But how do you know if that story is true?
Socially-conscious consumers want to know that the products they purchase reflect the beliefs and principles they live by. A commitment to love. Fairness. Peace. Honesty.
If a gemstone could talk, would that be the story it tells? To find out, you need to consider these three key questions before you invest in a conflict-free diamond or other gemstone.
Has your diamond gone through the Kimberly Process?
The Kimberley Process, developed by the UN in 2002, requires mining companies and other industry players to provide a detailed certificate for all rough diamond exports that guarantees the stones originated from proper mining and sales practices and are "conflict-free" – meaning they were not extracted and sold to support war, terrorism, and other human rights abuses. More than 75 countries that mine and export diamonds currently participate in this voluntary process. When you buy a diamond, the jeweler should be able to provide this certificate.
Your jeweler should also be able to tell you about a gemstone’s history and guarantee that it's conflict-free. If you’re buying a diamond, ask to see the diamond's System of Warranties statement. Learn more at http://www.worlddiamondcouncil.org/.
Does the jeweler specialize in conflict-free jewelry?
Your merchant should be transparent about where it sources its diamonds and gemstones, and that it does business only with with suppliers who adhere to environmentally sound, conflict-free mining practices.
For 29 years, Love & Promise Jewelers has been in the business of providing our customers with jewelry that reflects our deepest values: conflict-free, fairly traded, and guilt-free.
All of our jewelry has been sourced, processed, and sold in an ethical manner – providing a fair price for raw materials, fair wages to the people who make them, and a commitment to business practices that are good for communities and the environment. Want to learn more? Read our guide on guilt-free jewelry.
Does the jeweler offer high-quality synthetic alternatives to mined gemstones?
Synthetic gemstones are grown in a "controlled environment," such as a lab; other names for synthetic gemstones are lab-grown or lab-created gemstones. The gemstones are chemically and aesthetically the same as those that are formed in nature. Synthetics are created by mimicking similar natural environments, but scientists can control the production speed and quality which is why synthetics can be much less expensive than gemstones mined from the earth. The best part about purchasing a synthetic stone is that no blood was ever shed in its creation or distribution -- and that's what we mean when we say, 100% fairly traded and conflict-free. Learn more about moissanites and facts about synthetic gemstones.
At Love & Promise, all of our lab-grown gemstone options are through some of the best brands in the market, such as Chatham and Pure Grown Diamonds. We duo-screen all our stones for quality and consistency, both in natural and lab-grown options, prior to mounting the stones into our products. Our strict process allows us to seamlessly handcraft each unique piece with precise detail and uniformity.
All our moissanites and lab-grown gemstones (including sapphires, emeralds, and rubies) come with lifetime warranties backed by their creators. Our lab-grown diamonds are all handpicked and come with a certificate of authenticity from our trusted sources.
Take a look at the wide selection of engagement rings, wedding sets, and eternity bands from our Rosados Box collection -- all made with 100% guilt-free, conflict-free, fairly traded gemstones.
Isn’t that the story you want your precious gems to tell?