Learning Center : Conflict Free Diamonds

Consumer Guidelines

The following guidelines help consumers determine whether or not a diamond is conflict-free.

The Conflict-Free Diamond Council continually monitors and examines the diamond industry in search of the best practices that ensure diamonds are conflict-free. The following standards help comprise a chain of custody system, or audit trail, that tracks the diamond from mine to manufacturer to consumer.

The diamond must be mined, cut, and polished in the same region or territory without crossing any national borders

One of the easiest ways for conflict diamonds to be slipped into the global diamond market is through transportation. Anytime a diamond travels across national borders, its origin and identity are quickly lost. Most countries export their diamonds to the major cutting and polishing centers around the world. It is through these long supply chains that conflict diamonds are slipped in with legitimate diamonds, and enter the market.

The diamond must be laser engraved with a serial number, scanned, and recorded in a confidential centralized database

One of the easiest ways to track a diamond is to laser engrave it with a serial number. As the diamond travels from the mine, through a cutting and polishing center, and eventually to the consumer, the diamond can be tracked by its serial number producing a record of its travels.

In addition, each diamond has a unique signature or "fingerprint" that can be scanned using a sophisticated diamond identification system. This enables the diamond to be traced and monitored by its fingerprint from mine, through the production process, and to the consumer.

The diamond must pass through a stringent monitoring system

As the diamond moves through the various production stages of its life, a stringent monitoring system must be in place. The system follows the diamond from the mine through the diamond factory, to ensure its authenticity and origin. The system helps guarantees that clean diamonds "stay in", while conflict diamonds "stay out". The program must also include random inspections at the factories that monitor whether diamonds are clean and made under fair conditions.

The facilities where the diamond is mined, cut, and polished must adhere to global labor and fair wage laws, and must employ local residents

The mining, cutting, and polishing facilities must adhere to global labor and fair wage laws. Diamonds can be "conflict-free" but are easily "bloodied" if mines and manufacturers use unfair labor practices. In addition, the mineworkers and skilled cutters and polishers should be local laborers and craftsman. This helps guarantee that some of the profit generated by the diamond mines and manufacturers (often run by one of a few global corporations), are re-invested into and benefit the local community.

The diamond must have a certificate from the regional government program certifying that the diamond was mined, cut, and polished in that area

The national or regional government must have a controlled and audited diamond-mining program in place. The program must be corruption free and utilize all of the previously mentioned standards. The program must also have a certificate that accompanies each diamond, certifying that the diamond has been mined, cut, and polished in that region.

The diamond must be an established brand that exclusively participates in the diamond certification program

Once the diamonds have passed through the production process, they can be distributed through a small network of well-established brands that exclusively participate in the certification program. These "branded" diamonds are then sold to the consumer.