At Voltaire diamonds, we believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between good quality, good value and doing good when it comes to purchasing your dream engagement ring. With this in mind, we understand how important it is for you to feel completely confident that your engagement ring was sourced from countries and businesses that have sound ethical policies and business practices. It is important for us to be as transparent as the gems we sell, so below we share how we do things here at Voltaire Diamonds.
Who do we talk about when we use the term “Ethical Diamonds”?
The term ethical diamonds concerns the jewellery trade as a whole. We can’t talk about ethical
diamonds without referencing blood diamonds. A ‘conflict’ or ‘blood’ diamond is a diamond that originates in war zones, particularly in central and western Africa in areas controlled by rebel factions opposed to recognised governments. These diamonds have been illegally traded and have been used by rebel groups to fund armed conflict and civil war. The term “ethical diamond” has emerged as a way for conscientious consumers to identify diamonds that are fairly mined and traded. Here at Voltaire Diamonds, we guarantee that all of our diamonds have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and are in compliance with the United Nations Resolutions.
What makes a diamond conflict free?
All our diamonds are “Conflict Free” and comply with the Kimberly Process. The Kimberley Process (KP) is a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain. The Kimberley Process is made up of 81 participating countries representing most of the nations involved in the diamond trade and it has successfully reduced the conflict trade to less than 1% in the global diamond industry.
Where in the World are the particpating countries?
The Kimberley Process unites 81 countries around the World including all EU member states. The participants include all major rough diamond producing, exporting and importing countries. The majority of these countries are in Africa, however Australia, Brazil, India and Russia are also diamond producing countries that are signatories to the Kimberley Process. As there are no diamond mines in the UK and Ireland at present, it is important that the imported stones featured in our jewellery can be fully traced to their point of origin. Over the years we have forged excellent working relationships with our suppliers to ensure that our supply chain is ethically and environmentally sound.
When did the Kimberley Process come into being?
It’s been 15 years since the global effort to eradicate conflict diamonds first began. Governments, charities, and the diamond industry united after the civil war in Sierra Leone to create the Kimberley Process (KP) in an attempt to prevent such a war from ever happening again. In 2003, they launched the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme with the primary objective of ending the trade of conflict diamonds.
How do we ensure fully ethical diamonds?
The world of diamond mining and the jewellery trade as a collective whole is constantly evolving. By choosing to always push for better and more ethical practices, we have fashioned higher standards for all our diamonds and coloured gemstones. Here at Voltaire Diamonds we’re meticulous about our diamonds. We track each and every one from mine to workshop to ensure our customers have peace of mind when purchasing their perfect engagement ring.
Want to learn more about the Kimberley Process?
Check out the Kimberely Process website below for more detailed information:
https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/what-kp
