The last thing a newly engaged couple wants is to imagine that the money they spent on their Blood Diamond Engagement Rings funded a war in another country. Yet many couples are unaware of the ethics involved in buying diamonds. If you’re looking to buy an engagement ring, you should know all you can about blood diamonds first–and do your best to ensure that your diamond ring is conflict-free.
Blood Diamond Engagement Rings
What is a “Blood Diamond“–and What is “Conflict Free”?
Blood Diamond Engagement Rings are mined in a war zone and sold to fund an invading army, insurgent efforts, or the power struggles of local warlords.
As recently as the 1990′s, about 15% of diamonds sold worldwide were being sold to fund war activities. Because of steps taken by the international community to make it more difficult for countries at war to export diamonds, the World Diamond Council estimates that the percentage has fallen to roughly 1%, as of 2004. However, the system isn’t perfect.
In 2000, the diamond industry established the Kimberly Process. The leaders of Africa’s top diamond-mining countries met in Kimberly, South Africa, to construct a process that forced its member countries to keep track of the value of the diamonds they export and import. This makes it possible to determine how much countries spend and earn from diamonds, and to hold them accountable for any illicit diamond sales.
What Are “Blood Diamonds?”
The movie, Blood Diamond, traces the path of a large pink diamond found in Sierra Leone in the 1990’s by a fisherman working as a slave in a rebel-controlled diamond mine. That diamond changed and ended many lives and the story of that stone carries a strong social message. The story is interesting fiction but it is based upon facts. The story can help you appreciate how a mineral resource can fuel the oppression and slaughter of thousands of people. This is not a first time phenomenon. It happened before in Africa with ivory and gold.
What Are “Conflict Blood Diamond Engagement Rings”?
Blood Diamond Engagement Rings, also known as “Conflict Diamonds” are stones that are produced in areas controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally recognized governments. The rebels sell these diamonds, and the money is used to purchase arms or to fund their military actions. Blood Diamonds are often produced through the forced labor of men, women and children. They are also stolen during shipment or seized by attacking the mining operations of legitimate producers. These attacks can be on the scale of a large military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the international diamond trade and sold as legitimate gems. Blood Diamond Engagement Rings are often the main source of funding for the rebels, however, arms merchants, smugglers and dishonest diamond traders enable their actions. Enormous amounts of money are at stake and bribes, threats, torture, and murder are modes of operation. This is why the term “blood diamonds” is used.
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