The Concerns Surrounding Your Diamond Engagement Ring

Before you decide on an ethically sourced ring, it is important to know the consequences that can result from choosing one that isn’t. An ethically sourced diamond engagement ring is increasingly seen as a must for ethics-conscious brides; this is due to the circumstances surrounding ‘conflict diamonds’, which are otherwise known as ‘blood diamonds’.

Conflict diamonds refer to gems that have been used to pay for wars that have killed and displaced millions of people in Africa, an awful state of affairs which is estimated to be funded by around 65% of the world’s diamonds. In 2007, Amnesty International estimated that around 3.7 million people have died as a result of diamond-fuelled conflicts. This can be of some concern to brides who want to enjoy their beautiful diamond engagement ring without feeling guilty. Despite efforts to certify the source of diamonds, such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, it is still incredibly hard to know where your diamond has come from and if it was used to finance armed violence or abusive regimes.

This is not the only reason why ethical people are inclined towards certified diamonds. There is an environmental issue with owning a diamond engagement ring. The mining watchdog group, Earthworks, estimates that a standard 18-karat wedding band (let alone the diamond) leaves behind 20 tons of ore and wasted rock. It is in acknowledgement of these environmental and human rights concerns that some couples opt for a vintage diamond engagement ring, which is guaranteed to be conflict free, since the practice of using diamond wealth to fund wars only began in the early 1990s. Of course, vintage rings also have the added benefit of being unique and full of character.

What can you do, however, if a vintage ring is not really your cup of tea? You can usually be guaranteed that diamonds from countries like Australia and Canada are produced in conditions consistent with basic labour standards. The Canadian Government has even set up a body known as the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct to help authenticate and protect the ‘conflict free’ label of Canadian diamonds. Although, of course, the environmental impact of these more ethical and humane diamonds can be considerable.

Of course, this is not a concern for everyone, but for those who feel strongly about such matters, there are alternatives out there. The certificate of a diamond will usually inform you whether it was mined humanely, but if in any doubt, any well-established and reputable jeweller should be able to tell you all about a diamond’s history and guarantee its conflict-fee status.

Frederick Holm writes for the F&L Designer Guides, which hosts a thriving community of independent engagement ring designers in the UK. Inspired by their journey of discovery in search of a distinctive, one-of-a-kind diamond engagement ring, F&L now celebrates the works of their favourite designers and helps promote the notion of "Go Bespoke" as a more imaginative and interesting alternative to the limitations of High Street shopping.