Conflict Diamonds
and Our Promise To You

The United Nations defines conflict diamonds (sometimes referred to as blood diamonds) as “…diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally re cognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.”

In the late 1990s, illicit rough diamonds were used to finance the various conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast, among others. At its peak, these conflict diamonds represented approximately 4% of the worldwide production of diamonds.

Since 2006 and the release of the film Blood Diamond, consumers have expressed increased concern about how diamonds are sourced and manufactured. The diamond trade has made an excellent start with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme — a system of tracking a diamond’s origin to ensure it is conflict free.

The Kimberley Process requires that diamond-producing countries tightly regulate the import and export of diamond rough by establishing control systems to guarantee compliance.

Although the Kimberley Process is law in 74 countries, and although 99% of diamonds are now considered conflict free and traded under its protocols, the jewelry industry is still working with governments, the United Nations, and many nongovernmental organizations to strengthen the process and protect the millions of people employed in the mining, cutting, and manufacturing of legitimately sourced diamonds.

Mischava Jewellery® does not condone the trade of conflict diamonds. Through measures such as the Kimberly Process, which tracks diamonds from mine to market, the industry, in partnership with the UN, various governments, as well as NGOs, polices diamond exports to prevent the trade of illegal diamonds. Mischava Jewellery is committed to upholding the highest human rights standards when purchasing all diamonds and jewellery.