LITTLE BIRD
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • r i n g s e r v i c e s
    • r i n g g a l l e r y
  • ABOUT
    • t e s t i m o n i a l s
    • p r e s s
    • f o u n d e r s t o r y
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

The 7 Most Important Questions to Ask Yourself if You’re Engagement Ring Shopping, by AspiringGentleman.com

9/30/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Thank you Aspiring Gentleman! Ever wonder what an Engagement Ring Consultant actually does? Well it starts with 7 basic questions. It's all covered here.

Engagement ring consultants Danielle and Lia of Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Expertise have 7 Questions that...

Posted by The Aspiring Gentleman on Wednesday, September 30, 2015
1 Comment

Diamond Politics - or - What Would Leonardo DiCaprio Do? (WWLDD)

9/21/2015

10 Comments

 
a blog about diamond truthiness and off-the-beaten-path diamond options
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
Picture

The TLDR version:
  If you are in the market for a diamond ring, ask your jeweler LOTS of questions. The best thing you can do as a diamond shopper is to ask questions. Ask a million questions. Slowly but surely, diamond policies can progress if the consumer pushes it in that direction.  If consumers insist upon ethical origin diamonds, the industry players with less squeaky-clean inventory will see a drop in demand and they will readjust their practices. Vote with your dollars. 

Now for some answers about conflict free diamonds...

What is a “conflict diamond”? What is a “blood diamond?” I don’t want one of those...
A “blood diamond" is a more dramatic term for a "conflict diamond." Sometimes consumers need a more graphic mental image to help them realize their buying choices have direct impact on the lives of people in other countries.

Oh. Ok. So then what is a “conflict free diamond”?
In 2002 the Kimberley Process defined  “conflict free diamonds” as: "diamonds that have not funded official war against recognized governments." However, the bar for this definition is set lower than you might think. “Conflict Free”  only means that the sale of that diamond didn’t go to fund official conflict, not that the diamond avoided all human rights abuses or environmental destruction.
So what is the Kimberley Process exactly? 
The Kimberley Process is a coordinated international system of verification and certification that seeks to exclude from the global supply chain all diamonds from unofficial channels that could have been used to fund an official war against a recognized government. This UN resolution was helpful in cleaning up the diamond trade in the early 2000’s, but nowadays there are many unofficial conflicts taking place around the diamond trade, and the KP doesn’t watchdog over unofficial conflict (like human rights abuses).

The Kimberley Process is outdated and is no longer very useful, but terms like “conflict free” still sound legitimate. Unfortunately, the majority of diamond jewelry consumers simply do not understand the nuances of this definition, and most major wedding industry giants and deep-pocketed national jewelry chains don’t spend time doing research, investigating, or engaging in a meaningful conversation with the public. When major publications and retailers don’t get the facts straight they end up perpetuating some dangerous myths about the true definition of “conflict free”. 
Picture
Who sells “conflict free diamonds”?
It is incredibly easy to buy a “conflict free diamond”. All diamonds sold legally in the US are officially labeled as “conflict free”. The diamond pipeline to the US ensures that all diamonds are deemed “conflict free” so jewelers don’t have the option to sell you anything other than “conflict free diamonds”. Unless they are going to the effort of bypassing their regular suppliers and seeking out blood diamonds from an international arms dealer, you can be pretty sure that they are selling standard-issue “conflict free diamonds”. That’s great, except for the point that the label “conflict free” might not meet your ethical standards. 

PictureThe Mir Mine, Russia
What can I do to make sure I get an ethical diamond?
You want to find a jeweler who inspires you to ask questions and is willing to get you answers. Canadian diamonds are a great option if you’re feeling particular about origins. Mining companies operating in Canada are working closely with scientists and the government to limit environmental destruction. There are also progressive programs taking stronger root in parts of Africa, Russia and Australia. There are some companies who have made it their mission to only sell ethical origin diamonds so that you don’t have to get your masters in global politics in order to buy a damn ring. Ultimately it’s up to you to ask the relevant questions of any jeweler you choose to work with. If pressed, they can source a verified ethical origin stone. It’s possible. It just takes effort.

