Over the past decade, this initiative has proved to be a large success in raising overall awareness about the challenges of those individuals who trade in sustainably sourced diamonds at ground level. It has led to a change in the common practices of the industry, by reducing the proportion of conflict in diamonds in the global market to around just 1%, compared to a figure of around 15% in the 1990s.
Now, Members of the Kimberly Process scheme account for about 99.8% of rough diamonds at the international level. It is understandably rigorous in its demands of those involved, as their website states: Participants can only legally trade with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must have a KP certificate so that they are conflict-free.
Through its tough guidelines, the hope is that diamonds that have dubious ethical origins will be completely absent from the legitimate market in years to come. It is a dream in the past might have seemed impossible, but over a decade, the industry has made remarkable progress.
Public awareness has improved too. Some sections of the media often brand younger generations in Westernised countries as materialistic and unaware of the strife that many have to suffer to satisfy the consumer market. However, influencer artists have successfully highlighted the political issues that surround diamonds. Over younger generations, Kanye West's 2005 song Diamonds from Sierra Leone, and the 2006 hit movie Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio, hit public sentiments against unethical diamonds and raised awareness of underground dealings.
As a leading player in the UK diamond market, we provide a range of ethically sourced engagement rings and jewelry from our Birmingham store through our online services across the country, We strive for the standards upheld by the Kimberly Process. Our products come with internationally recognized certificates such as GIA, IGI, and HRD. So not only do we deliver the finest products to customers who expect the best of their special purchase, but we deliver confidence and accuracy too.
