Blood Diamonds: The Dark Side Of The Diamond Industry

Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, originate from mines under conditions that cause significant harm to human society. These diamonds have led to unbalancing activities that are unacceptable to human society.

The international community and diamond experts have raised concerns about the issues related to blood diamonds. To address these problems, the United Nations held a meeting in 2003 and established the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). This scheme aims to prevent conflicts in blood diamond mining and enforce strict regulations in the diamond industry.

What Are Blood Diamonds

Blood diamonds continue to be loved as a sign of love, luxury, and enduring dedication. Their stunning brilliance and scarcity make them a sought-after for engagement rings, necklaces, and crowns adornment. But, underneath diamonds' gleaming facets and brilliant look, a terrible truth awaits as the world of blood diamonds.

Blood diamonds are defined as "a conflict, war, and issues to the world" because they are mined with the sole intention of abusing human rights and crushing people's emotions to fund the illegal activities and civil wars in mines zones.

Everyone knows a good part of the diamond as its brilliance and prestigious tag, but some of them are not aware of the dark side of these blood diamond. These diamonds are available at high prices and mined with unethical practices where no one can control them even though the laws are stricken.

The Origins Of Blood Diamonds

The term "blood diamonds" emerged in the late 20th century during civil wars in African countries. During this time, diamonds were used to fund conflicts and control regions. Miners, often including young and energetic individuals, were forced into labor under dangerous conditions to extract these valuable stones.

The African continent, particularly countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Sierra Leone, is rich in natural resources, including diamonds. However, these resources have also led to civil wars, human rights violations, and illegal activities.

Blood Diamonds Origin In African Continent

The whole continent of Africa is blessed with Africa is rich in natural resources, particularly precious gemstones and diamonds. However, the diamond industry has led to severe civil wars, human rights abuses, and illegal activities, resulting in what are known as blood diamonds or conflict diamonds.

Sierra Leone is infamous for its conflicts and civil wars fueled by diamond mining. Rebel forces engage in illegal practices, abuse authority, and fund weapon purchases, leading to the loss of miners' lives.

Angola, another central African country with abundant diamond mines, still faces rebel control over some mines, causing governmental and economic challenges.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the fourth largest natural diamond producer, is also deeply involved in the blood diamond trade. Rebel forces often kidnap innocent people, including children, to force them into mining.

These ongoing issues highlight the need for ethical practices in the diamond industry to prevent the human and environmental toll of blood diamonds.

The "X Factor" For Blood Diamonds

Blood diamonds have an X factor unlike anything else in the world of gemstones, where allure and beauty can hides the terrible truths of their origins. It's a fact about the mined diamonds. The phrase "blood diamonds" describes precious stones tarnished by conflict, brutality, and distress among people. Under their brilliant exteriors, they conceal a dark past that requests our attention and prompts human beings to take action.

The X factor of the diamond is their brilliance and prestigious tag that comes with the hard and bitter truth of unethical practices to abusing human rights without any fear of punishment. The luxury and opulence hide the facts about the blood diamonds, and everyone is mesmerized by their excellent looks.

Is it okay? Ask this question to yourself.

These diamonds are not only called blood diamonds because of their illegal mining practices and other problems. Simultaneously, they are unethically traded in exchange for human trafficking and other unimaginable issues. It's evoking wars and unconditional situations between two regions, and as a result, all human societies should suffer from it to a greater or lesser extent.

These gems serve as an alarming reminder of the potential human cost of even our most prized matters. They bring to light the accounts of those who were exploited and pressured into labor, whose families were split apart, and whose villages or houses were destroyed.

Do you want to join this awful activity that ruined the humanitarian? It erases the humanitarian's real meaning and invites unnecessary problems for the government and people in the particular region. Think critically about it and then make the decision because your POV and decision matters always.

The Global Response To Blood Diamonds

The Different Facet Of KPC (Kimberley Process Certification Scheme)

Some small diamond vendors felt an issue with following the strict regulations of KPCS, and they couldn't afford to implement those rules.