Can naturally mined diamonds be “sustainable”?
No. It takes millions to billions of years to grow a diamond within the earth. Surprisingly, there are quite a lot of diamonds down in those volcanic pipes, but most are out of our reach, even with the modern equipment and invasive mining processes we use. Diamond pipes are less likely to run out of diamonds than they are to get to a certain depth beyond which it costs more to continue to dig than the diamonds are worth. It is at that point that a company will shut down the mine and move to a new location. Diamond mining companies are always looking for new areas where diamonds can be easily and economically mined. In short, by definition, mining is never “sustainable”. Some enterprises are better at managing the destruction than others. Look for diamond companies that are at the very least paying attention to their environmental practices and aiming higher than the status quo.

Are lab created diamonds more environmentally friendly than naturally mined diamonds?
Lab created diamonds can be more environmentally friendly than mined diamonds if the power source is dealt with responsibly. It takes a lot of electricity to grow a diamond, so solar powered diamond labs are the place to look. Otherwise, the power is coming from a hydro-electric dam, coal, or nuclear power.

How about recycled diamonds?
Re-using an existing diamond is, by definition, eco-friendly. The 3 D’s (divorce, death or debt) usually come into the picture in order to cause the unsetting of a diamond from its original piece of jewelry. If you are interested in this option ask for a “post consumer diamond" or consider an antique engagement ring.


In conclusion,
If you’re a shopper: where there’s a will, there’s a way.
We are here to help you navigate this process. Because of our unaffiliated status, we are in a unique position to offer you our unbiased opinion and to help you define your values. We work with many designers and diamond retailers who make it their business to work with ethically sourced gems. We can help you research your concerns and get in touch with retailers who focus on the specific type of ethical product you’re after. Almost all jewelers have access to a higher standard of socially and environmentally conscious choices. You just have to ask! Asking “is this diamond conflict free?” isn’t enough. Keep going and ask questions like “will you source a diamond from a specific origin for me?”

If you’re a jeweler and/diamond retailer: brush up on your diamond knowledge. Consumers are passionate, thoughtful, and increasingly willing to make their principles their top priority when choosing between options. Get ready to answer increasingly nuanced and complex questions about your industry as a whole. Retailers with meaningful answers, information, and access to the kind of material that shoppers insist upon will have a strong advantage over retailers that don’t bother.

Sincerely,
Squeaky Wheels, Danielle Mainas

10 Comments

    the LITTLE BIRD blog, by Danielle Mainas

    Ever wonder how to figure out her ring size? Select the perfect center stone? Pick the ideal jeweler? Read on, my friends. 

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    Alternative Engagement Rings
    Antique
    Antique Jewelry
    Artists
    Bay Area Jewelers
    Birthstones
    Buying Advice
    Buying Guide
    Celebrity Engagement Ring
    Consignment
    Custom Design
    Customer Stories
    Diamond Conflict
    Diamond Facts
    Ethical Origin Engagement Rings
    Expert Interview
    Giveaways
    Halo
    Heirloom Diamonds
    Holiday Engagements
    Jewelers
    Lab Created Diamonds
    My Engagement Ring Story
    New York Jewelers
    Precious Metal Education
    Press & Media Mentions
    Proposal Ideas
    Reselling
    Services
    Topaz
    Wedding Resources

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
HOME        SERVICES        RING GALLERY        TESTIMONIALS        PRESS        ABOUT        CONTACT        BLOG
 ​

Check out Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Expertise on Yelp

415-320-8359
[email protected]

YOU'RE A DESIGNER? LEARN MORE HERE
Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Consulting, LLC
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • r i n g s e r v i c e s
    • r i n g g a l l e r y
  • ABOUT
    • t e s t i m o n i a l s
    • p r e s s
    • f o u n d e r s t o r y
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT