As formations composed of carbon, diamonds are naturally discovered beneath the Earth’s surface. Crystallized carbon transforms into one of the planet’s hardest substances under immense heat and pressure deep within the Earth. The formation of diamonds takes millions of years, and uncovering just 1.00ct requires sifting through 250 tons of rock. Diamonds are unearthed from varying global regions, climate conditions, and locations, including the United States. Although Africa once produced nearly all of the world’s diamonds, now less than half come from African mines. Diamonds are currently mined in Africa, Russia, Canada, Australia, India, and Brazil. Both private entities and government enterprises control these mines. Due to their value, the mining of diamonds is strictly regulated worldwide.
What are Conflict Diamonds?
Due to their high value and compact size, diamonds often become sources of trade and conflict disputes. However, diamonds are not the sole materials contributing to conflicts; other minerals and metals used in everyday items like cell phone chips also play a part. When diamonds fund civil unrest or wars, they are termed conflict diamonds. Currently, conflict diamonds represent less than 0.1% of diamonds in the global jewelry market.
Conflict diamonds primarily originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Angola, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Contrastingly, other African nations produce high-quality diamonds following ethical and democratic practices. For generations, diamonds have fostered economic growth, supporting communities and creating jobs worldwide. We bear a significant responsibility to advocate and uphold ethical practices to sustainably develop communities rather than destroying them with conflict diamonds.
Diamond sourcing concerns extend beyond conflicts. Our commitment includes using fair trade suppliers and ensuring cruelty-free diamonds that do not harm animals or the environment during mining. Conflict-free practices are not just about human interactions but also about reducing our ecological footprint, especially when engagement rings symbolize love and unity. Our ethically sourced diamonds offer the peace of mind that comes from responsible and conflict-free procurement. Everyone must contribute, and we go the extra mile to do our part.
Kimberley Process
To address the issue of conflict diamonds and establish standardized mining practices, the international community implemented the Kimberley Process in 2000, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against conflict diamonds. This initiative mandates that each mined rough diamond must acquire an authorized certificate. Presently, over 74 governments have adopted these accords to prevent conflict diamonds. Nations have used this framework to ensure safe mining practices, secure diamond origins, and invest the resulting revenues in infrastructure like schools and hospitals. Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, and Tanzania are examples of countries benefiting significantly from these secure mining methods.
At Artful Bracelets, we guarantee that all our diamonds from manufacturers adhere to the Kimberley Process standards. We closely collaborate with these manufacturers to ensure they not only meet but exceed these ethical guidelines.
Our dedication to ethical responsibility at Artful Bracelets is unwavering. We recognize that the diamond you purchase symbolizes love and commitment, and we ensure every diamond is free from conflict or human rights abuses. We enforce stringent standards set by the Kimberley Process and United Nations Resolutions. Proudly, we ensure that our jewelry distribution, from mine to market, complies with all international laws and human rights policies. Our long-standing relationships with suppliers offer transparency into their operations and sourcing, and we work only with reputable suppliers who prioritize conflict-free sourcing and ethical practices.
Artful Bracelets Policy & Conflict Diamonds
Artful Bracelets’s ethical diamond policies and practices focus on five principal areas of mining and sourcing. Our specialty lies in fair trade diamonds to ensure adherence to international business and commerce best practices.
1. Financing wars: Artful Bracelets collaborates with suppliers to procure diamonds solely from mines outside conflict zones where diamonds might otherwise fund civil and religious wars. Since diamonds symbolize love, we ensure our suppliers provide origin verification to confirm no rough diamond originates from illegitimate sources in war-torn regions.
2. Human Rights Abuses: Safe and ethical mining practices free from human rights abuses and civil liberties violations are imperative. Artful Bracelets’s suppliers source directly from mining companies that comply with local laws in nations renowned for democratic and fair labor practices. Our diamonds are fair trade.
3. Environmental safety: Equally critical is our duty to minimize our environmental footprint, preserving the Earth for future generations. Given the extensive effort needed to locate a single carat of diamond, our partners use advanced technology to avoid environmental harm. We do not cut corners.
4. Fair Labor: Diamonds have been crucial to many communities by providing stable jobs, fair wages, and opportunities otherwise unavailable. This holds true in both manufacturing and mining. Artful Bracelets’s suppliers follow local fair labor practices, with many governed by wage and labor unions for employee protection.
