Conflict Diamonds

As a consumer and potential buyer of diamonds you are right in being concerned about the ethics of diamond mining and trade. You may already know about the 4 Cs but there is an increasing awareness of the so called 5th C - Conflict Diamonds, especially since the release of the film "The Blood Diamond" featuring Leonardo di Caprio and Amnesty International's campaign "Are you looking for the perfect diamond". What Are Conflict Diamonds?

Conflict diamonds, also known as "blood" diamonds, are rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance armed conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Côte d'IvoireWhile the wars in Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone are now over and fighting in the DRC has decreased, the problem of conflict diamonds hasn't gone away. Diamonds mined in rebel-held areas in Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country in the midst of a volatile conflict, are reaching the international diamond market. Conflict diamonds from Liberia are also being smuggled into neighbouring countries and exported as part of the legitimate diamond trade.

The Kimberly Process

Kimberleyprocess

The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates the trade in rough diamonds. It was launched in 2000 by several southern African countries. Its aim is to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds, while helping to protect the legitimate trade in rough diamonds. A Kimberley Process certificate, guaranteeing diamonds as conflict-free, accompanies all official shipments of rough diamonds to and from participating countries.

To support this, the international diamond industry agreed to a voluntary system of warranties to ensure diamonds continued to be tracked right up to the point of sale. All invoices for the sale of rough diamonds should now include a written guarantee that states they are conflict-free. Our Guarantee

Pomeroi only use and supply conflict-free diamonds and only deal with suppliers that provide this guarantee. We can trace the origin of all our diamonds and we are happy to supply you with a written guarantee that our diamonds are conflict free should you wish to receive one.

More information on an introduction to diamonds; http://www.pomeroi.co.uk/jewellery-articles/diamonds---introduction.cfm