Engagement Rings – Does your diamond have a political cost?

What exactly is a diamond? Put simply a diamond is carbon just like graphite. Its tetrahedral formation of carbon atoms produces a transparent crystal. It’s actually a complex allotrope of carbon with its atoms arranged in an isometric-hexoctahedral crystal lattice and after graphite it is the most stable form of carbon. This structure gives it some amazing qualities. First it is the hardest naturally occurring mineral known to man. With additional treatment with heat and pressure it is possible to make diamonds even harder. Secondly they have superb physical qualities making them much sought after. Because they make excellent abrasives they can be highly polished and hold their lustre very well. It is because of this that they are treasured as adornments and used in jewellery such as engagement rings. Around the world it is estimated that 130 million carats are mined annually with an estimated value of $9 billion US. It is this high value that has led to much conflict in some of the less stable diamond producing countries in Africa. For many years the diamond producing areas of countries like Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo have seen governments and militias fighting for control of the best diamond mining regions.

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This has led to the term ‘Blood Diamond’. It was the public concern that the trade in diamonds was fuelling bloodshed and contributing to war which led the industry and the United Nations to introduce the Kimberley Process in 2002. This was an attempt to separate peacefully mined diamonds from those used to fuel criminal or revolutionary operations. Unfortunately even today some major diamond trading corporations are still doing business with armed groups. An estimated 2-3% of all diamonds traded are still thought to be ‘blood diamonds’ or ‘conflict diamonds’. The fact remains that there is still no sure way of knowing that engagement rings and other jewellery do not contain diamonds from areas known for ‘blood diamonds’. The problem remains because it is relatively easy to smuggle these diamonds across African borders. Even those diamonds that are deemed to be ‘clean’ may have come from regimes known for their violence but they are not labelled as ‘blood diamonds’ because there is technically no state of war there. Canada is one country that has moved to ensure all of its traded diamonds are ‘conflict free’. These diamonds are authenticated by a body called the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct set up by the Canadian Government. At least here you can be sure engagement rings and other jewellery is truly trouble free. Some African countries have managed to solve their disputes with neighbouring nations or internal conflicts in the last decade. Counties such as Angola and Liberia have emerged from long civil wars and are now working hard to throw off the stigma attached to such diamonds.

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