Conflict diamonds
Conflict Diamonds  The term ‘conflict’ or ‘blood’ diamonds, as they are sometimes called, refers to alluvial diamonds found in various parts of Africa which were illegally exploited during the 1990s to fund rebel militias in a series of wars in which many people died. The countries in which conflict diamonds have been a problem are Angola, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Guinea.

It effectively manages and certifies the international trade in ‘rough’ diamonds. ‘Rough’ is the term used to describe diamonds as they come out of the ground before they have been cut and polished.  The Kimberley Process is now law in all EU countries and in around 40 other countries worldwide and is undoubtedly working to regulate the flow of rough diamonds and to exclude conflict diamonds from the supply chain.

The Kimberley Process is supported by a code of conduct introduced by the World Diamond Council which requires traders in cut and polished diamonds to warrant that the diamonds have come from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations resolutions. Sellers guarantee that their diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of the diamonds. The BJA ( British Jewellers Association ) has adopted the World Diamond Council Code of Conduct and issues detailed advice to its members on compliance. Sherry Jewellery is a member of the BJA.