Many diamonds are mined in parts of the world where the sale of the diamonds is used to fund terrorist activity and war. These have been called blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. In an effort to stem this trade in diamonds that causes bloodshed, the United Nations put the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme into being in 2003. This process is meant to ensure that only non conflict diamonds appear for sale on the world markets.

The name of the process comes from Kimberley in the Northern Cape region of Africa, a continent known for its diamond mines. The first meeting about putting the process into action was held in this city. In order for a country to show that the diamonds it sells are non conflict diamonds, it must be participant in the process and in most countries of the world any diamonds that are imported must be accompanied by a certificate bearing the government seal.

When you have a diamond appraised, whether it is at an EGL loose diamonds appraisal facility or those for GIA diamond rings or IGI appraisals, determining the origin of the diamond is not part of the process. You must ascertain this when you are buying the diamond by asking the seller if he/she has a Kimberley process certificate. There are requirements in the Kimberley Process Certification scheme to assure the sale of non conflict diamonds that all exporters must meet when the country is part of the process.

The containers in which the diamonds are transported across borders must be tamper-proof and they cannot be opened until they arrive at their final destination. Each certificate has its own number that is impossible for forgers to replicate and diamonds can only be shipped to participating countries. Along with producing certificates to accompany each shipment of non conflict diamonds, the countries involved must have laws in place governing the diamond mining industry.

These laws make it illegal to import or export conflict diamonds and participating in such trade is a criminal offence. Non conflict diamonds are rough diamonds that have not been cut or polished in any way. It is only after they have been received that they go through this policy, which is why it is impossible for diamond appraisal facilities to determine where they came from. Diamond sellers who claim that their stones are non conflict diamonds must have the invoices to prove the claim and are subject to audit.

When buying a diamond, there are several questions you can ask to determine whether or not it is a non conflict diamond. These include:

·         In what part of the world was this diamond mined?

·         What are the mining conditions in that country?

·         Do you have a Kimberley Process Certificate for the diamond?

Even though you may be proud of the diamond you wear in a ring, brooch or pendant it makes the stone even more special to know that no one has been hurt in the process of mining the diamond or as a result of the sale. The gift of a diamond is supposed to represent purity and love. By ensuring that the diamond you buy is a non conflict diamond, you are supporting the cause of preventing criminals from profiting from the sale.

The sale of a blood diamond could involve the use of child labor in both the mines and the armies.  The United Nations has a list of countries in Africa that do produce non conflict diamonds as well as those that do engage in the trade of blood diamonds. Sierra Leone and Angola are the chief culprits and diamonds from these countries, as glorious as the stones may be, should be avoided at all costs.