Super Party Factory

‘Blood Diamonds’ and ‘Conflict Diamonds’ are words we hear on the nightly news but most of us give little thought to what it actually means. Basically these are diamonds that were mined in a country suspected of gross human-rights violations. International treaties exist to prevent such diamonds from entering the world markets but unscrupulous dealers still trade in these lucrative black-market stones.

My advice is to buy your jewelry from a reputable jeweler to ensure your diamonds are from a conflict-free source. Before purchasing a piece of jewelry do a little research and go to a jewelry store that you trust and that gives you good customer service. Never be embarrassed to ask questions about the piece of jewelry. An honest jeweler will appreciate your interest and not be offended by your inquiries. Indeed they come to expect it as people are becoming more aware of the issue and demanding ‘guilt-free’ jewelry.

There are several recognized organizations that are dedicated to upholding the industry’s highest professional and ethical standards such as the Gemological Institute of America (the G.I.A.) or its European counterpart the European Gemological Laboratory (the E.G.L.). When choosing a diamond, buy a G.I.A. or E.G.L. certified diamond. This ensures that the diamond was checked by a certified gemologist and it comes with a certificate of information on the diamond including authentication of the country of origin.

One of the most popular sources of diamonds today is from Canada. Mined and cut in places such as the Northwest Territories these conflict-free stones are in high demand with jewelers and amongst their conscience minded clients.