Start with Our Diamond Quiz
1. Know the Diamond's Origin
In the diamond industry, the terms "origin," "country of origin," and "provenance" are frequently used interchangeably, yet they often obscure rather than clarify a diamond's true journey from mine to market. While provenance technically describes "the region or countries where a diamond originated," many retailers will resort to language that sidesteps specific geographic details. Some may even describe a diamond’s origin as conflict-free, referring to its Kimberley Process certification rather than disclosing its actual origin. This allows retailers to avoid admitting they simply don't know where their diamonds were mined. The term "conflict-free" itself carries some ambiguity — while it ostensibly means the diamond didn't fund armed conflict, Kimberley Process-certified stones can still originate from countries with questionable human rights records.
Reputable retailers should be able to provide information about the diamond's country of origin, including the mining country, mine, or growing laboratory where it was sourced. A traced and transparent supply chain indicates a commitment to knowing how and where the diamonds are sourced and therefore to ethical sourcing.
Some countries have a stronger track record of mining ethical diamonds than others. Botswana and Canada are often cited as leaders in ethical diamond mining due to strict labor laws, environmental management practices, health and safety safeguards, compliance with local laws and regulations, and strong community impact. Be cautious of diamonds from Russia, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Congo, as they have been associated with human rights abuses and therefore are either a country that historically produced what’s known as “blood diamonds,” or are more recent examples of “blood diamond” producing countries. It is unlikely that a retailer would disclose these diamond origins to a customer because these countries of origin are not a selling point.
2. Consider the Entire Supply Chain
Inquire about the jeweler's supply chain and their efforts to ensure responsible practices throughout the diamond's journey from mine to market because ethical sourcing doesn't stop at mining. Consider:
- Cutting and polishing: Are workers paid fairly, treated well, and working in safe and healthy conditions?
- Environmental impact: Does the company invest in sustainable practices such as energy efficient factories or use renewable energy?
- Corporate values: Does the brand support community development or donate to social causes?
To identify companies with good sourcing practices, read the retailer's ethics, sourcing, sustainability, or social compliance pages. When reading their sustainability reports or impact reports, consider the level of data they are providing, if the data is aligned with international reporting standards, and if the data has been third party verified. Look for a commitment not just to conflict-free diamonds but also to providing a diamond’s country of origin. Seek out publicly available supplier codes of conduct, ethical sourcing policies or environmental management policies. Locate their evidence of efforts to support responsible mining communities through donations or sourcing commitments. You can also ask your jeweler these specific questions:
- Where exactly did this diamond come from?
- What is the country of origin of this diamond?
- What documentation can you provide for its origin?
- What was the country of origin on this diamond’s Kimberley Process Certificate or KP Certificate?
- What standards do you have for suppliers who sell you diamonds?
- What are the ethical standards of your supply chain?
- Where was this diamond mined?
- Can you provide proof of ethical sourcing or traceability?
- Do you have the Kimberley Process Certificate or KP Certificate for this diamond?
- Do you have documentation from a third-party certifier?
- Does this diamond come with blockchain to verify the country of origin?
- Do you offer diamonds with blockchain technology?
3. Look for Certifications
Reputable certifications include, but are not limited to:
- Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™: Brilliant Earth’s Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™ exceed the Kimberley Process standard, originating only from operations or countries committed to labor, trade, and environmental standards. Less than 1% of the world's diamonds meet this standard. Our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™ provide miners with fair wages and safe working conditions, empower communities, and never fund conflicts.
- Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS): A multilateral trade regime aimed at removing "conflict diamonds" from the global supply chain. While effective at reducing the flow of "conflict diamonds," KP-certified diamonds also include diamonds from Russia, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Côte D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Congo. Challenges remain with enforcement and smuggling. But most importantly challenges remain with its limited scope in addressing human rights abuses and environmental concerns. And the likelihood of most retailers having and sharing a KP Certificate is low. Learn more in our Kimberley Process guide.
- CanadaMark: Indicates Canadian origin with audited tracking. All mines in this program meet Canada's stringent environmental regulations, with diamonds responsibly mined in Canada's Northwest Territories with respect for environmental sustainability and local communities.
- Blockchain-Verified Diamonds: Emerging technology uses blockchain to create a digital record of a diamond's journey from mine or mining operation to consumer, tracking each step in the supply chain. Brilliant Earth offers an industry-leading selection of blockchain-verified diamonds, allowing customers to access detailed information and verify their diamond's sourcing with confidence. This cutting-edge tracking system represents the future of diamond transparency, giving consumers the ability to make fully informed purchasing decisions.
4. Consider Alternative Options
Lab-Grown Diamonds: Created in controlled environments, these are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds but guaranteed conflict-free.
Recycled Diamonds: These are previously owned diamonds that are either in their original condition or have been re-polished and re-graded. They require no new mining, making them a responsible choice.
5. Be an Informed Consumer
- Educate yourself: Understand certification meanings and their limitations
- Support ethical retailers: Choose jewelers who are transparent about their sourcing and provide documentation about a diamond's origin. Reputable ethical retailers will explicitly state their commitment to ethical sourcing and prioritize fair wages, safe working conditions, and community development.
- Ask for documentation: Request certificates detailing the diamond's country of origin, characteristics, and compliance with ethical standards
- Trust your instincts: Be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true or if a retailer hesitates to provide information
The Brilliant Earth Difference
At Brilliant Earth, we advocate for an end to all forms of violence associated with diamond mining. We believe a different path is possible, and we're paving it through our commitment to transparency and ethical sourcing.
Our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™ come from countries and mining operations that follow strict environmental and labor standards. We source our natural Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™ from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Canada, which are considered low or moderate risk by the Gemstones and Jewellery Community Platform Index.
We go beyond the Kimberley Process, which only addresses diamonds funding wars against legitimate governments. Our rigorous chain of custody protocol allows us to track diamonds by origin, ensuring they meet our higher standards for ethical and environmentally responsible sourcing.
For customers concerned about ethical sourcing, we also offer:
- Blockchain-verified diamonds with a permanent digital record of each diamond's journey
- Lab-grown diamonds as a fully ethical and environmentally conscious alternative
- Recycled diamonds that require no new mining
We believe transparency is knowing where our precious metals and gemstones come from and how our jewelry is made — and sharing that information with you, so you can feel good about the jewelry you're wearing.
