WHAT IS A CONFLICT FREE DIAMOND?

A conflict free diamond is a diamond that’s mined and shipped without connection to rebel or terror groups. Procedures and agreements like The Kimberley Process are in place to guarantee that diamonds are mined and shipped according to certain ethical standards.

Diamonds that don’t abide by these practices are referred to as blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. Blood diamonds often originate in war-torn areas and are illegally traded. These diamonds gained attention during the Sierra Leone civil war in the 1990s, which was depicted in the 2006 movie Blood Diamond—showing how rebel groups engaged in brutal tactics to smuggle and sell diamonds.

At Virabyani, we have taken every measure possible to ensure that our diamonds are conflict-free. It’s a cause we strongly believe in. We can guarantee that we strictly follow every step of the Kimberly Process that helps to regulate the diamond industry. 

THE KIMBERLY PROCESS

The Kimberley Process (KP) started when Southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa in May of 2000. During this meeting, they discussed ways to stop the trade of conflict diamonds and ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments. The Kimberley Process requires that any country participating in the agreement provide a certificate that cites the origin of rough diamonds. In addition to this, in order to receive the certificate, the country of origin affirms that the income from the diamonds does not go to warlords or to the funding of conflict in any way.

The Kimberley Process is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements. The KP has 54 participants, representing 81 countries, with the European Union and its Member States counting as a single participant. KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. In addition, the World Diamond Council, representing the international diamond industry, and civil society organizations, such as Partnership-Africa Canada, participate in the KP and have played a major role since its outset.