What is a Conflict-Free Diamond?
In some areas of the world, diamond mining is used to finance rebel fighting in places like Sierra Leone, Angola and the Congo. There is an estimate out which states that these smuggled diamonds, also called conflict diamonds, represented as much as 10-15% of the global diamond trade about ten years ago. The idea of people dying over the diamond in your engagement ring is terrible, and many couples want to make sure that the diamond they purchase for their rings doesn’t have such a grim and terrible history. Many changes have been put in place to help couples ensure that their stones are conflict free. How Can I Tell if the Diamond is Conflict Free? In 2002, the UN adopted regulations for being able to tell a conflict from a conflict free diamond. The Kimberley Process Certification System outlines many regulations and requirements countries must follow to make sure diamonds are mined and shipped in the right way. When diamonds meet these requirements, they are shipped with a Kimberley
