The next time you find yourself looking for a piece of diamond jewelry, make sure you are purchasing a conflict-free diamond, also known as a non-conflict diamond or a worry-free diamond.
Conflict diamonds, also called blood diamonds, are diamonds that are traded illegally to provide funds for conflict and military action in areas such as western and central Africa. These blood diamonds have been a source of corruption, violence and crimes against humanity. Diamonds that have been mined through some form of child labor, violence or human rights abuses have also been termed conflict diamonds.
Your purchase of non-conflict diamonds can help put an end to this problem. By making sure your jewelry, or the jewelry that you buy for loved ones, is legal and worry-free you are helping to support the burgeoning safe diamond markets all over the continent of Africa.
In order to buy non-conflict diamonds, you're going to have to do some legwork. First, research your potential retailer and see if they make it a point to emphasize that their diamonds are conflict free. Jewelers who sell worry-free diamonds often make it a part of their advertising, since this is becoming an important issue for consumers.
If they don't advertise it, you can visit one of several consumer sites online to research your retailer. You can use these sources to evaluate retailers and make sure that they are doing business legally. Make sure to check out their sources of supply if you can.
When all else fails, ask your retailer point blank where the diamonds came from and if they are non-conflict. Reputable retailers will be comfortable asking these questions. They will also be familiar with new laws and regulations that have been passed recently on the sale of blood diamonds. If they give you a blank stare when you mention the Kimberley Process and the World Diamond Council's Chain of Warranties, that's a bad sign.
Reputable retailers will also be comfortable giving you a written guarantee that the diamonds were purchased legally. Under the Kimberley Process, this is part of your rights as a consumer. Make sure you demand this if they provide no other guarantee of the authenticity of the diamonds.
You can also ask to see the receipts that the retailer has from the purchase of the diamonds. The new laws have conflict free guarantees that reputable retailers and suppliers will use on all of their documentation.
Although this may seem like a lot of fuss over some jewelry, your purchase can help change practices around the world. Once you find a retailer who guarantees that your purchase is conflict free you can take comfort in enjoying your worry free diamond jewelry.
Conflict Free Diamond Engagement Rings
Jewelers and online jewelry stores have a new badge of honor adorning their websites. A new “conflict-free logo" provided by StopBloodDiamonds organization is the new badge of honor used by jewelers all over the globe to show their commitment in helping stop the flow of conflict diamonds. The new logo cannot be used just by anybody but is available for use only by members of the said website.
To be a member of StopBloodDiamonds.com jewelers and jewelry stores need only to sign up with the website. There is no joining fee but applicants need to agree to the policies set by the website regarding the non-participation in the trade of questionable diamonds before they can be approved as members. The website not only expects its members to never buy and sell conflict diamonds but to also help in creating awareness about the issue. After a jeweler or jewelry store has become a member, StopBloodDiamonds organization then lets the new member display the conflict-free logo on its website or homepage. The conflict-free logo serves a signal to all consumers and visitors of the website that the online jewelry store does not engage in the buying and selling of conflict diamonds and that it is committed to help stop the illicit trade.
Conflict diamonds are 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.
A well-structured 'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.
The new step is simple. It only requires jewelers and jewelry store owners to sign up for membership at the Stop Blood Diamonds website. Membership is free but as mentioned earlier requires members to adopt the site’s policies against conflict diamond trade as part of their store policy. After jewelers and store owners have signed up, they then have the privilege of putting up a Stop Blood Diamonds Conflict Free logo on their websites. The easily identifiable logo will be an effective means for consumers to determine that website’s policies regarding conflict diamonds without having to search through it just to look for a written policy. This will also ease the minds of potential buyers who are becoming increasingly aware and educated about this extremely immoral trade practice.
For those interested in knowing more about acquiring the logo for their site you can visit StopBloodDiamonds and read more about the policies your store need to adopt to be able to join. Costumers can also visit the website to know more about conflict diamonds and what the diamond industry is doing regarding the issue.
Both Jamie Jefferson & Tom Takihi are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jamie Jefferson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Family Travel and Online Dating. Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares promotions and discounts from jewelry stores with policies regarding and. Jamie Jefferson's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
Tom Takihi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Japan Car, Low Carb Diet and Soccer. John Caldwell, has built the most comprehensive online resource about the trade of blood diamonds. To gain further information about this terrible business and how you can help, please visit:. Tom Takihi's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
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