Diamond Certificate

Diamonds are considered to be one of the most precious stones everywhere around the world, thanks to the ever so popular marketing campaign of De Beers which was launched in 1947. Who hasn’t heard about the advertisement that “diamonds are forever”? This simple line unquestioningly changed the diamond market forever.

Indeed, diamonds have come a long, long way. Now, diamonds are considered prime choices for engagement rings to signify lasting relationships. They are also considered as family heirlooms and as wise investment pieces. With almost everyone holding on to their cherished diamond jewelry, the demand for these stones continues to increase dramatically. Without doubt, diamonds are among the most highly coveted gemstones. As such, if you consider buying some, you would certainly want them to be worth exactly what the jewelers claimed them to be. And how do you do it? Ask for a diamond certificate!

A diamond certificate can be accurately described as the blueprint of a diamond. It tells you the exact measurement, weight and the details of the cut and quality of the diamond. In a nutshell, it spells out all the individual properties of the stone itself and provides proof of the stone’s identity and value. You may be required to pay for the certificate but its cost is usually quite low. Plus, securing a certificate will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money’s worth.

These certificates provide an unbiased description of the diamond, since it is issued by diamond grading laboratories and not by your average dealer or jeweler. At present, there are many laboratories which issue diamond certificates, but the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) are by far the most credible diamond grading laboratories in the world.

Here are some reasons why you should not buy a diamond without a diamond certificate:

• You can find the best deals in town. A diamond certificate gives you the exact details of the gem you are considering to buy. Why is this important? Well, knowing the exact features of the stone will allow you to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase. Hence, you have the chance to find the best deals in town!

• You get your money’s worth. How unfortunate would it be if you find out that your jeweler has tricked you into paying an extremely high price for the diamond you bought? With a diamond certificate at hand, there will be no more worries about overpaying for a particular piece of diamond jewelry. A diamond certificate allows you to make an informed choice. Therefore, you pay for the stone based on its qualities. No more, no less!

• You get to sell the diamond at a better price. In case you want to sell your diamonds for one reason or another at some future time, you will have the necessary documents to authenticate its value. Plus, selling diamond jewelry, or loose diamonds, without a certificate to back it up is nearly impossible.

• You can safely insure your diamonds. To insure your diamonds, a copy of the certificate will be required to provide a proof of its value. Who else can argue over the actual value of a diamond when it is authenticated by a diamond certificate?

There are many good reasons why you should never even consider buying a diamond without a certificate issued by a credible laboratory. So, if you are planning to go shopping for that precious diamond, ask your jeweler for its certificate. It will definitely save you a lot of trouble!

Conflict Diamonds

Conflict diamonds are called such because these diamonds came from conflict-ridden countries that suffer from terrorism and human right abuses. Conflict diamond are also otherwise known as blood diamonds, because many people have died or have been killed by several groups that want to control the diamond trade in Africa. The money from conflict diamonds is also used to fund illegal activities for military and terrorist groups in different African countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The citizens of these countries then suffer at the hands of these groups.

For these reasons, it is important to stop the sales of conflict diamonds. There are efforts being made by the United Nations, including several South African countries, to stop this kind of trade. The South African countries determine all the origins of the rough diamonds in the market, then stop its refining process and distribution if it is established that it came from conflict areas. They have devised a process known as the Kimberly Process, which aims to track the rough or uncut diamonds that enters another country. The shippers then have to provide documentation proving that these diamonds did not come from a conflict country before being allowed entry.

Despite all the potentials being seen in the Kimberly Process, not all countries are participating in this program. You should note that this is quite normal because the Kimberly Process is a comprehensive program that requires the complete cooperation of dozens of governments and agencies for it to work perfectly. Not all countries can agree to all the terms of the Kimberly Process. You should also note that despite all these setbacks, the Kimberly Process has achieved remarkable developments in stopping the trade of conflict diamonds. In time, the Kimberly Process can be a significant force in minimizing the illegal diamond trade.

While there are programs being implemented to stop the illegal diamond trade in Africa, consumers should also do their part in stopping these activities by avoiding the purchase of conflict diamonds. Currently, the retailers of diamonds cannot give consumers the assurance that the diamonds they are buying did not come from a conflict area. However, consumers have the power to change that - if they demand the necessary information that can prove that the diamonds they buy did not come from an illegal trade. The act of demanding information alone sends an important message that consumers are not willing to settle for blood diamonds. Changes in the way diamonds are traded will not happen instantly. But when consumers are committed, it is inevitable that change will happen and lives will be saved.

There are consumer programs being implemented nowadays to assure the consumers that the diamonds they are buying are not conflict diamonds. One noteworthy program is a Canadian program named Voluntary Code of Conduct for Authenticating Canadian Diamond Claim. This program verifies that a diamond came from Canada and not anywhere else. Similar programs should be implemented worldwide to ensure that there would be no more conflict diamonds for sale in the future.