Jewelry News
Mugabe and Friends Loot $2 Billion in Diamonds, Report Says
Saturday, November 24th, 2012It’s no secret that corruption and poor governance can leave a country devastated. But Zimbabwe, which has long been ruled by the corrupt dictator Robert Mugabe, still serves as a cautionary tale. By almost any measure, the country is in terrible shape. The per capita income is just about $400 per year. The poverty rate is 63 percent. Life expectancy is just 51 years. A few months ago, the United Nations found that 1.6 million people in Zimbabwe would go hungry without emergency food aid. Surely it would be a blessing if some source of wealth were discovered that [...]
Canadian Diamond Mine Chosen as Top 100 Employer
Monday, November 12th, 2012We’re pleased to report that a survey has chosen one of our main diamond suppliers, the Diavik diamond mine, as one of Canada’s top 100 employers. This is the second year in a row that the mine has received this distinction. Brilliant Earth has always prided itself on sourcing diamonds from mines that meet the highest labor and environmental standards. When we first launched Brilliant Earth in 2005, we carefully evaluated labor and environmental standards at diamond mines around the world and concluded that the Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories (as well as another Canadian mine, the [...]
San Francisco Jeweler
Monday, October 15th, 2012In addition to being an online leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry, Brilliant Earth maintains a special and well-known place among San Francisco jewelers. Where is Brilliant Earth? Brilliant Earth’s beautiful and serene boutique showroom is ideally situated in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Customers living in or visiting the area can view our stunning fine jewelry collection in person at our convenient Union Square location. The San Francisco Location One of the world’s most beautiful and romantic cities—home to cable cars, sea lions, the gleaming Golden Gate Bridge, and hill upon hill of awe-inspiring views—it’s [...]
Fair Trade in Africa – Gold & Diamonds
Thursday, October 4th, 2012Learn about the first source of fair trade gold, and view Brilliant Earth’s elegant fair trade gold pendant! Fair trade gold initiatives for both diamonds and gold are expanding into Africa and are promoting economic stability and improved working conditions.
South African Miners Die in Police Violence
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012Thousands of miners at South Africa’s gold and platinum mines are striking for higher wages and better working conditions. Unfortunately, about 50 people have now died in strike-related violence, most of them in a massacre by South African police. We hope the South African takes steps to avoid falling into a pattern we recognize from other countries – a pattern in which government security forces sent to mining areas to restore order instead end up causing bloodshed.
Asha Simulants vs. Lab Created Diamonds
Monday, September 24th, 2012Asha “diamonds” are not lab created diamonds, but are simulants. Learn the key differences between lab created diamonds and Asha simulant diamonds, and how to choose which is right for you!
Why Olympic Medals Should be Made From Recycled Sources
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012The Olympic medals awarded at this year’s London Games are traceable in origin to two mines operated by mining giant Rio Tinto. As mining companies go, Rio Tinto is among the most socially and environmentally responsible. But at the upcoming Olympics in Sochi and Rio De Janeiro, we think it would be much more fitting and meaningful to make Olympic medals from recycled and fair trade sources.
Sudan’s Army Causing Humanitarian Crisis in Blue Nile State
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012The Sudanese government has been ruthlessly attacking villages in the Blue Nile state in southern Sudan, forcing more than 200,000 people from their homes. This humanitarian catastrophe demonstrates why the Kimberley Process, the international diamond certification scheme, is not up to the challenge of stopping resource-fueled conflicts.
Simulant Diamonds vs. Lab Created Diamonds
Thursday, July 5th, 2012Simulant diamonds and lab created diamonds are not the same. Read on to sort through the confusion and better understand what you are actually buying.
Lab-Created Diamond Mix-up Shows Value of Careful Sourcing
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012Recent technological advances have made it possible to create diamonds in laboratory settings that are virtually indistinguishable from natural, mined diamonds. Although this is a welcome advance, some lab-created diamonds may be entering the general diamond supply and being sold as natural diamonds.
However, our uniquely careful sourcing methods protect us against this problem and allow us to guarantee the natural origins of all our natural diamonds.
