Ethical Diamond Alternatives: Sustainable & Conflict-Free Options

Question
Hi there!!  My boyfriend and I often talk of getting married and I really LOVE the idea of actually having a diamond on my finger - but I don't love that I often hear the best diamonds come out of Africa; where children (and many others) are sacrificing their lives for these glorified, miracle pieces of coal!!! My heart goes out to those areas of the world where there is that kind of turmoil and if at all possible I don't want to support that kind of market. (I know my not buying them is going to stop it -- but it makes me feel better) - I think there are diamonds that form in the states - but I am not sure.
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Answer
Dear Penny,

Firstly, the majority of diamonds do not originate in Africa. There are huge supplies that come from Australia, Russia and Canada. The diamonds that are found in the U.S. are few and typically of low quality.

Most of us in the jewelry industry share your feelings. By and large the jewelry industry is hugely philanthropic and caring. The issue of "blood diamonds" has been addressed by the "Kimberly Process". In November 2002, 52 countries engaged in the diamond trade adopted an international certification regime designed to stop the flow of "conflict" diamonds into the global market. The new protocol, known as the Kimberley Process, requires that all rough diamonds passing through or into a participating country be transported in sealed containers and labeled with certificates of origin. The Republic of Congo, which has limited diamond production but is a source of re-exported blood diamonds from Congo and the Central African Republic, was expelled from the Kimberly Process (meaning that it now cannot legitimately export diamonds).

There is not a 100% guarantee of the source of every diamond. But the industry has gone to great lengths to try not to deal in diamonds that were born in misery.