You already know that diamonds are beautiful, sentimental, iconic. Unfortunately, diamonds have also been plagued by controversy and suspicion because they are associated with human rights abuses in certain parts of the world. You may have read newspaper stories about “conflict diamonds” or seen the 2006 movie “Blood Diamond” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. While all this reporting did a great job in raising awareness about the importance of ethically-sourced diamonds, many people came away with the message that all diamonds are bad. In fact, the industry has taken important steps to promote integrity and transparency in the diamond trade, such as the Kimberley Process, which tracks diamonds at every step of production to ensure that conflict diamonds do not enter the mainstream market. If like many consumers you want to make sure that your engagement ring is an ethical purchase, you can always ask if the diamonds have been certified as conflict-free and ask to see the certificate.
What too many people still don’t know is that diamonds do a lot of good around the world! In many African countries, diamonds are a huge part of the economy and have improved the lives of ordinary people and workers immeasurably. Countries such as Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa are diamond success stories that show the economic and social benefits provided by the diamond trade. Citizens of these countries have access to more food, cleaner drinking water, greater educational opportunities, and better healthcare thanks to diamonds.
“For our people, every diamond purchase represents food on the table; better living conditions; better healthcare; safe drinking water; more roads to connect our remote communities and much more.” – President Mogae of Botswana, June 7, 2006
Learn More About the Diamond Trade
Did you know that…
- The diamond industry supports an estimated 10 million people
- An estimated 5 million people across the globe have access to healthcare thanks to the diamond industry.
- Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13.
- The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of Namibia’s annual export earnings.
- More than 99% of diamonds are now from conflict-free sources and traded under the UN-mandated Kimberley Process.
For more information about the important role diamonds play in the global economy, visit http://diamondfacts.org/. And if you want to purchase custom diamond jewelry, visit Diamonds Forever San Diego to speak to our expert gemologists and designers. Stop by our newly expanded San Diego location for a free consultation, or give us a call at (619) 223-2151.
