A Guide to Conflict Free Diamonds And Why Are They Important?

Diamonds are treasured for their beauty, their brilliance, and their exclusivity. These qualities stand the test of time. However, in today’s interconnected world, we also need to be assured that our purchases are not having a negative social impact. Within the diamond community, there are several ways of guaranteeing this, and one of the most important is ensuring a diamond is conflict free. But what does this mean?

Unfortunately, not all diamonds enter the market through legal or ethical means. Diamond mining in remote areas are sometimes commandeered by rebel militias who sell the diamonds to further their military goals. This fuels conflict and deprives miners of the proceeds of their labor. Though a bigger problem in decades past, there is still a small fraction of diamonds that are brought to market outside of legitimate channels. These are sometimes referred to as ‘conflict diamonds’. Over the past two decades, through the efforts of governments, NGO’s and the diamond industry, the number of diamonds entering the market in this way has been largely eliminated. Still, from time to time problems flair up and require attention and action.

Fortunately, conflict free diamonds are an ethical alternative. Ensuring suppliers and jewelers produce and source conflict free diamonds is one of the most important steps in creating a fairer, more ethical market for beautiful jewelry. In this blog post, we will be explaining why purchasing conflict free diamonds is the only way to buy jewelry.

The majority of diamonds are mined in large, mechanized, conventional operations that are highly controlled and regulated. Mines run in this way ensure that no conflict diamonds are produced in these types of operations.

So where does the real problem lie? With alluvial diamonds. These are diamonds brought to the Earth’s crust by volcanic activity. Over time, they are weathered out of the host rock and deposited in sand and gravel very near the surface. These deposits are ‘mined’ by individual artisans using rudimentary tools; a mining method that lacks the oversight and protections of industrial mining projects. As such, alluvial miners are vulnerable to armed groups who take over these areas by force and operate them with little regard to the safety or treatment of the workers.

In these cases, the proceeds of the diamonds are used to fund renegade groups in their movements against legitimate governments. This often comes with dire consequences for local communities.

We believe that private businesses, as well as governments and NGO’s, have a duty to be socially aware and responsible, as each is in a position to positively impact the communities they are a part of. When it comes to beautiful diamonds, jewelers have a duty to source their diamonds only through legitimate channels, helping to eliminate conflict diamonds from the market.

We have previously stated that “Because we can make a difference, we have a social obligation to try to do so.” This is of utmost importance to Whiteflash. Diamonds must be conflict free to ensure that we can enjoy them without inadvertently causing suffering or lost opportunity for others involved in bringing these special gems to market.

Fortunately, there is a process that exists to ensure the ethics and fairness of the international diamond market.

The Kimberley Process is an initiative that began in 2003, uniting governments, civil societies, and industry to effectively address the problem of conflict diamonds. Memberships span many international borders, with 82 countries signing up to keep unethical diamonds from entering the market.

Whiteflash and socially conscious diamond lovers across the globe are grateful to the Kimberley Process for its work. Because of its efforts, more than 99% of all diamonds are now conflict free. With careful monitoring of the supply chain, thanks to the Kimberley Process, the benefits of ethical diamond mining are shared by everyone.

For example, in 2021, Africa produced around 65 million carats. Because of the legitimate business and beneficiation associated with that production, around 5.5 million people have access to health care.

For more information on the benefits of sourcing conflict free diamonds, head to our infographic here.