What is a Conflict Free Diamond?
A conflict free diamond is a diamond that has certification assuring the buyer that it is has not come from areas where criminals control the diamond trade. Diamonds from areas like Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Congo are often called conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. This is because the diamonds obtained from these areas have often been at the cost of people’s lives. People who are legally practicing the diamond trade in these countries are at great risk for being murdered or terrorized by criminals who will steal their diamonds and sell them. By purchasing a conflict free diamond, the consumer can feel confident that they have not inadvertently contributed to violence. The concern about loss of life surrounding these diamonds has led to interest in many Western countries in obtaining conflict free diamonds. The problem is that it is normally impossible to identify differences between blood diamonds and conflict free diamonds. This has led to the Kimberly Process of Diamond Certifi
