Diamonds have been in strong demand for thousands of years and our diamond history is peppered with legends and stories involving diamonds. A thousand years ago diamonds were very rare and the sight of a diamond was one of great awe, mystery and intrigue. It’s understandable that our early ancestors called them ‘Tears from the Gods’ such was the prestige of the diamond. The ancient Greeks used the name ‘Adamas’ meaning unconquerable or indestructible and it is from this word that the modern term ‘Diamond’ is derived. The imagery and associations with diamonds made the owners revered, respected and gave them divine ‘god-like’ powers. This early interpretation made diamonds a commodity of power, sovereignty and leadership which was perhaps why we plotted, fought and killed for diamond ownership.
During the 15th century an Austrian Archduke gave his partner a diamond as a symbol of his love and devotion. This gesture started a trend among Royals to use diamonds as a token of love and dedication.
During the 17th, 18th and early 19th century, the supply of diamonds was from ancient riverbeds in India and later Brazil and the supply was so small that only the super rich were able to afford them. Although gathering popularity they were still the reserve of the gentry and wealthy.
In early 1871 a significant discovery in the Kimberly region of South Africa redefined the supply and availability of diamonds forever. between 1871 and 1914 over 25 million tons of earth was removed from a single open air mine which produced 14. 5 million carats. The modern diamond industry was born and supply was becoming plentiful! The South African mines were capable of supplying enough diamonds to start a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign to sell diamonds to the world’s middle class as a gesture of love, dedication and marriage.
De-Beers - Now the DTC
The De-Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd remained the market leader and controller of rough diamond supply for much of the 20th century. From 1970, significant diamond deposits in Australia, Russia and Central Africa enabled independent mining firms to become involved in the extraction of these most precious stones. With the introduction of other diamond yielding countries came competition and a loosening of a very regulated industry. Established and trusted grading laboratories like the GIA and AGS benchmarked the process of diamond reporting to a very high standard and this allowed consumers to shop with confidence.
Internet V. the Traditional Shopping
The internet has now brought the convenience of buying diamonds and diamond jewellery to your office, study, lounge or living room. No longer do you have to travel to far away diamond centres or tread the mine field of high street jewellery stores selling a limited range of middle to low quality stones. The average diamond selling on the UK High Street is, at the time of writing, an uncertificated ¼cts round-brilliant of I colour and P1 clarity. The average price paid for an engagement ring is just £540 [or 2% of the average cost of the wedding reception]. Now you can buy quality certificated diamonds in hallmarked platinum or gold at your convenience in a risk free and informed environment.
Conflict Diamonds and the Kimberley Process
The term Conflict Diamonds refers to diamonds that have been traded in the country of origin and their revenues have funded violent conflict and human rights abuses.
In May 2000, Southern African diamond producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, to come up with a way to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and to ensure consumers that the diamonds that they purchase have not contributed to violent conflict and human rights abuses in their countries of origin.
In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. In November 2002, after nearly two years of negotiation, the efforts of governments, the international diamond industry and NGOs culminated in the creation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The KPCS outlines the provisions by which the trade in rough diamonds is to be regulated by countries, regional economic integration organisations and rough diamond-trading entities.
The KPCS imposes stringent requirements on all Participants to guard against conflict diamonds entering the legitimate trade. Participants are required to implement internal controls, as outlined in the KPC. document, and all shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate. The requirements for participation are outlined in Sections II, V (a) and VI (8, 9) of the KPCS. Participants can only trade with other Participants who have met the minimum requirements of the certification scheme.
While each Participant is required to implement the Kimberley Process in their respective territories, sharing information and insight is an integral part of making the certification scheme work. Annual Plenary meetings are held to give Participants the opportunity to converse with one another and with industry and civil society members to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory regime.
Participants, industry and civil society representatives work together in Working Groups – Monitoring, Statistics, Diamond Experts – and Committees – Participation Committee and Selection Committee – to ensure that the integrity of the certification scheme is upheld and that the Kimberley Process moves closer to stopping the trade in conflict diamonds.
Today the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme has evolved into an effective mechanism for stopping the trade in conflict diamonds. The tireless efforts of governments, industry leaders and civil society representatives have helped ensure that the horrors caused by conflict diamonds may one day come to an end. But there remains much to be done. All involved with the Kimberley Process continue to monitor and assess the effectiveness of the certification scheme and strive towards a world free of conflict diamonds.
The Kimberley Process is a joint government, international diamond industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds that are used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an innovative, voluntary system that imposes extensive requirements on Participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is composed of 45 Participants, including the European Community. Kimberley Process Participants account for approximately 99. 8% of the global production of rough diamonds.