| You want to give your sweetie something sparkly | | | | monitoring keeps retailers from always knowing |
| this Valentine's Day. Maybe it's even time to pop | | | | what they're selling. |
| the question. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, of | | | | So how are we supposed to know what we're |
| course … unless the girl cares about funding | | | | buying for our loved ones? You'll have to ask the |
| wars in Africa and wearing a reminder of | | | | jeweler some questions, and be prepared to shop |
| bloodshed and poverty on her finger, that is. | | | | around. The Conflict-Free Diamond Council has |
| Unfortunately, the modern symbol of love is also | | | | useful guidelines to consider when looking for a |
| a token of terrible tragedies. If you're looking to | | | | diamond. |
| buy with a clear conscience, you'll want to do a | | | | Download Amnesty International's diamond |
| little research before you're beguiled by the | | | | buyer's guide (PDF) for handy questions to ask |
| brilliance. | | | | your diamond retailer. |
| During the 1990s, money from selling diamonds | | | | To learn more about specific stores, check out |
| financed several vicious civil wars in African | | | | the charts from Global Witness and Amnesty |
| countries. Military warlords and rebel groups alike | | | | International. These PDFs give details about |
| mined diamonds to buy weapons in Sierra Leone, | | | | businesses' conflict-diamond policies and what |
| Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and | | | | monitoring organizations they belong to. You'll find |
| Liberia. Diamonds from Republic of Congo and | | | | everyone from Wal-Mart to Saks Fifth Avenue |
| Côte d'Ivoire were also used to fund wars in | | | | included. |
| neighboring countries. | | | | You can look up the conflict-free diamond |
| These gems became known as conflict diamonds | | | | statements of some big-name stores online, such |
| or blood diamonds. Global Witness estimates | | | | as Tiffany, Ben Bridge Jewelery, and Zales. |
| that up to 15% of all diamonds sold around the | | | | Blue Nile, Whiteflash, and James Allen Professional |
| world in the late 1990s were conflict diamonds. | | | | Jeweler are among the many online retailers who |
| The United Nations imposed an embargo on | | | | sell conflict-free diamonds in accordance with the |
| non-government-certified diamonds from Angola in | | | | Kimberly Process. |
| 1998 and did the same for Sierra Leone diamonds | | | | Some folks prefer diamonds mined in Canada. |
| in 2000. | | | | The CanadaMark certification guarantees that the |
| In 2003, the United Nations, over 70 countries, | | | | diamonds are from the Great White North, which |
| and the international diamond industry launched | | | | is, of course, far from ugly wars. |
| the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. This | | | | However, Canadian diamonds aren't perfect for |
| voluntary system is supposed to track rough | | | | the environment either. Mining Watch points out |
| diamonds from the mine to the retailer and | | | | that northern diamond mines damage delicate |
| ensure that they are conflict-free and legitimately | | | | ecosystems and animal habitats. These operations |
| traded. | | | | have also disrupted the lives of indigenous people |
| In addition, the U.S. created several laws such as | | | | in Canada. |
| the Clean Diamonds Act to ban importation of | | | | One of the most eco-friendly options is to recycle |
| rough diamonds that are not certified by the | | | | jewelry. For example, Green Karat uses recycled |
| Kimberly Process. The U.S. is the world's largest | | | | gems in its designs. This not only ensures that |
| consumer of diamond jewelry -- we bought $33.7 | | | | your diamond is free of taint, but it doesn't hurt |
| billion worth in 2005! But most of what we import | | | | the environment with messy mining practices. |
| are cut and polished stones, according to Global | | | | Similarly, vintage jewelry from before the 1990s |
| Witness. | | | | neatly avoids conflict and harm to the planet. If |
| While the Kimberly Process has made strides, it | | | | you insist, you can always have the stone |
| also has weaknesses that have been exploited. | | | | removed from an old setting and placed into a |
| Some conflict diamonds are still getting onto the | | | | ring, necklace, etc., of your own design. Jewelers |
| market, although thankfully in small numbers. | | | | do this frequently when heirlooms are inherited |
| Partnership Africa Canada reports how Côte | | | | but styles change. Search antique stores in your |
| d'Ivoire continues to launder blood diamonds | | | | town or troll eBay for deals. |
| through other countries and how lack of | | | | |