How to Avoid Blood Diamonds

While diamonds are expensive, their world trade often exacts a higher cost than their price tags reflect. The formation of black markets in some politically and economically unstable parts of Africa where diamonds are mined often finances wars and puts human lives in danger. Avoid diamonds originating there, sometimes called "blood diamonds" in reference to desperate people who steal and trade some of the world's most precious stones to fund genocide.

Instructions

Refuse to Buy Blood Diamonds for Humanitarian Reasons

1

Ask a jeweler when you enter the store, before you decide to browse, whether he can ascertain that none of the items for sale contains blood diamonds. Making this a priority puts pressure on vendors to be vigilant about their stones' origins.

2

Ask about the origins of a stone you're seriously interested in, including when and where it was mined. A dealer who is ready with answers is likely to be trustworthy.

3

Choose stones from a country that is compliant with the United Nations 2003 charter called the Kimberley Process, which requires participants to ban blood diamonds. These include the United States, Israel, China and South Africa.

4

Purchase diamonds through Canada, which has adopted even greater controls to ensure that their stock is free from blood diamonds.

5

Consider antique diamond jewelry, or any pieces that were fashioned before 1990, when the West African conflicts began in Sierra Leone.

6

View synthetic diamonds or jewelry containing moissanite or cubic zirconia instead of genuine diamonds.

7

Secure a written guarantee with your purchase stating that your diamond was "not involved in funding conflict."