How can I be sure that my diamond meets the highest ethical standards?

Look for retailers able to track their diamonds from the mine to the customer.

All natural diamonds originate in mines before being transported to facilities for cutting and polishing. From there, they are sent to wholesalers or retailers. At any point along the supply chain, it is easy for diamonds with questionable histories to be mixed into the diamond supply. Only retailers who know the exact path their diamonds take from mine to market can guarantee that their diamonds’ origins are ethical.

Look for Canadian diamonds due to enhanced certification and tracking.

There is no global system providing reliable verification of a diamond’s ethical origins. Canadian diamonds are a rare exception. Canadian diamonds are all certified as ethically-sourced through monitoring bodies such as CanadaMark and the Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct. Many Canadian diamonds are also laser-inscribed with tracking numbers for enhanced traceability.

Look for retailers willing to certify, in writing, that their diamonds are ethically-sourced.

Not all retailer guarantees are equally reliable. But retailers who understand their own supply chains, offer detailed information about their diamond sources, and provide a guarantee in written form are more likely to take their sourcing responsibilities seriously.