Blu,
After seeing the movie "Blood Diamond", I also wondered how you knew where your
diamonds came from since my youngest son was getting ready to buy an engagement ring
just after I saw it.
Do they provide documentation, or what??

Dream,

After that movie, I'm not putting anything on my body that could be from that area or others like it.

My mom, however, thinks we should wear our potentially "conflict" diamonds "in memory" of the victims. That's my mom for ya.

One of the things that you can do is ask for the Kimberly guarantee. The trade is supposoed to write invoices for all diamond purchases that guarantees that the diamonds are not blood diamonds. Many retailers will not or do not divulge that information but you should still ask what t heir policy is regarding blood diamonds and not buy from someone who will not produce the invoices that show the guarantee.

Blu, Tiffany's sells Kimberly process diamonds. You can read their corporate responsibility statement on their website.

Don't know of any others in VI that do.

Ok, 2 votes for Kimberly. Thaks to you both!

Researching tonight...

Are they more expensive? is there a premium on conflict-free?

HStern also.

Whoops! sent by mistake ...

HStern also.
Think they deal almost exclusively with DeBeers (now its the DTC)

Does Cartier still have an outet on STT? They also warrenty their diamonds.

Know that Harry Winston issues certificates with any diamond purchase but he's not on STT.

CShell, is the warranty and certificate issued to confirm that the diamonds are conflict free? I thought deBeers was under scrutiny for selling Blood diamonds.

Just checked and found that debeers claiming that 100% of theirs are confliuct free. Thanks Cshell.

Fom their site...
What are ‘conflict diamonds’?
‘Conflict diamonds’ is the term used to describe diamonds which are illegally traded to fund conflicts. In recent times, conflicts in some of the poorest parts of Africa have often focussed on rebels controlling their country’s natural resources and assets; for example, oil, wood, minerals and also diamonds. The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as ‘…diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council’.

Conflict diamonds came to the attention of the world media during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. While Sierra Leone is now at peace, currently, Liberia, Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville) and the Ivory Coast are under UN sanctions.

100% of De Beers' diamonds are certified as conflict-free

I'm not a diamond gal but I'd seriously question that DeBeers's diamonds are "conflict-free." History shows completely the opposite and, despite the present-day certification, there are many who view the corporation's ongoing documented activities in Botswana as a mockery of that certification. Anyway, this has not much to do with a visitor's forum but since the subject came up thought I'd throw in a couple of cents/carats! Cheers!

Just to add my normal .02 to any good discussion of misdeeds around the world.....

That is why I strongly believe in the cubic zirconia. Trust me you'll never see some movie called "Blood Zirconia"

Save Sierra Leone and Buy Cubic Zees-hmmmmm, maybe a new tee shirt slogan.

I think you are right on about never seeing a movie called "Blood Zirconia"!!
That's the tee that'll win you a boat for sure!!!!

STT, this is an appropriate discussion for this forum since so many people land on STT looking for diamonds.

I do seem to recall DeBeers being the center of recent speculation.

Maybe sapphires or emeralds are better ideas.

As long as it was brought up, one could not see Blood Diamonds without correlating it directly to the DeBeer's family and the fact that DeBeers pulled itself out of Sierra Leone during a time of struggle, and positioned itself in Liberia, where most diamonds would be smuggled out to be resold. It does set the price for diamonds on the global market and even DeBeers admits that it is difficult if not impossible to track the origin of some stones.
Today the blood diamonds are used to support global terrorism as well with a documented diamonds-al Qaeda link. I did find the link to a summary of one of the books written on the topic. http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2004/050504story.html
which connects Sierra Leone, the strife there and how al Qaeda cornered the market, so to speak, with the help of the Liberian President. Therefore, it may be that someone might support "the memory" of the victims of the wars in Africa but we might also remember that many of victims may also have been those who died on 9/11.
DeBeers has always stood by their statement that they do not sell blood diamonds and they issue a guarantee that they are not.
But each of us makes our own choices, in our own way. I didn't stop buying diamonds because of political issues but simply have decided that my current choice is the pearl. After all, Mikimoto employs women pearl divers. But there are only two stores in STT that have them and it is extremely difficult to get them to negotiate lower than 20% off - but it can be done!

Interesting discussion!

CShell, am curious though. You say, "even DeBeers admits that it is difficult if not impossible to track the origin of some stones. .." and then say that DeBeers does "not sell blood diamonds and they issue a guarantee that they are not. "

Guess it's as well that I'm not into diamonds! Cheers and goodnight!

to bring it back to more happy note

maybe should have said,

"even DeBeers admits that it is difficult if not impossible to track the origin of some stones but NOT thiers."

Think the stats are something like 99% of all diamonds are conflict-free.
Actually I didn't really pay that much attention until it became a political football of sorts.

And that must be promo hurrying back to STT to buy his bride a diamond or is he running in the other direction???

🙂

Blu,
Emeralds, Ruby's, and Sapphires really are the way to go as they are in the end, more valuable! (Listen to me, I have the diamond and got it before I was aware of the issue's involved, sure does make you think)! We all know that the value of diamonds are controlled and that there are more than enough to go around. Might be a good idea to go with the others.........:)

Sapphire stones are lovely. I've seen breathtaking pink and yellow sapphire stones right in St. Thomas. Depending on how you design your ring in a white or yellow gold setting ,diamonds aren't necessary.