissanite is an incredible near-colorless jewel with more fire and brilliance than any other gemstone on earth. Second in hardness only to diamond, Moissanite is durable and tough and it is in a class of its own with twice the fire as diamond. Moissanite is extremely resistant to scratching, abrasion, breaking and chipping. Each Charles & Colvard created Moissanite comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty that ensures it will never change color, fade or lose its brilliance or fire. It is a high quality gemstone with superior brilliance and stellar beauty.

I agree with all the other moissanite comments above…so pretty and sparkly! I just love this ring!

9/17/07 @ 11:04 am (reply)

33.

Guest

glittergrl

Thanks Weazie!

9/17/07 @ 11:55 am (reply)

34.

Guest

wasabi

I was feeling pretty good about my ring from brilliant earth until i started thinking about it a little deeper. Although my ring is a ruby, i have a diamond band. I wanted to get a wedding band that matched it. I’m sold on the moissanite, but I also want a ring with renewed metal, but i’m having difficulting finding a company that offers both. Does anyone know of a company that makes rings with RENEWED METAL AND MOISSANITE?

9/18/07 @ 11:28 pm (reply)

35.

Guest

Conflict Free Diamonds — Our Wedding Plus

[...] read an article on weddingbee about Conflict Free Diamonds which reminded me a post I wrote a while back, Secrets The Jewelry Industry Doesn’t Want You [...]

9/22/07 @ 8:39 pm (reply)

36.

Guest

Holly Mellor

I’m really happy with the ring my boyfriend got me from Ingle & Rhode. It’s fairtrade gold with a conflict-free Canadian diamond. Personally, I don’t have a problem with Canadian diamonds, as I believe the mining there is strictly regulated to protect the environment and the rights of the local people. But if people feel differently, I know I&R offer man-made diamonds too.

9/27/07 @ 6:13 am (reply)

37.

Guest

sasa

My fiance and I are looking for a ring. It’s been a lil aggravating after researching the ecological and sociological affects of diamond mining. I still wanted one that hopefully, was more ethical. So I was looking into used, and that spooked him out and the canadian ones seemed to still cause issues. Now we are looking into apollo and massonite. I was wondering if anyone who has an apollo or moissanite diamond can tell me more about it. Does it still shine when its get a lil dirty? Do you constantly have to clean it to shine? What does it look like? any site with wider selections?
Thank you soooo much for any comments or advice

4/2/08 @ 4:21 pm (reply)

38.

Guest

Laura

@cs: I was wondering if you purchased the Apollo ring or if anyone eles has purchased one. We were looking at the website and it doesn’t have much to say about them.

4/27/08 @ 1:52 am (reply)

39.

Guest

No Conflict » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] back, Mrs. Tomato mentioned Brilliant Earth in her post about conflict-free diamonds. I wanted to share my brother’s experience working with them on his fiancee’s engagement [...]

5/1/08 @ 4:29 pm (reply)

40.

Guest

cherry

I got the moissanite ring. its so pretty and the setting is buuu tiii fulllll. it looks really good. im happy.

5/29/08 @ 9:49 pm (reply)