As it turns out, a diamond engagement ring can do more than just hurt your bank account?it can also potentially be the direct result of pain and suffering in a war-torn community. If you haven’t done much research on diamonds or even heard the term “blood diamond,” you might be surprised to learn that many diamonds have been mined in war zones and are then traded on the black market to fund warfare and rebel groups. Diamonds mined in these conditions are known as “conflict diamonds” and the miners often face terrible conditions such as violence, starvation, and disease. In the 1990s, many became aware of this huge problem due to a particularly brutal conflict in Sierra Leone. It’s estimated that during this time up to four percent of the world’s diamond production was made up of conflict diamonds. Since then, human rights groups and the Kimberley Process?an agreement that formed in 2000 between governments, civil society, and industry leaders to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain?have halted much of the shipment of conflict diamonds. However, if you are in the market for an engagement ring, it’s always a good idea to ask the jeweler where they sourced the diamond and whether or not there is a certificate ensuring that it is 100% conflict-free.
If that hasn’t convinced you, here are five more reasons to wear a conflict-free engagement ring.
1. A Conflict-Free Diamond Engagement Ring Isn’t More ...