So, Kimberley Certified diamonds are actual mined diamonds. Still, they are brought out with the best ethical practices because the government approves the certification for inspecting all kinds of narratives and aspects. It is determined that diamonds are not funded to incite violence and war in the mining areas.

Furthermore, the procedure is frequently needed to address bigger issues such as human rights violations, environmental degradation, and extortion of the diamond industry. The emphasis focused solely on conflict diamond prevention, leaving other issues ignored. It invited another headache for the government to control these problems, and it's tough economic challenge.

Blood Diamonds Challenges

Despite considering the precious appearance of natural diamonds, many stakeholders and sightholders companies tried to tackle the ongoing challenges for a better environment. Many countries, organizations, NGOs, and key industry players are weighted to make the supply chain transparent, ethical, and unbroken, excluding the space of illegal trade practices.

Blood diamonds remain a more profound issue to solve worldwide, but with the best practical strategy, its impact could be decreased at some level.

In recent years, the awareness about ethical practices for diamonds has significantly increased, thanks to the researchers and all of the stakeholders who are actively doing inventions about how to reduce the impacts of conflict diamonds.

This process is running without losing the luster and prestigious tag of the diamonds. They emphasize the worker's fundamental rights, less environmental footprint, and helpful community development.

Ethical Diamonds And Blood Diamond

Diamonds always remain a beautiful choice for jewelry pieces. When two individuals met each other for love and support to achieve milestones together, they engaged and finally married. To make those moments memorable and ideal, diamond jewelry has been exchanged, whether it's a promise ring, engagement ring, or wedding eternity band.

But, as a buyer, you have to ensure the diamond you hold in your hand is ethically mined from following all the required regulations. Because you never wish to contribute your share to a bad environment and cause of someone's life, right?

The search for ethical diamonds has gained traction. Consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of their purchases and are looking for diamonds that have not been stained by violence or exploitation. Ethical diamond companies and jewelers are emerging with transparent and accountable sourcing procedures.

The Canadian diamond business is one famous example of ethical diamonds. Canada's diamond mines are well-known for their stringent environmental and labor laws. These diamonds are frequently monitored from mine to market, giving consumers confidence in their ethical origins.

Lab-grown diamonds have also gained popularity as a more environmentally friendly and ethical alternative to diamonds. These diamonds are mined in controlled surroundings, which eliminates the possibility of conflict and the environmental effects associated with traditional mining. They are utilized in all types of lab diamonds and lab diamond-made jewelry pieces such as engagement rings, wedding rings, wedding bands, women's necklaces, and bracelets.

Your Role in Reducing Blood Diamond Risks

If you love to get diamond jewelry for your partner, then you have control over the industry. Your demands for ethical jewelry and sustainable diamonds will positively impact the market. If you insist on more and more ethically mined diamonds, it will influence the jewelry business owners to keep their practices sustainable and human friendly for the environment.

While you are selecting an engagement ring or a wedding anniversary bracelet present for your wife, consider the ethical diamonds. It is you and only you who convey a good impression for future generation. Your one step towards selecting sustainable jewelry releases a genuine effect on everyone.

For example, you bought a colored diamond bracelet for your wife as a surprise present. You hang out with your colleagues and friends, and they see your wife wearing a beautiful bracelet with diamonds and gold. They ask you whether an ethical diamond is used or how much the price of that jewelry piece is.

You tell them it's an ethical lab diamond jewelry bracelet that looks precious and glorious on the hand with the $2500 price range.

Conclusion: What Is Blood Diamond

Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, have a dark history of violence, human rights abuses, and environmental harm. Efforts like the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme aim to address these issues, but challenges remain due to loopholes and corruption.

As a consumer, you can make a difference. By choosing ethically sourced or lab-grown diamonds, you help reduce the demand for blood diamonds. Your support for ethical practices encourages the jewelry industry to maintain sustainable and humane standards.

