How will my retailer know my diamond is really conflict free?

Look for uninterrupted tracking and certification of country and mine of origin and certification of cutting and polishing facilities.

All natural diamonds originate in mines before being transported to facilities for cutting and polishing. From there, they are sent to retailers. There are many opportunities for substitutions and entry points for conflict diamonds to enter general circulation. Suppliers that can demonstrate a complete chain of custody from mine to retailer by an independent agency can stand behind a diamond to guarantee that it is truly conflict free.

Look for information on labor and environmental conditions of mines and cutting and polishing facilities.

Retailers should be able to provide information about the working conditions and environmental controls in place at the mines and facilities they source from. If no information is available, the conflict free status of their diamonds is in question.

Look for certification from an independent source to guarantee conflict free status.

Retailer guarantees are nice, but aren't enough. Independent agencies have certification policies compliant with government and trade regulations, providing independent validation to give you the peace of mind to know your diamond is conflict free.