What is the difference between conflict and conflict free diamonds?
Conflict diamonds, or “blood diamonds,” are diamonds that are used by militant groups in war-torn nations in Africa to fund civil wars. These diamonds are also often associated with human rights abuses, including child and slave labor. Despite widespread acknowledgement by the diamond industry of the problems associated with these gems, conflict diamonds are still smuggled across African borders and have become indistinguishable from the general supply. Conflict free diamonds are guaranteed to originate from sources that are not associated with these war-torn regions and are mined, cut, and polished in an ethically responsible manner. These diamond sources are audited and carefully monitored to ensure they have not been contaminated by conflict diamonds. Today, the only diamonds that can be certified as completely conflict free originate in Canada. Diamonds sourced from other regions are being inaccurately marketed as conflict free. Only by confirming a certificate of origin from a Can