Your choices matter. Opt for diamonds that are sourced responsibly to ensure that their beauty doesn't come at the cost of human suffering or environmental damage. Together, we can create a positive change in the diamond industry for future generations. Choose wisely and advocate for a sustainable and ethical diamond market.

FAQs: Blood Diamond

Q.1 Why blood diamonds are bad choice?

Ans.Blood diamonds feature unnecessary load to the government for handling the human trafficking and spreading the terrorism in the mine areas. Also, the humans are forcibly kidnapped for illegal mining to find a precious gemstone, a diamond; no, it's a "Blood Diamond." Due to their negative impacts on our society, these diamonds aren't recommended.

Q2. Where blood diamonds are found in the African continent?

Ans. In Africa, five major regions have the sources of blood diamonds: 1. Angola, 2. The Democratic Republic Of Congo, 3. Sierra Leone, 4. Central Republic Of Africa, and 5. Liberia. The first three contribute more to the share of diamond mining. These region's rough diamonds are determined as the "Conflicted Diamonds," but with the KPCS and other authorized certifications, they will be accepted as ethical diamonds.

Q.3 Are blood diamonds eligible for resalable?

Ans. Yes, blood diamonds are eligible for resale because they contain a natural counterpart. After the depreciation, they successfully retain 70-80% of value even after 2 - 5 years from the purchase. It's a good investment for maintaining better ROI instead of buying tangible assets. Here, individuals have to consult their financial planner because it's risky.

Q.4 How much are blood diamonds worth?

Ans. The cost of blood diamonds starts from $50,000 to $100 million per carat. The price of these diamonds depends on their rarity, clarity, carat weights, color spectrum, and original formation. Also, to bring natural diamonds from mines to the market, the overhead and indirect expenses significantly increase, so the final selling price is sometimes counted in the millions.

Q.5 Is blood diamond any more valuable?

Ans. Blood diamonds are valuable because of their natural origination, brilliance, color spectrums, and rarity. But on the other side, when you evaluate its value emotionally, then it has zero worth because it was mined forcibly, especially from the violated human rights. Customers want valuable and conflict-free gemstones where lab-grown is the best choice.

Q.6 What is KPCS in diamonds?

Ans. The KPCS stands for Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme, which was implemented by the United Nations in 2003. The KPCS certificate ensures that the diamond is ethically mined. The government issued this certificate without any involvement of third parties. Implementing this scheme prevents the illegal trade of diamonds by stricken with rules and regulations.

Q.7 My friend plans to shop for diamonds; what can I help him with?

Ans. You recommend he select conflict-free diamonds with the KPCS certificate or advise him to consult a professional jewelry store or gemologist. If he wants a cost-affordable option, then happily guide him to pick a lab-grown diamond, which is an ideal choice with its eco-friendly manufacturing process.

Q.8 Are there any preventative steps to stop blood diamonds from being dumped into the market?

Ans. The first step is to insist on the KPCS or other reputable certifications from recognized institutions. The second step is to select lab-grown diamonds to prevent blood diamond dumping. Meanwhile, government agencies would investigate this to stop the entry of blood diamonds into the market, and they would ensure all diamonds are conflict-free.

Q.9 Can blood diamonds break from a hammer

Ans. Diamonds have a 10/10 score on the Mohs scale (used to know the gemstone's hardness). So, it's usually not easily broken when fallen coincidentally by the individuals. But if the hammer is hit on the diamond with pressure and force, its anatomy may be damaged, and its luster will be lost. After that, it always remains worthless and has zero value.

Q.10 How do I identify my diamond as a blood diamond or an ethical diamond?

Ans. Usually, it's hard to tell which one is the blood diamond or which is found with the ethical practices. But with the certificate, you can understand the diamond traceability or demand a diamond tester video from the seller for the trustability of its origination. You can believe the recognized institution's certifications of diamonds.