5. Community Development: Diamonds fund schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in many remote areas globally. Our miners and manufacturers believe in giving back, donating profits and opportunities to the communities enabling their work.people to grow personally, financially, and professionally.
6. Origin Verification: We ensure the origin of every diamond we offer is verified. Although the GIA cannot determine a diamond’s origin, we collaborate with each manufacturer to obtain and share this information. If you wish to learn more about the potential provenance of your Artful Bracelets diamond, feel free to ask!
Diamond Origins
Over the past two decades, the diamond industry’s sources have seen significant changes. Unlike before, when a few large companies dominated the trade, many smaller diamond mines are now key players. Traditionally, South Africa was the primary diamond exporter globally. However, in the last 20 years, numerous other countries have tapped into this resource, enabling other jewelers to enter the market and diminishing the dominance of major brand names.
Diamond Sources
Diamonds have been found in countries like Russia, Botswana, Canada, Angola, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Zimbabwe, Guyana, India, and Brazil. The world’s leading diamond mines contribute over 90% of global diamond production, with the remaining countries contributing the rest. The top six diamond-producing countries are Russia, Botswana, Canada, Angola, South Africa, and Namibia.
Russian Diamonds
Post-World War II, Russia developed its diamond industry to meet its industrial needs. Certain Siberian locations, similar to South Africa’s carbon-rich environments, were rich in diamond deposits. Commercial sales and exports of diamonds commenced in Russia during the 1960s. Russia remains the leading diamond producer by carat volume and dollar value, operating over twelve open-pit diamond mines. This dominance is projected to continue, with Russia holding diamond reserves exceeding 1 billion carats. Identifying a mined diamond’s origin is challenging without trusted supplier information verifying its origin.
Canadian Diamonds
Canada emerged as a diamond industry player in the early 1990s, with mines primarily located in the northern arctic regions. Large deposits are found deep below ocean floors and lake bottoms. Canada now ranks third globally for diamond production by dollar value. Prospects for increased diamond production are promising, with significant unexplored regions and upcoming projects. Canadian diamonds are comparable to others in color, cut, carat, and clarity.
Diamonds in the USA
The USA, one of the largest diamond consumers, has very few diamond mines. The only operational mine, Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas, serves as a state-operated tourist attraction. Visitors can pay a fee to mine for diamonds and keep any they find. This mine produces a few hundred carats annually, a small fraction of global diamond production.
African Diamonds
Africa is rich in diamond deposits across 15 producing countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Angola, Namibia, Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Lesotho, CAR, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The leading African diamond producers are Botswana, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Artful Bracelets exclusively sources diamonds from conflict-free mines adhering to strict ethical standards.
Price Differences
Diamond prices are determined by suppliers and cutters based on market value and supply-demand dynamics. Prices are generally stable; any significant underpricing might indicate issues with clarity, inclusions, or color. Before making a purchase, thoroughly check all diamond characteristics and compare prices. The value of diamonds is based on the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Artful Bracelets collaborates with suppliers upholding strict ethical standards, offering over 100,000 quality diamonds at competitive wholesale prices.
FAQs
What are ethically sourced diamonds?
Ethically sourced diamonds are obtained through responsible practices that respect human rights, environmental impact, and social welfare. Initiatives like the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme aim to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.
Where are lab diamonds made?
Lab diamonds, or synthetic/cultured diamonds, are created in laboratories using high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. Laboratories in countries like the United States, Russia, China, India, Singapore, and several European nations produce lab diamonds.
Where are diamond mines located?
Diamond mines exist worldwide. Africa is a major source, with key mines in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. Russia, particularly in Siberia and the Arkhangelsk region, and Canada, especially in the Northwest Territories, also have significant diamond mining activities. Additionally, Australia, Angola, Namibia, and Brazil operate diamond mines.
How are lab-grown diamonds created?
Lab-grown diamonds are produced via two methods: high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). HPHT mimics natural diamond formation through extreme pressure and temperature applied to a diamond seed, while CVD uses carbon atoms to layer a seed. Both processes yield lab-grown diamonds with properties identical to natural ones.
