Conflict Free vs. Blood Diamonds: Everything You Need To Know

February 12, 2019

Shop the look: Mirror Engagement Ring With Marquise Diamonds

You may have heard of blood diamonds (remember Leonardo DiCaprio in that movie? -- swoon!) but do you know what that really means? The term blood diamond (also known as conflict diamond and war diamond) is a diamond that was mined in a war zone, and sold for the purpose of financing an invading army's war efforts, or in direct support of a warlord. Yikes. It's seriously unethical, and unfortunately has been going on for decades all across the world.

Thankfully, in 2000, the World Diamond Congress got together and established the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (say that five times fast -- we'll go with KPCS) to help prevent conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream market, and to ensure the $ does not finance rebels who seek to overthrow legit governments. In order for a country to be a participant in the KPCS, they must do three things:

1. Always prove their diamond sales do not finance rebel groups.

2. Make sure every diamond export includes a KPCS Certificate.

3. Do not sell to or buy from a non-member of the KPCS. #YouCantSitWithUs

This is an oversimplification of the process, but you get the idea. The process has driven MAJOR improvements in exposing criminal activity and bringing conflict-free diamonds onto the legal market that may not have ever gotten there otherwise.

So, why are we telling you all of this?! For one, it's great to be educated on this topic, especially while shopping for diamonds - or for a special gift for a certain someone (cough engagement rings cough). And two, because Local Eclectic only supports designers who source diamonds that are conflict free. That means EVERY SINGLE natural diamond on our site is conflict free! We love that our designers care about this matter as much as we do.