I found this site while I was searching the web regarding conflict diamonds in the Australian jewellery industry. The search took me to your Policy of conflict diamonds, which I was impressed to see.

I don’t work in the diamond industry, but I am a consumer who would like to see more participants in the diamond industry like you with stated policies regarding confict diamonds. The amount of information you provide customers about your diamonds is also impressive. Could I also suggest including a copy of your supplier’s guarantee that the diamonds they supply to your company are conflict-free?

You may then ask, should you get guarantees from everyone up the supply chain? It may be superfluous to most consumers, but the message will flow up the chain about consumers that are concerned about the source of the diamonds they are purchasing.

If the industry feels that the problem of blood diamonds has been largely eradicated, it means that this problem still remains at a very small level. Where do you, or the industry, feel that this problem still remains?

I’m currently looking at diamond engagement rings, but cannot afford a decent sized ring and I’m not 100% confident that diamonds are conflict-free. To the diamond industry’s disappointment, so it seems, I am going to purchase a synthetic diamond for now. It will be replaced with a real diamond when finances allow, and when I am more confident about the actions that the diamond industry is taking to block conflict diamonds from entering the market.

May I ask how many of your customers purchase your diamonds because you have a conflict diamond policy?

I understand that your post was written with the intention of being a light-hearted read, however, it did mention the very serious topic of conflict diamonds that I’m trying to learning more about. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

I honestly don’t think our “conflict-free” diamond policy is a distinguishing factor when people buy from us, as it is pretty much the standard policy within the industry.

That said, there is no way a diamond retailer can actually guarantee without a doubt the diamonds that they sell are conflict free. However, dealers can make their “best effort” to buy non-conflict diamonds by buying from trusted sources such as DTC et al sightholders, but the reality is given conflict free diamonds are so little of an issue, if the price is right, it doesn’t really matter where the diamond comes from.

If you look at the bigger picture, then you will also see that the issue of “conflict natural resources” isn’t restricted to diamonds. Look at Nigeria, or even Venezuela, and you will see the effects that oil has brought upon these countries.